The Acceptable Response to The Mercies of God - Romans 12:1-2

Introduction

Name.

Youth and Young Adult Facilitator.

Wife - Angie.

Kids - 5.

Length attending GBC - 4 Years.

Testimony - Not many people know!

Came to Christ in mid twenties.

I heard the call of God on my life.

Partly because of the helpful prayers of most of the people here.

After my conversion I attended Moody Bible Institute

I attended because:

Passion for God’s Word. A desire to learn more about the Bible.

Ironcially, was very interested about sermons.

Recall being at Harvest - Does everyone actually read or know how to read their Bibles?

during Moody - was at a cross road:

What do I do with the knowledge that I have learned about the Bible - namely The Gospel.

How do I respond to the blessings of God?

I have to put this into practice and apply it everyday life.

I can’t waste it.

As individual believers and the Church as a whole we are taught about God’s blessings, but do we truly know why we are taught them, and how to respond to God’s mercy in an acceptable way?

And that’s what we come to when we read the book of Romans:

In Romans the Apostle Paul gives his audience and us:

Important Gospel knowledge that is intended on revealing God’s kindness.

Instruction as to the right reply which begins with our mind, and results in a righteous lifestyle.

That produces locigal worship to God.

Paul also is kind enough to tell us:

How to maintain this life style in a sinful world.

Which when lived out and tested against the world - proves the will of God which is good, acceptable and perfect.

and is criticial and applicable for individual believers as well as the Church.

Observation

For those who are unaware, Paul the author of Romans use to go by his hebrew name Saul.

Hebrew of Hebrews

Tribe of Benjamin

Circumsized on the 8th day.

Pharisee - Most educated in Old Testament Law

Pharisee that persecuted Christians (Acts 8:1).

Until one day while on his way to persecute a synagogue in Damascus he was confronted and converted by Christ (Acts 9).

Post conversion

Goes by Greek version of his name, Paul.

And is called to preaching the Gospel to Gentiles (Acts 9:15).

Now at the time of when Romans was written Paul had about 25 years of missionary work, church planting, and preaching the Gospel under his belt.

Intro to Romans

Paul begins his letter to the church in Rome by giving us three pieces of info about himself (Moo 35):

“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God”.

First, who is master is - bond-servant of Christ or a slave of Christ.

Meaning he has obedient to the will of Christ.

Second, his office or what his role is - he is divinely called to the position of apostle.

Meaning a messenger for God.

Third, his purpose is - . he is set apart for the Gospel.

Meaning called to preach and teach the Gospel.

In today’s passage, Paul the penman recorded two imperatives Romans 12:1-2 that were critical to his original audience as well as all Christ followers today.

The first imperative, “To present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice”

Second is, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”,

Both of which were counter cultural in his pagan Roman context, as well as ours.

By the time of Paul’s letter to the Romans, his audience was predominantly Gentile Christians. In A.D. 49 the Roman Emperor Claudius became agitated with Jews and expelled them from Rome (Acts 18:2). Eventually Jews were permitted back to Rome, but when they came back they were the minority with respect to their Gentile brothers and sisters in Christ. “One can imagine the social tension such a situation would create” (Moo 18). Paul’s letter to the Romans suggests some division over The Law (Romans 7), and Gentile arrogance (11:18-23) - implications of disunity.

There are at least two implications from Romans as to why Paul wrote this Gospel manifesto to the church in Rome.

First, Paul is seeking financial support for his pending mission to Spain (Romans 15:8)

Second, he is trying to close the gap of disunity within the church in Rome.

Both of these implications have a common denominator and fulfill Paul’s callings

First, “To bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake” which is recorded in Romans chapter 1 verse 5.

And Second, to preach the Gospel to both, Jews and Greeks Romans 1:16 states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

If anyone knows anything about Paul:

He was on fire for Christ.

His passion for Christ was clearly perceived in letters.

His letters are persuasive, and encouraging.

Paul wrote to cause his hearers to respond to the Gospel.

Paul intended to light a fire under people - to convict them -

He gave them a reason to be obedient to the authority of God, and to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The nice thing about today’s passage is that in addition to the revealtion of God’s mercy, it fits perfectly into the whole of Scripture. Meaning one of the main themes of the Bible is how sinful man needs to be reconciled to God. What Paul writes in Romans not only covers that, but also highlights the saving power of the Gospel which ultiamtely illustrate the mercies of God - and deserves Praise!

Speaking of praise, Paul’s reverence and exaltation is clearly seen in his doxology at the end of chapter eleven and sets the stage for his commands in Romans 12:1-2.

Please Open your Bibles to Romans 12:1-2

Interpretation

Romans 12:1-2

1Therefore 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.

