Untitled Sermon (3)

From Mercy to Worship: The call to total devotion, Romans 12:1-2

In Revelation 3:14, Jesus tells John to write a letter to the Angel in the church in Laodicea.

Revelation 3:15–16 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

· This church wasn't rejecting Jesus outright.

o However, they also weren't enthusiastically following him.

Instead, they seemed to have been doing religious activity, but they weren't really devoted to Jesus.

The church at Laodicea reminds me of Jesus’ words in:

Matthew 7:21–23 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Contrary to what many believe today, God hasn't called people to simply acknowledge Jesus.

· God commands all people to repent of their sin and to be totally devoted to Jesus.

You may wonder what that looks like.

· Today I'll teach you three characteristics of Christian devotion.

<Romans 12:1-2>

Romans 12:1-2 serves as a pattern for all we’ll learn in 12:3-15:13.

We might summarize it like this:

· Devote yourself completely to God.

· This means that your actions and thoughts are directed by God and His Word, not the pattern of this world.

The first characteristic of Christian devotion is:

A. The motivation of Christian devotion to God.

1 Therefore I urge you(This is a strong appeal with apostolic authority), brethren(Christians- both men and women), by the mercies of God,

1. Therefore -Considering everything said in c.1-11…

o The total depravity of all people. (1:18-3:20) <1:16-17, 1:18-20, 3:9-19>

§ We all need the mercy of God.

o Justification by faith. (3:21-5:21) <3:21-23> **Result of justification <5:1>

§ God’s mercy is expressed in justification by faith.

o The sanctification of believers. (6:1-8:39) <6:1-4>

§ God’s mercy is also necessary in sanctification; you don’t do it on your own.

o God’s sovereignty. (9:1-11:21)

§ If God didn’t choose to sovereignly give His mercy, no one would be saved. <9:16, 23>

Summary: In speaking to brethren(Christians), the Bible gives us the motivation for the commands that are about to be given.

Application: Christians should frequently rehearse the gospel in times of meditation.

· A fresh awareness of God’s grace and mercy should never be far from your thoughts.

So, how far do we take Christian devotion to God?

· This brings us to the second characteristic of Christian devotion:

B. The extent of Christian devotion to God.

· How far do we take Christian devotion to God?

o We might also speak about this as the dimensions of Christian devotion.

to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

In salvation, our soul has been entrusted and devoted to God.

· And because of the mercies of God:

1. The believer’s body should be devoted to God.

a) Where you once presented your bodies for sin, now present them to God.

<Romans 6:13>

1 Corinthians 6:20 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

b) Notice the characteristics of this sacrifice.

(i) A living…sacrifice.

· This idea goes beyond a one-time sacrifice.

o The Christian has come into agreement with God about their sin and in repentance has turned to follow Jesus.

o We continue to follow Him as a living sacrifice, demonstrating day by day our belief in Jesus by going His way rather than our own way.

1 Peter 2:5 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Application: This means your faith in God and the Bible should be practiced conspicuously in your daily life.

(ii) A holy sacrifice.

· Something set apart for God.

1 Peter 1:14–16 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Application: This means Christians don’t practice unholy activities.

· We battle addiction rather than just giving in.

Luke 21:34a “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation (unbridled indulgence in a drinking party.) and drunkenness (intoxicated by alcohol and drugs, including marijuana) …

· We don’t talk in unholy ways including gossip, slander, lying, manipulation, etc.

Proverbs 16:28–29 28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends. 29 A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good.

· We don’t allow ourselves to be entertained by things that conflict with what the Bible teaches.

Proverbs 4:23 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

· We’re not angry people. Etc…

James 1:19–20 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Christians are to live holy lives as an act of worship to God.

James 1:21–22 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Presenting your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God is the exact opposite of what we did before salvation.

· However, it is your spiritual (carefully thought through) service of worship.

o Christians aren’t living to fulfill desires, but rather, we live directed by God’s Word.

We don’t do this to be right with God, we do it because we are right with God.

· It’s an act of worship and to live otherwise is unreasonable

So, your actions are to be holy, but what about your thoughts?

2. The believer’s mind should be devoted to God.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

a) This command in the one in v.1 builds on one another and cannot be separated.

§ This is because your actions flow from your thoughts.

Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks within himself, so he is…

· The importance of your thought life being transformed cannot be overstated.

b) How are you transformed by the renewing of your mind?

(i) You need to read the Word.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Psalm 119:9–10 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

· The implication is to read the Word.

(ii) You need to meditate on the Word.

Psalm 1:2–3 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

(iii) You need to hear the Word.

Romans 10:17 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

(iv) You need to study the Word.

Acts 17:11 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

(v) You need to memorize the Word.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

c) Spiritual growth requires:

Ephesians 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

· That happens as the truth of Scripture transforms your thinking.

Summary: Therefore, we see that because of the mercies of God the Christian’s soul, body, and mind are to be completely devoted to God as a living and holy sacrifice.

The final characteristic of Christian devotion is:

C. The result of Christian devotion to God.

2bso that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

1. What does prove the will of God mean?

a) In contrast to the increasingly corrupted thinking experienced by the person whom God gave over (Romans 1:18-32), the Christian’s thinking should grow to be more and more like God’s.

§ When your mind is renewed by the Word and led by the Holy Spirit:

§ You’re able to know and obey the will of God which is good and acceptable and perfect.

This is why Christians need to learn biblical doctrine rather than coming to church to hear “How to” sermons.

This passage teaches us the Motivation, Extent, and Result of Christian devotion to God.

· However, it’s important to also know that this won’t be smooth sailing in our devotion to God.

2. Obstacles to your devotion to God.

a) Your flesh wants no part of this.

§ Christians are new creatures in Christ, however, we battle the sin that remains in us.

Galatians 5:24–25 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

b) The world will fight you.

John 15:18–20 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

c) The devil will attack you.

1 Peter 5:8–9 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

My sermon title is: From Mercy to Worship: The call to total devotion

MP: Because of the mercy Christians have received from God, we should be completely devoted to God.

· Where do you need to be more devoted to Christ?