What Kind of Christian…?

Chris Spenner, M.Min.

Reflecting on Romans • Sermon • Submitted 8 months ago • Presented 8 months ago

Romans 12:1–2

Christian growth

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Answering the question: What kind of Christian do you want to be?

Notes

Transcript

Reflecting on Romans - Series

We’ll be walking through Romans

Focused look at chapter 12 when we get there

Chapters 1-11 build to chapter 12

To embrace chapter 12, grow through the first 11

ILLUST - Playing dress up - who do you want to be?

If you could choose to change anything about yourself…

The Book of Romans

Paul, around A.D. 56 (26 years after Christ)

Desire for this church to be a strong church

Desire for this church to be one of strong faith, where believers are encouraged by one another

We’ll take chapter by chapter, perhaps aggressive and fast, but I want to use a lens of chapter 12 overall.

So today, setting the tone - Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

KEY TOPICS TO EMBRACE

Life is worship

Conforming to the world is not an option

Renewing your mind is God’s will

Romans 12:1-2 - to best grasp it, find the verbs, the action words

Life is Worship

Verse 1 - present your bodies a living sacrifice

Decide, now, to worship

Place your offering on the altar

“Here is what I give to you, Lord”

What you give to the Lord reflects how you feel about Him, your level of trust of Him

What you present to Him, to give to Him…

The offering is you

Be willing to die to self - subject to Yahweh and His mercy

Presenting your body - your whole self

Do you trust to Lord with giving Him control - sacrificing yourself to Him?

This is based on the Gospel - based on what Christ has done for you

Ancient sacrifices were about taking the life of another (an animal)

This Rom. 12:1 sacrifice is different

This sacrifice is a life GIVEN - willfully

And with this sacrifice, the body is alive!

God does not take anything by force here - the believer GIVES his/her life to him

A willful decision of surrender to Him

When we surrender our lives into His hands

He is pleased to accept that

He desires to work through you - He commands you to be willing to allow Him

This is your spiritual service of worship

RATIONAL

This is the rational decision when you understand what Jesus has done!

(by the mercies of God = on account of His mercy!)

How does a believer present this living sacrifice? Two ways

Not Conforming to the World - NOT an Option

?? “You become what you allow yourself to become”

Influences are real - This world is a tremendous influencer in your life

Just conform, and it will stop pestering you, right?

Just give in to the immoral life that is “normal” now

The phrase “do not be conformed - a verb in the negative sense

NOT AN OPTION FOR THE CHRISTIAN TO BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD AND ITS

Godless activities, thoughts, morals, values

Conformed - not just being evil;

…more like, rejecting the Christian life

Being lukewarm - is conformed

Being complacent - is conformed

We, believers, are citizens of Heaven, Phil 3:20

Philippians 3:20 NASB95

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

We, believers, are to not be consumed by the earthly things, Col 3:2

Colossians 3:2 NASB95

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

This present age is evil, Gal 1:4

Galatians 1:4 NASB95

who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

So…this world is not the model for believers to live by

Jesus said, you are salt and light, in Matthew 5,

That means we make an impact

That means being distinct, different, “weird?”

How?

Be Transformed

Another definitive command

Do this!

Be changed, be transformed

NOTE: does NOT say “transform” as though you do the changing

Rather - allow yourself to be changed/transformed

How?

Renewing your mind

Idea - not fitting into the mold of the world

It’s more than just rejecting the world

Just saying NO isn’t how change occurs

Must say YES to the influence of God and the Holy Spirit

Philippians 2:12 NASB95

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

Simply put - apply your faith to every aspect of daily living

REM - “LIVING sacrifice!”

When your mind is renewed - you can grasp the will of God

When your mind is renewed - you become concerned with matters of lasting importance

When your mind is renewed - you are free from the influences of this world

They are still there, they just don’t affect you the same way

The change is from the inside - out

POINT:

Changing behaviors doesn’t make you grow spiritually

Growing spiritually will result in changed behavior

Deciding to be transformed, letting Him grow you spiritually, is what creates the distinction, showing the transformed mind within you

God CAN be pleased

How important is that to you?

Presenting yourself the living sacrifice

Not conforming

Being transformed

THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU!

Romans 12:1-2 - most popular verse preached

NOT a feel-good

BUT a throw-down challenge to the “believer”

(CRAS spoke of “so-called” Christians)