Romans 12:2
Notes
Transcript
Before Christmas, we looked at Rom 12:1 together
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Because of the amazing mercy of God described for us in chapters 1-11 of Romans, THEREFORE, the logical worshipful response is to give ourselves wholly to God.
The rest of Romans is addressing what that looks like in real life. As a living sacrifice, how does that change our relationships? How does it change our view of authority? How does it change the way we function together as a church how does it change the way we think about love?
Today, we are going to break down Roman’s 12:2
This verse gives us a one sentence, condensed version of what’s gonna follow in the next few chapters.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
What is the pattern of this world?
What is the pattern of this world?
The pattern of the world is NOT culture or customs.
The pattern of the world is NOT culture or customs.
Think amish here. Wearing a certain kind of clothing, driving certain vehicles.
We have to be careful about this. To be a follower of Jesus is not to be more like a Klier or more like a Dorsey or more like (Insert whatever christian influencer you want). God does call us as pastors to be examples BUT that does not mean you need to be exactly like us. A lot of who we are is culture and customs
Its not about a certain type of music or a certain type of hair cut or a certain way of talking.
The pattern of the world is the worlds values OR it is who/what the world worships.
The pattern of the world is the worlds values OR it is who/what the world worships.
When we looked at Rom12:1 I mentioned that Paul is pointing back to Romans Chapter 1.
In Romans Chapter 1, Paul gave a picture of what the “Pattern of this world” looks like
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
Idolatry, Worshiping false images of God
We talk about this a few months back, 3 ways we practice idolatry
we put someone or something else in the place of God.
We invent a version of God that is more comfortable for us.
We put ourselves in the place of God
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
We see this practically in the way that people are motivated by pride and selfishness
Even our humility is often false or selfish humility
So in chapter one we see a downward spiral of conformity to the world. That is what Paul is warning against.
The second part of the verse, paul gives an alternative. Instead of spiraling down the drain of conformity we can see an upward movement of increased holiness and renewal
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.
Transformation - its one of our values here at Sandusky Life. We believe that every person should be being transformed.
The word transformed here comes from the greek word Metamorpho. In Biology we borrow from this word for the process called metamorphosis. Butterflies, frogs and other amphibians.
We are supposed to be changing from one thing (an unrepentant sinner, conformed to the values and practices and worship of the world) into a New Creation.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Transformed is a full rebuild
BUT it is not an instant rebuild.
Transformation is a process
Transformation is a process
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
Rom 7 talks about this process and the frustration in it
22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Transformation and renewal of mind is a holy spirit and scripture enabled process.
Daily offering ourselves as a living sacrifice
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Transformation Is not learning and adopting a set of rules. Transformation is an inside out change, not modified behavior.
Transformation Is not learning and adopting a set of rules. Transformation is an inside out change, not modified behavior.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
To be transformed you have behold God’s glory
God has revealed himself to us in scripture.
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.
What is God’s will.
There is a lot of weak understanding about discerning God’s will. At worst it can be move from confusion to outright false teaching and faulty practice.
First, what DOES this mean.
If your mind is being transformed by the work of the Holy Sprit and exposure to God’s word you will be able to test your actions and plans against what you know to be sure it is in line with God and his ways instead of your old sinful self.
“my co-worker disrespected me in front of everyone” What is God’s will?
“My child did not hang up their wet towel for the 932nd time” What is God’s will?
“My job unfairly pays me poorly and I have an opportunity to steal from them” What is God’s will?
“There is a girl/boy I think is cute” What is God’s will?
So what does it not mean:
That God promises to reveal his “will” between two options in your life.
should I buy this?, should i move here?, should I take this job? What school should I go to?
God CAN reveal these things to you but he does not have to.
If he does not reveal it to that does not mean he does not care about you or love you.
2. That if god does not reveal it that you should do nothing.
3. That if you believe God revealed something to you, that you should compromise what is right.
“I believe that God wants me to do ______ for him and if some people end up as collateral damage then so be it.”
“I had a dream and I think God wants me to be with this girl even though she does not share my faith in Jesus”
So what? we are in this together. Plural language
So What?
Worship is not ONLY something we do on Sundays
The Worship that we do on Sundays together DOES matter
So What:
Are you striving to gain what will not last
sacrifice leads to blessing
So What:
So What:
Maybe you would say this morning, “I am tired of who I am.”
Maybe you would say this morning, “I am tired of who I am.”
New Life in Christ
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
If you are not “In Christ” believe
If you are in christ and are tired of who you are, ask yourself this
Look at your life: Are you conformed to the pattern of this world?
Look at your life: Are you conformed to the pattern of this world?
In the world but not of the world
this world is not my home, this world is a hostile place
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Look at your life: Are you being transformed by the renewal of your mind?
Look at your life: Are you being transformed by the renewal of your mind?
are you daily offering your whole self as a living sacrifice?
Life on Life: Get with one other person. What is a way that you struggle with staying conformed the the pattern of this world? What is one practical way you can commit to moving towards transformation this week?
