Responding to God"s Rich Mercy
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Let’s dive into by reminding ourselves what God has done for us as mentioned in .
30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,
32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Romans 11:33
Romans 11:
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans
According to Paul we have been shown mercy. Mercy from what? Paul described us as that branch from a wild olive tree grafted in to that one olive tree symbolizing God, a picture of being restored to God by faith. Otherwise we would have suffered the same faith as that of the unbelieving Israel who by the way as a nation will be given a chance to be restored to its purpose that God intended them to be. They will finally believe in Jesus as the Messiah they have been waiting for.
Mercy comes when you are given a chance to be save from eternal condemnation as a result of unbelief. It is sin deserving death. In other words, through God’s rich mercy we have been saved from His wrath. Here’s another area in the Bible where Paul summarizes what happened to those who now believed.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
:
What did we get?
Mercy
Love
Salvation
Heavenly position - seated us with Him in the heavenly places,
Grace
Kindness
Because of all the above Paul is admonishing how we ought to respond to God’s unfathomable ways. His ways puts a limit to our ways. Our ways are nothing to His ways.
Read
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. 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.
God’s love demands a response. As recipients we should gladly, willingly, sacrificially, wholeheartedly and inspired with much appreciation and love. Paul precedes how to respond by appealing to do the following:
1. Present your body to God.
1. Present your body to God.
How do we usually respond to a neighbors kind gestures? We reciprocate, equal.
So what was the biggest and most important life altering gestures that God do for us? Jesus life, who came in a human body. He gave His life, he offered His body.
THEREFORE, the believer is to present his body as a living sacrifice to God.
Not as a sacrifice on the altar, as the Mosaic Law required the sacrifice of animals, but as a living sacrifice. The dictionary defines sacrifice as “anything consecrated and offered to God.” As believers, how do we consecrate and offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice?
Under the Old Covenant, God accepted the sacrifices of animals. But these were just a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
Under the Old Covenant the practice of animal sacrifice in the tabernacle was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. When it was turn for Him to die on the cross it was a once-and-for-all sacrifice making the previous once obsolete and no longer effective.
11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The believer is to present his body as a living sacrifice to God
What does it mean to live sacrificially?
What does it mean to live sacrificially?
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 222). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
What happens when we abstain from every form of evil? God will sanctify us entirely, making complete our SOUL, BODY and SPIRIT preparing it to be blameless when the Lord comes back.
What does it mean to live sacrificially?
It means a constant, continuous sacrifice, not just an occasional dedication of one’s body. A person does not sacrifice his body to God today and then take his body back into his own hands and do his own thing tomorrow. A living sacrifice means that a person dedicates his body to live for God and to keep on living for God.
Living as a sacrifice is not limited to a particular place. The sacrifice of the body is a living sacrifice; it can be made while the body is living right where it is. And the offering of a living sacrifice is to be made right now while the body is living.
means a constant, continuous sacrifice, not just an occasional dedication of one’s body. A person does not sacrifice his body to God today and then take his body back into his own hands and do his own thing tomorrow. A living sacrifice means that a person dedicates his body to live for God and to keep on living for God.
means a sacrifice of a person’s body wherever the body is. A particular place is not needed. The sacrifice of the body is a living sacrifice; it can be made while the body is living right where it is. And the offering of a living sacrifice is to be made right now while the body is living.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 222). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
Living as a sacrifice is living a life that you dedicate to God in order to honor him. It is offering it back to God who created it and bought it back paid for the sacrificial death of His only begotten Son. We are not our own, we are His.
To live sacrificially is lifetime decision, not just to be performed occasionally buy totally for the whole duration of a believer’s life on earth.
To live sacrificially is a way of living - constantly seeking glorify God, serve God and carryout His purpose for your new life that is in Christ Jesus. Now that we have been sanctified (past tense, it is done), that is, set apart to God and set free from the hold of sin to a life eternal by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit we need to offer it for His glory through the things we do ().
Now that we have been sanctified (past tense, it is done), that is, set apart to God and set free from the hold of sin to a life eternal by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit we need to offer it for His glory through the things we do ().
