Engaging with God Acceptably

Ill: Wedding Ceremony

Covenant Statements of our local church are promises that we make to the Lord and to each other to live, serve, and work together for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom in our lives and in the community of Palm Coast.

FBCPC Covenant Commitments

Pursue: I will pursue growth in my relationship with the Lord

Protect: I will protect our unity of the church

Participate: I will participate faithfully in the life of the church

Share: I will share responsibility for the church

Serve in: I will serve in the ministry of the church

Walk in: I will walk in purity as an act of worship

Support: I will support the testimony of the church

Seek: I will seek reconciliation when necessary

Today:

Pursue: I will pursue growth in my relationship with the Lord

Romans 12:1–2 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Most Christians know they need to have their minds renewed.

Most Christians know that they way to have your mind renewed is through Bible reading.

Many Christians read the Bible, but may I remind you:

Example:

Cult leaders read the Bible

[Illustration: Waco, Texas and David Koresh]

7th Day Adventists read the Bible [Ill: husband/wife]

Unbelieving Atheists read the Bible [Ill: Sam Harris]

Muslims read the Bible

Please note: A Christian must read the Bible distinctly. You do not pursue a relationship by merely WHAT your read or by the fact THAT you read, but by HOW your read the Word of God.

Illustration: Luke 24:44-48

We must be transformed by mental renewal through intentional engagement with the God of the text.

Preview:

What is the text saying?

Why is the text saying this?

So, what?

Points

1. What is the text saying?

Romans 12:1–2 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

A. Do the acceptable spiritual worship

B. Discern the acceptable will of God

By: Don’t be conformed to this world (Romans 1-2)

The world is characterized in two primary ways:

Suppression of truth of God in sensual pleasures

Suppressions of the truth of God in religious practices (incl. Bible reading)

By: Transformation by mind-renewal (Romans 3-8)

Application:

* Read the text with a God-centered focus - it’s about what’s acceptable to God.

Example: Relationships never truly work out well when we make ourselves the starting point.

Please note: A Christian must read the Bible distinctly. You do not pursue a relationship by merely WHAT your read or by the fact THAT you read, but by HOW your read the Word of God.

We must be transformed by mental renewal through intentional engagement with the God of the text.

2. Why is the text saying this?

Romans 12:1 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

A. God is immeasurably merciful

Paul has completed an unparalleled explanation of the gospel and the implications of the gospel.

In Romans 1 there is the righteous God;

in Romans 2 there is sinful mankind before this righteous God;

in Romans 3 there is the glorious provision of Jesus Christ, by this righteous God, as payment for sin.

In Romans 4 there is the call by this righteous God to faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

In Romans 5 there is the explanation of peace with this righteous God.

In Romans 6-7 there is the victory over sin provided through Christ by this righteous God.

In Romans 8 there is the promise of inseparability from this righteous God.

In Romans 9 - 11 there is the providential work of God through the Jews to non-Jews.

God is the only One who can make a human being acceptable so that he or she can do acceptable things for Him.

If you have this question, “How do I become a person Who is acceptable to God?” That is what Romans 1 - 11 answers for you.

Recognize God as the Creator, Man as the Sinful rebel, Christ as the Penal Substitution and repent/believe in Christ alone as the sufficient payment for your sin…

B. What God has done is so magnificent that the least you could do is give your body to and for Him.

Because God has made you acceptable through Christ, now you must do acceptable things.

Illustration: Bilbo Baggins (known as lazy, comfort-loving, and stealthy) hobbits…becomes part of the Fellowship of the Ring so that he would practice/live up to the name.

Application: Look at God to see the grand scheme! This helps you to see God’s great mercy.

Example: Mole hills become mountains when we forget the big picture. We miss the forest for the trees.

Illustration: A child who sees enters a room full of toys, but soon focuses on one and his whole world begins to revolve around the one. At first, all is ok until another child wants or gets the toy. The child soon forgets the glories of the entire room for the pursuit of one small thing.

Please note: A Christian must read the Bible distinctly. You do not pursue a relationship by merely WHAT your read or by the fact THAT you read, but by HOW your read the Word of God.

3. So what?

We must be transformed by mental renewal through intentional engagement with the God of the text.

Let the pattern of Romans guide how you dialogue with the God of the text.

A. What is the passage telling me about God’s nature?

B. How do I measure up to the standard of God in the text?

C. How does Jesus measure up to the standard of the text? (Am I as good as Jesus?)

D. How does God see me now since I am in Christ?

E. Because I am acceptable, how can I obey this command acceptably?

Covenant Commitment:

I will pursue growth in my relationship with the Lord through intentional engagement with the God of the text.