1. The Relationship

“Therefore”

I want you to pull up to the word Therefore - and Park. Paul begins this passage using the word “Therefore”. If there were ever an important word in the Bible the word “Therefore” would be it. “Therefore” is the bridge in between chapters 1 through 11 that joins together chapters 12 through 16. It is the relationship between the significant teachings that were in chapters 1 through 11 into the “doing” or putting into practice that is instructed in chapters 12 through 16. The actions or commands that Paul writes after the “Therefore” are caused by something. There is a significant reason for his request - in the case this reason is related to chapters 1 - 11.

The relationship that the word “therefore” resembles - should be seen when teaching, and instructing our kids. For example, if I tell my daughter Iris to do something I would say “Iris, the trash is full. Therefore, it needs to be taken out please”. I have educated or informed her of the reason for why the trash to be taken out - because “the trash is full” Therefore, my instruction for their application to “Take it out” shows puting it into practice. I have provided her instruction that is rooted in a reason.

Or to put it another way the word “Therefore” is the tiny hallway that connects the entrance door leading into church where God’s kindness and grace is taught about, to the exit door out of church where we are expected to live faithfully in the world. God’s kindness which would be the reason is the catalyst to Faithful living in the world.

Which brings us to point number two.

2. The Reason

“I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God”

Now this reason is quite important as we can tell from the word “urge” that Paul uses. Urge describes exhorting - to strongly encourage someone to do something. Here, Paul’s concern is to get the attention of his audience - pay attention! Why? Because my next few words are important.

Paul wants them and us to understand that the reason for his pending request is within the first eleven chapters. He wants to remind them - he wants draw them back to all the Gospel teaching and clarification he previously wrote about. Why? Because those chapters contain the “mercies of God'', and are the reason for his command. They are the more than locigal reason for the acceptable response for sacrifical living. You see, the phrase “Mercies of God” includes all that Paul taught which was:

Sin depraved nature - headed for God’s wrath and judgement

Redemption

Justification and Reconciliation.

Predestination and Election,

God’s sovereignty and providence.

The highlight of the mercies of God is that it is THE ONLY saving power for the sinner which is through Christ alone, by grace alone in faith alone.

Personally, I think that the only way to understand God’s mercy is by first understanding the human condition - And that is exactly where Paul starts off at in Romans chapter 1. And I believe that is why Paul refers to the “Mercies of God” in the first place. He does it in order to remind believers, young and mature, to what their life was before Christ.

2a. Where We Were Before Christ

Human Condition

Romans 3:9-18 NASB

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,16 Destruction and misery are in their paths, 17 And the path of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Paul is quite clear - No one intentionally sought God. No one lived righteously or ethically. Not one of us.

Life before Christ

Ephesians 2:1-3 NASB

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

We were:

Spiritually Dead.

Living according to the way of this world - which is run by satan.

satan and his companions work ever so hard in the world drawing people away from knowing God.

We lived selfishly - satisfying our desires.

Ephesians 2:12 NASB

12 Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Distanced from God and Christ.

Excluded from God’s blessings.

We were Hopeless Strangers.

Romans 1:18-20 NASB

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

And we had no excuse prior to conversion.

God’s righteous and ethical nature are seen clearly in creation that is all around us - including us!

We had suppressed the truth of who God is!

Deserving of Wrath.

2b. Where We Are After Christ

Ephesians 2:4-7 NASB

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.

We are loved by God.

God sent Christ to die for our sins - even while we were still sinners!

He did this out of unmertited Grace! We did absoultly nothing to deserve His kindness.

Our faith in Christ means we are Spiritually Alive.

We are a new creation - justified and reconciled to God.

Assurance of Hope and headed for eternity.

2c. Showing Mercy to Others

But God’s mercy doesn’t stop there !

Ephesians 4:1-2 NASB

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

We are to conduct ourselves appropriately.

Giving the same mercy that God has shown to us - to others.

God’s mercy begs for the question -

How often do we think about God’s mercy? And how does it impact your life?

Romans 2:4 NASB

4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

The mercy of God should influence repentance that convicts and leads us to righteous living.

3. Response

“To present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God”

The “Mercies of God” are soul saving and transformative! And when given careful consideration are the catalyst for the acceptable response to God’s mercy. The next words Paul uses are “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God”. Paul uses the word “Present” to illustrate offering oneself to another in order to serve. The action this verb illustrates is a continual offering of placing oneself at God’s disposal (Moody 1765). This means recurring, repeating, regular.

God doesn’t just want you to sacrifice your life:

Some of the time.

Or once a week.

or when you are in a good mood and things are going your way.

He wants it all the time.

And when Paul refers to the word “bodies” he doesn’t just mean some of us. He is indicating our entire being.

He doesn't just want our arms, and legs.

or our hands and ears.

He wants you all of you.

The whole person, Mind, Heart, Body and Soul.