To live sacrificially means give up your personal desire for your life and replaced it with God’s. Unless you are totally and solely devoted to Him, you will not turnover the control of your life. He was to be in control and it’s up to your freewill to decide towards it or against it.
now be sanctified, that is, set apart to God and set free from sin to life eternal by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit ().
Until Israel as a nation will be grafted back, we are currently God’s choice to carry the message of hope, that is in His Son, to the whole world and it begins with the person who is within your reach. The world is simply outside that door but extends to the furthest corner of the world and your can go as far as God leads you. As you get people save a long the way, will you?
We need to do with our lives what Christ did to His life.
The clarity of this command cannot be overstated. It is so clear, we don’t need someone with a PhD. in theology to explain this statement to us. We don’t need to break it down so that we will understand. The message is clear: Devote yourself to God.
Who else knows about what we are suppose to do with our bodies? The Enemy! As an enemy of Christ, Satan and his demons will stop you. He will throw all sorts of “fiery darts”at you so that you will be unsuccessful. Which brings us to discovering the PRACTICAL sense of his appeal.
His influence will tempt and direct man to abuse, neglect and ignore his/her body by:
c
overeating - is a sign of depression. Depression renders the believer inactive.
being lazy - God hates laziness. The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. Lazy people loves sleep.
being busy in other things
division through fighting and killing
substance abuse
caring for the external neglecting the internal
getting too much or too little rest resulting in illness
.
The list above is just even partial, it can be longer and even more complex. Our enemy and smart and a deceiver. His goal is to disrupt God’s creation.
What does a living sacrifice look like in the practical sense?
What does a living sacrifice look like in the practical sense?
How are we to live, what are the things that we should be doing being a living sacrifice?
2. Be conformed to the likeness of Christ.
2. Be conformed to the likeness of Christ.
The word conformed (sunschematizo) comes from the root word schema which means fashion, the outward form, the appearance of a man. It is the appearance of a person that changes from day to day and year to year. A man dresses differently for work than he does for an evening out. A man looks different as a young man than he does as an older man. His schema, his fashion, his outward appearance differs.
The word conformed (sunschematizo) comes from the root word schema which means fashion, the outward form, the appearance of a man. It is the appearance of a person that changes from day to day and year to year. A man dresses differently for work than he does for an evening out. A man looks different as a young man than he does as an older man. His schema, his fashion, his outward appearance differs.
To conform means to comply with rules, standards or laws. Conformity to God is involves the active frequent studying of scriptures.
To conform means to comply with rules, standards or laws. Conformity to God is involves the active frequent studying of scriptures.
The idea of conformity is to leave, depart from a current lifestyle to follow or adopt a new one. In this case from one lifestyle to another that is totally different even opposite.
The word world (aion) in the simplest of terms means the world itself and everything in it, for it is all corruptible. The world, including the heavens and earth and all therein, is aging, deteriorating and dying; and it will pass away. The world is not perfect: not in being, order, morality, or justice
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 224). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
To conform means to comply with rules, standards or laws. Conformity to God is involves the active frequent studying of scriptures.
But how do we know what to conform to and what to conform with?
8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
You study it with the idea of following it. …SO THAT YOU MAY BE CAREFUL TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3
YOU ARE TO CONTINUE....
Last weeks message I mention abiding in Christ. To abide in Christ means to go by the values and standard of God’s righteousness as guide in daily living.
Conforming to the likeness of Christ is abiding in Christ.
If there was one prominent feature of Christ’s life here on earth was that it was without sin. He lived a Holy life, a righteous life.
With regards to avoiding sin, He is our standard.
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Thus we need to avoid sin.
With regards to be declared we as believers are Holy therefore we should be Holy. Read 1 Peter 1:15-16
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
22 abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By fully presenting our body to Christ as a living sacrifice we are to fulfill His purpose for us at the same time abstain from evil. We ought to be Holy instruments!
What happens when we abstain from every form of evil? God will sanctify us entirely, making complete our SOUL, BODY and SPIRIT preparing it to be blameless when the Lord comes back.
