Romans 12: Part 1
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Dedicated Service:
Dedicated Service:
There are 3 movements in Romans chapters 1-12, that we first must understand to identify Paul’s message to us in 12.
Our condition outside of Christ and why we find ourselves there
This condition is rectified through God’s justifying work, and how we are to understand this work as Paul make more robust the idea of salvation
Our appropriate response to understanding the purpose of God’s work.
…This is where 12 begins
Our Passage has 3 Sections - 1 | 2| 3-8
Our Passage has 3 Sections - 1 | 2| 3-8
Romans 12:1
Romans 12:1
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.
Therefore...
Therefore...
Because of who you were (enemies) and by virtue of who you are now in Christ (adopted Sons and daughters)
Place your ENTIRE LIFE in God’s hands to be “useful” to Him, because this is what you ought to do
Let's break down the constituent parts…
Let's break down the constituent parts…
It is universal given the audience, marked by brethern (family, brothers and sisters)
Let's break down the constituent parts…
Let's break down the constituent parts…
The Plea follows from what is being taught
The urging of Paul is a plea for you to do something
That something is the only thing we can "really" do
To Present…what?
To Present…what?
Story of Boy who puts himself in the offering plate
To present an offering is to give it to God for His use as He would use it
God doesn't take junk…that which is presented to God must be of his choosing
The condition of the Life matters (SL made this point well Thurs)
for you to be accepted—it must be a male without defect from the cattle, the sheep, or the goats. ‘Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you. ‘When a man offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. ‘Those that are blind or fractured or maimed or having a running sore or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the Lord, nor make of them an offering by fire on the altar to the Lord.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Epistle to the Romans A. The Christian Attitude to God, 12:1–2
First-century people were familiar with the offering of sacrifices whereas we are not. They had stood by their altar and watched as an animal was identified as their own, as it was slain in the ritual manner, its blood manipulated, and the whole or part of the victim burned on the altar and ascended in the flames to the deity they worshipped. To suggest that they themselves should be sacrifices was a striking piece of imagery
Examples of unacceptable sacrifice
--------
--------
Spiritual Service of Worship?
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Epistle to the Romans A. The Christian Attitude to God, 12:1–2
First-century people were familiar with the offering of sacrifices whereas we are not. They had stood by their altar and watched as an animal was identified as their own, as it was slain in the ritual manner, its blood manipulated, and the whole or part of the victim burned on the altar and ascended in the flames to the deity they worshipped. To suggest that they themselves should be sacrifices was a striking piece of imagery
Bodies Holy and Acceptable
Bodies Holy and Acceptable
; ;
(NASB95)
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
(NASB95)
that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
(NASB95)
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
It is this wholly righteous and devoted person that God wants for his purposes (great point of reference is - showing this fact over and over throughout the chapter)
Spiritual Service of Worship?
Spiritual Service of Worship?
Cain in
Spiritual Service of Worship?
Reasonable service
Romans 12:2
Romans 12:2
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.
Conformity happens without intentionality in another direction
This is not simply stop doing - which would mean our slow drip of poison subsides (stop putting junk in you), it is an assertive going to the gym/training in order to renew your mind --> to produce transformation (something wholly different - "new life")
talks about the eternal things
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Sometimes as simple as changing radio stations
“Christian Radio/Listening to Scripture vs. ESPN” Example of how we choose little things (rightly and wrongly) that make a big impact
TRANSFORMED (Settled) Too often we settle for short of new - there is a difference between experiencing new and being new. We can settle for one-off experiences over the habitual life change. Saying, “this is great, this must be what it is.” It is possible to taste the things of God without experiencing reorientation and transformation. The process is not the result. We must not exchange new things for new life. But with engaging in the fight and winning does come new things, and new life and leads to the 2nd part of verse 2 - proving what the will of God is
Why do we want to do this -> so that we can prove what the will of God is (Those things which are good acceptable and perfect)
*Everything is about knowing and doing the will of God*
"teach them all I commanded you"
Know and Do!
Romans 12:3-8
Romans 12:3-8
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
God's Way
God's WayYour Way
Your Way
Body is living and holy sacrifice
Do not be conformed to the World
Body is living and holy sacrifice
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
Prove what the will of God is (that which is good, acceptable and perfect)
Do not think of yourself more highly than you should
Think as to have sound judgment
Your Way
Your Way
Body is my slave for my purposes
Be conformed to the world
Be conformed to the world
Stay as you are, thinking the same way
Stay as you are, thinking the same way
Be unable to discern what God wants for you (that which is not good, not acceptable and not perfect)
Be unable to discern what God wants for you (that which is not good, not acceptable and not perfect)
Think more highly of yourself than you ought
Think more highly of yourself than you ought
Think so as to not have sound judgment
HOW DO I DO GOD’s WAY?
HOW DO I DO GOD’s WAY?
#1 The key to thinking about yourself Correctly is to immerse yourself daily in the reality of who you are in Christ and who he is to you
You are his redeemed son and daughter , who has been given everything you could ever need to live the life he has called you to
He is your King
#2 We should have Jesus’ Perspective
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
sa
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
We are a unity, and have an obligation within that unity for its strength
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
God has bestowed gifts on his people through the HS and these gifts are for service in keeping the body unified and cared for (reference?)
It is helpful then to understand your place in the body at any particular time (understanding the purpose your gift(s) serve)
It is further helpful to exercise your gift(s) according to your “proportion of faith”
This last one is helping us make this correlation between faith and obedience
my action is in proportion to my faith
specifically my action in accordance with his purposes
if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans: A New Covenant Commentary Consider How to Serve One Another (12:1–8)
Paul’s central point, however, is that each believer has something to contribute to the proper functioning of Christ’s body. From this observation it seems not too much to infer that the body would often fail to function properly when individual members fail to recognize their value and contribute their gift, or when other members try to usurp roles not suited for their particular grace or faith.
Close
Close
*As God has urged you to "do" something this morning - SL is going to come up and play some music for us. I want to give you some time to think about what your response should be and for you to make a presentation of yourself by writing a prayer of decision on cards at the table. The cards are here on the table, once you have finished place them on the alter. Don't put your names. I want to pray over these this week. When that time is done, SL will finish with a song and you can finish out your times at your table with additional prayer time or discussion.
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;