Give up your body (2)

Sermon Series: That’s the least you can do

“Give up your body”

Romans 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Now

-In an Article written June 13,2014 titled “3 reasons why people are not involved in your church” Ed Stetzer sites three primary reason why people do not get involved:

a. Some people feel useless-They feel that they are inadequate maybe because of past sins, or because they grew up feeling that only the Pastor’s and leaders are equip to do ministry.  They never have come to the conclusion that God has endowed all believers with spiritual gifts that are to be used for the building up of the body…..These folks need encouragement that they can be used by God.

b. Some people have been hurt by the church-There are those that have been truly hurt by the church and its leaders, so they are very reticent to serve again.  The church needs to serve this person and help them get back on their feet so that they can serve again. They need just some good Christian grace, and love.

c. Some people are just Lazy-They want others to do the work while they receive all the benefits……they will use all kinds of excuses to hide their laziness…..well you know I have to work a lot of hours, you know I work with people all week it is hard to come and work with church people during my me time, Church people are just messy(I ain’t got time for that)

Then

-Paul in Romans 12:1-2 is begging us to commit a murder of someone that is very important to us.

-Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome who are very mature Christians, which is indicated by the fact that Romans is considered by many to be the most Theologically Rich books out of all the Bible.

-Paul feed the Roman believers with deep theological truths: The depravity of man, the death of our sin nature, Paul’s own struggle with sin in Chapter 7, election, predestination, sanctification, divine foreknowledge, future glory, and the mystery of his will concerning those who will be saved.

-In chapter 12 there is the word “therefore” which appears as the first word in the NASB and for some translation as the third or fourth word. The persuasive argument in Chapter 12 is contingent on information coming from Chapter 11

-The argument that Paul is making in Chapter 11 is that because of the stubbornness of Israel the word of God was taken to the Gentiles. This was God’s choice and not because of the will of man.

-Paul in (v.5) says “In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6but if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.

-Paul also says in (v.25) “25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

-Paul in these verses is telling gentile believers that they were not chosen because they were intelligent, well behaved, or because you had noble blood.  You were chosen by plan of God, because of the hardness of the Jews hearts.

-Christian represent 16% of the population, and my bet is of that 16% you could then separate those who are really saved and that number would get down to about 8% roughly 560 million out of 7 billion this also means that 6.4 billion do not know Jesus as there savior and will spend eternity in Hell.  We know that because that scripture says in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

-My question is “why us” we could have easily been born to a Muslim family, or a Hindu family, or we could have been raised in a home that never talked about Jesus and we could have slipped right into hell.

-Paul is in Awe of this glorious gospel, as we will spend eternity thanking and praising God, because we were counted in that number. He wants the believers in Rome to just reflect on the goodness of God.

-This fact led Paul to make the statement found in Romans 12:1-2

Always

-Salvation is a voluntary acceptance of a life of servitude to the Master, Jesus Christ.

I.  Present your bodies

Romans 12:1 CSB

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

-Paul says I urge (beseech) –this word means to ask earnestly or beg.

-“by the mercies of God”….this means that it is only by the mercies of God that we have this opportunity to even “present our bodies” in a sense it is our gift back to God.

-What was Paul begging them to do? Present (presentation of a gift) your body. 1 Samuel 1:11 gives us some insight into this language “11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.

-One must understand the OT sacrificial system to interpret Paul’s use of this figurative language(Explain)

-Paul is speaking symbolically of the destruction of our fleshly desires, needs, and plans, and the relinquishing of control of our own lives giving it to another person:

-Paul uses this term in the Salutation of this letter to describes his new relationship with Christ:

a. Romans 1:1 “1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, acalled to be an apostle, bseparated to the gospel of God”

b. Philippians 1:1 “1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,”

c. Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness”

d. Listen to Jude the brother of James & Jesus Jude 1:1 “1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,”

e.  Listen to Peter the leader of the Apostles 2 Peter 1:1 “1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,”

f. Listen to James the brother of Jesus James 1:1 “1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

-What does this term “bondservant mean”? Greek-“doulos” A slave, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the other (Matt. 8:9; 20:27; 24:45, 46). Generally, one serving, bound to serve, in bondage

-In Roman times, the term bondservant or slave could refer to someone who voluntarily served others. But it usually referred to one who was held in a permanent position of servitude. Under Roman law, a bondservant was considered the owner’s personal property. Slaves essentially had no rights and could even be killed with impunity by their owners.

-When Paul uses this term he is essentially saying: I have given up the rights to my own life, I live to please my Master, I do not make my own decision, and my master has the right to kill me if necessary.

-This is not a onetime sacrifice, but a daily sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

-“a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God” That phrase “living sacrifice” ought to stick out to some of you.  This is an oxymoron, both living and dying at the same time. Question: What is living and what is dying?

a. The Flesh is Dying-Paul says 1 Corinthians 15:31 “31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. Paul died to his own self-will. Paul says every day I give up something, everyday a learn to live the slave life.

b. The Spirit is being renewed day by day

-“which is your reasonable service” Mom would say it like this “that’s the least you could do” Mom would usually make this statement after asking you do to something and you had an attitude about it. She would talk about all the things that she had to do as a parent for you then make this statement.

Illustration

If there be degrees in glory, they will not be distributed according to our talents, but according to our faithfulness in using them….CH Spurgeon

Application

1. To be saved is to voluntarily subject yourself to a lifetime of slavery

2. As Christian you no longer have a will, because your will is consumed in God’s will.

3. The dying to self often happens in the context of the local church working with difficult people.

II. Don’t conform, but be transformed

Romans 12:2 CSB

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

- Conformed-to fashion in the same pattern outwardly.

-Be Conformed…. “Passive verb” meaning that the world is not neutral; it is trying to press its agenda on you.

a. Stop being molded by the fleeting pattern of this age, but undergo a deep inner change. (Word study Dictionary)

-Paul in this part of text says “do not be conformed” this is an imperative verb, which means that this is a command from Paul not a suggestion.  This is not up for discussion.  The command is that we ought not let worldly philosophy shape and mold our thinking.  The greatest hindrance to getting on the altar is an unwillingness to let go of worldly mindsets/lifestyles….i.e God helps those who help themselves, Marriage is 50/50, They are going to have sex so you might as well teach them to protect themselves, my religious belief are separate from my politics. Well we are going to get married we might as well live together. I am my own “man” I am not anybody’s slave.

-Transformed-To transform, transfigure change one’s form.

-Be Transformed—Imperative, passive verb

a. Paul in this portion of the text is talking about what happens to you when you get on the altar. The sacrifice/cutting away is done by someone, or something.  Your only responsibility is to be submissive to the process of death. Who is the executioner? Romans 8:9-11 “9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies 4through His Spirit who dwells in you. ….The Holy Spirit is doing the work of transformation on your behalf. And how does he do it? v.2 “by the renewing of the mind”

-define renewed--Therefore, a renewing or a renovation which makes a person different than in the past.

Question: Why does your mind need renovation and renewal? Because it is selfish & it lived for many years following the flow of the world.

-“that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” this transformation of the mind, and the presenting of your body that leads to a change life is the absolute perfect will of God……….in otherward to refuse to get on the altar is to get outside of the will of God.

Application

1. You must refuse to conform to the world standards

2.  Stop fighting the HS who is also trying to conform you into the image of the Savior.

3.  Servanthood is one the HS method of change.

-Love of God can be measured by your love for his Bride, the church

Illustration

Matthew 25:31-44

Whatever you do for the least of my brethren you do for me!