On the other hand the devil will tempt and direct man to abuse, neglect and ignore his/her body by:
overeating - is a sign of depression. Depression renders the believer inactive.
being lazy - God hates laziness. The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. Lazy people loves sleep.
being busy in other things
division through fighting and killing
substance abuse
caring for the external neglecting the internal
getting too much or too little rest resulting in illness
The believer is not to be conformed to this world. Now note something: the world, the very fashion and appearance of the world …
The believer is not to be conformed to this world. Now note something: the world, the very fashion and appearance of the world …
• seems to be lasting, permanent, and unending
• seems to offer the very best of everything: pleasure, enjoyment, happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, completeness
However, the fashion and appearance of the world is a lie, a mask, a masquerade. Even the very spirit of the world has within it the seed of corruption. The seed of corruption is seen in the acts of the world and its nature, in the terrible spirit of …
• selfishness
• greed
• anger
• hatred
• bitterness
• ungodliness
• savagery
• division
• war
• deceitfulness
• suffering
• conflict
• ignorance
• deterioration
• death
• sickness
• disease
• cursing
• pride
• disorder
• decay
The list above is even partial, it can be longer and even more complex. Our enemy and smart and a deceiver and a destroyer. His goal is to disrupt God’s creation. Destroy relationships and bring as much as he can to the pit of hell. It is like 1/3 of the angel who followed him once again.
3. Be transformed by Christ’s Word.
3. Be transformed by Christ’s Word.
the goal is complete transformation.
conformity is the means, transformation is the goal.
the believer is to be transformed (metamorphousthe). The Greek root of the word is Morphe!
the believer is to be transformed (metamorphousthe)
Morphe - to change the form or character of : transform. intransitive verb. : to undergo transformation especially : to undergo transformation from an image of one object into that of another
When does transformation begin? When you became new.
What the Bible is saying is clearly evident: the believer must undergo a radical change within his inner being in order to escape the world and its doom.
What the Bible is saying is clearly evident: the believer must undergo a radical change within his inner being in order to escape the world and its doom.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 226). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
1 Cor 5:17
1 Cor 5:17
What the Bible is saying is clearly evident: the believer must undergo a radical change within his inner being in the midst of the old world that he currently is.
The believer must be transformed and changed inwardly. His real self—his very nature, essence, personality, inner being, his inner man—must be changed.
What the Bible is saying is clearly evident: the believer must undergo a radical change within his inner being in order to escape the world and its doom.
The believer must be transformed and changed inwardly. His real self—his very nature, essence, personality, inner being, his inner man—must be changed.
How is man transformed?
How is man transformed?
The Bible declares as simply as can be stated, “by the renewing of your mind.” The believer’s mind is to be renewed (anakainosis), which means to be made new, readjusted, changed, turned around, regenerated.
The Bible declares as simply as can be stated, “by the renewing of your mind.” The believer’s mind is to be renewed (anakainosis), which means to be made new, readjusted, changed, turned around, regenerated.
From being:
selfish to being generous
• selfish
self-centered to Christ centered
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 226). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
self-seeking to seeking God’s kingdom first
centered on this world - focused on Christ
centered on the flesh - controlled by the Holy Spirit or Spirit led.
centered on this life - focused on the afterlife dwelling with God in eternity
The human mind and heart has been corrupted by sin and is in need of change. That’s why when we believed God gave us a new spirit a new heart and new mind.
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Ezekiel prophesying to the mountains of Israel.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
The believer is to live a transformed life; that is, he is to walk day by day renewing his mind more and more. He is to allow the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) to focus his mind more and more upon God and spiritual things.
The believer is to live a transformed life; that is, he is to walk day by day renewing his mind more and more. He is to allow the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) to focus his mind more and more upon God and spiritual things.
God has begun the transformation and it involves your obedience and abiding in Him. If you stray He will discipline you, straighten you for you are His child.
He has given you His life so that in Him you will have, new life, new mind, new spirit and a new heart. He also has given you His Word that you will study and apply it.
Summary
Summary
Give your life solely devoted to God which includes your time, talent, energy, resources and thoughts! As one who has been given a new life through Christ you need to start offering it as a living, breathing sacrifice, in service to God as an ongoing act of worship. Scripture clearly teaches this. In Paul said that you and I need to work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. To do this, we will need to break free from the me-first attitude and changed it to He-first. He must increase and we must decrease. This is how a new life in Christ should be lived. Embrace and live out grace instead of abusing it.