New Year new life

I. INTRO

A. Setting the Stage

a. Christmas

1. How was y'all's Xmas?

2. I had a great Xmas w/fam

b. New Years

1. Coming up on New Years now; this is a time that we tend 2...

i. Examine the previous year

ii. Look forward to the new year

2. A time that hope builds for a better yr.

i. w/this comes a strange tradition…New Years resolutions.

-A New Year's resolution is where people look at life over the last year and decide they want to change

3. Here’s a video w/some common NY Resolutions:

B. Bringing It HM

a. The idea though, is 2b better this yr than we were last yr.  

1. Unfortunately, those new year's resolutions end quickly & the people that make them r back to the same life style again.

b. What we really r looking for is Transformation: Paul tells us in...

C. Main Text

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

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.

Ro 12

Romans 12:2 ESV

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.

D. Prayer

II. BODY

A. Not Conformity; Transformation

a. (Paul encourages that) Jesus followers are to look & act different

1. The world (as the apostles would call it) are characterized by self-interest, greed, un-forgiveness, & responding to attacks in kind.

i. Instead, Paul says to b transformed

b. transformed means to change into another form

1. Before Jesus we are 1 way & by God’s grace we are changed in2 something new, diff.

to change into another form

i. So Paul says do not conform back 2 what you were before, but be changed in2 something new

ii. How are we transformed?

B. Transformed through new thinking

Romans 12:2 ESV

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. (when Paul says) The mind he means the center of logical reasoning, ethical judgment & moral awareness

1. We gotta allow the H.S. to erase all that stinking thinking:

i. thoughts like: Get even, hold a grudge, lookout for #1, what can I get, over indulgent

2. & replace it w/the new thinking

b. Knowing God’s perfect will is only discerned with the New Mind

Romans 12:2 ESV

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.

1. What’s the new Self?

C. The New Self

a. The new self is characterized by sacrifice

Romans 12:1 ESV

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.

1. Paul goes on 2 say that the new self lives in community ()

i. In these vs Paul describes the church as a body: intricately connected

-Thus Christians r 2 live in community, connected together w/Jesus @the center

2. Paul then describes that we must be empowered by grace gifts o the Spirit to live & function as Jesus’ rep. () which we described at great length

i. Then Paul comes 2 define the new ethic

b. The new self is characterized by genuine love

Romans 12:9 ESV

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Ro 12:

1. Love is self giving identified by kind actions 2ward others

i. more than warm feelings, but doing good 2ward others

-this is why the NKJ uses the word “Charity”, yet even this word is imperfect

*U might say loving charity?

2. genuine means sincere, unfeigned

i. When Paul says “let love be genuine” he’s saying love others for their sake & not our own

ii. Genuine love acts 4 the good of others & never asks what do I get out o this act…

-there’s no ulterior motive

c. The new self is horrified at evil & clings to good

1. abhor means to be so mortified, so horrified at something that u can’t bare 2 look at it

i. So often we want to use this vs as a motivator 2 attack those outside the church

-Or 2 lock the doors & turn a blind eye to the community God calls us 2 reach.

-THIS SHOULD NEVER BE THE RESPONSES O THE CHURCH!!!!

*This is not how Jesus responds to sinners ever

*Jesus saw sinners as

~sheep in need o a shepherd or

~sick in need o a doctor

*Jesus saw these responses frm the religious leaders & said:

~"take the log out of your own eye & then you’ll see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” Matt 7:5

~ “let u who has not sinned cast the 1st stone”

ii. Instead, we should look inward & when we see evil, we should be so horrified, that we r overcome w/grief

-This response brings repentance as we recognize how it breaks the heart of God when we hurt our fellow man & then fall on our face in repentance

-It also brings humility because we recognize that we r just beggars telling other beggars where to find food: That is salvation through Jesus

2. & cling to the good we find in ourselves & rejoice at God’s good work, trusting him that he’ll bring it to completion

d. The new self is characterized by brotherly affection

Romans 12:10 ESV

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.