And you are to be a living and holy sacrifice which is the exact opposite of Old Testament Sacrifices You see In the Old Testament sacrifices were made to God. An animal was killed, and then was brought to the altar without life in it, and given to God, which was an acceptable offering at that time. But, now as New Testament Christians we don't have to sacrifice animals.

Instead, what Paul is saying here is that now we present ourselves to God regularly, as a living, breathing and set a part sacrifice to be used by Him which is the acceptable thing to do. When Paul refers to the word “acceptable” it means or suggests that there is an acceptable way of living in the sight of God.

We simply can not go back to our old nature before we followed the Lord, where we obeyed the selfish lusts of our hearts. Why not?

1 Corinthians 6:20 NASB

20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

What is nice about how Paul writes is that he has already prepared his audience that their is an acceptable way, a righteous way to live.

Romans 6:12-13 NASB

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Paul is saying that we can not let sin reign or control us to where we become obedient to it. He uses king language here - the word “reign” is used to remind us our King - Jesus - King of kings and Lord of Lords to whom we are saved and made new through- therefore we must act justly.

Romans 6:16 NASB

16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

Paul is stated an obvious here -

When you offer yourself to something you become a slave to it.

and he points out that There are only two paths.

Being a slave to sin - unethical unacceptable response to the mercies of God - which leads to death -

Or a slave to obedience in God - ethical the acceptable response to God’s mercies - which leads to righteousness - and is considered worship.

4. The Result

“Which is your spiritual service of worship.”

And when we respond to God’s mercy with the acceptabel responses, by living a sacrificial life it is considered worship. The next word Paul uses is “Spiritual” which is defined as logical or reason or the sense of being informed.

Here, Paul is implying that when we offer ourselves as a sacrifice it is done out of gratitude and because we completely understand it is the only reasonable response to God’s sovereign mercies - and we do it intentionally and willingly. The use of the word “worship” doesn’t imply Sunday morning music worship. It refers to a lifestyle of worship. How we conduct ourselves in all facets of our life as well as how we use the blessings that God has given us. This doesn’t mean that Sunday’s are not important - because they are - it is a very much needed element to the believers life. In fact one of my favorite pastors, Steve Lawson put it this way -

“Now, coming to church on the Lord's Day is vitally important to every believer's life and I think even a necessity, but coming to church on Sunday morning is only to prepare us to be worshippers the entire rest of the week. It is like a gas station. We just come to get filled up so that we have got gas in our tank to live the rest of the week.”

How many of us get halfway through the week and feel they need a boost? We get bogged down so quickly sometimes from life, work, relationships, etc... Christians need to be fueled by the mercies of God in order to live a life in sacrifice to God, praising, giving thanks, and glorifying God! Every minute of every day.

This first verse raises so many questions for us.

What are we sacrificing in our own life because of God’s kindness?

Are we sacrificing our precious time?

Are we sacrificing our desires in order to fullfil our God given roles as

Husband, Wife, Child, Friend, Worker, Church Member?

Are we living our life in regular worship ?

Our how are we - the church displaying mercy to others?

Are we giving mercy when some disagrees with our position on mask wearing and covid vaccines?

or when some gives strong criticism regarding a political belief?

Are we showing mercy at Stracks while in a long line?

Or at the hospital waiting to see a loved one?

At home with our spouses, and children?

Are we speaking and acting out love and patience, and understanding?

At work or social settings?

Are we patient with employers, co-workers and friends when we don’t see eye to eye on a subject?

Or perhaps there is an even bigger question-

Intro point five and read!

5. The Requirement

“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.”

So how do we do this? live sacrificially? How do we Present ourselves willingly to God due to His goodness.?

Paul tell us this kind of worship requires that we don't conform to the world. The word conform means to take the form as another. When I think about this word and our context the word passive and implusive come to mind. How easy is it for us to get sucked into worldly things or respond without thinking. And this is exactly what satan, ruler of this world, tries to do through the world, and through our natural sinful disposition. He trys to conform us, suck us in - distract us, encourage impulsive behavior. And it’s easy we dont even know it’s happeing - he does it through

News, Politics and Pandemics

Social media

Music and movies

Cultural Trends.

1 John 2:15 NASB

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

The Apostle John say’s Don’t love what the world values.

The world says “This You can have this and that” “Go ahead and take it. You have earned it”

The world says “Buy that bigger house even if you can’t afford it”

The world says “Go ahead and live above your means”

John say’s Don’t love the world's way of thinking.

The world says “Follow your heart”

The world says “It’s Ok you have earned the right to be selfish”

The world says “Carve your own path in life”

John say’s Don’t love the world’s immoral and impure way of thinking.

The world says “Don’t be ashamed to wear revealing clothing”

The world says “It’s ok to have objectfy men and woman”

Everything the world stands for is contrary to God.

1 John 2:16 NASB

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

John gives us 3 Examples of worldliness:

Lust of the flesh.

When we give into your own desires - it’s easier than following God.

Lust of the Eyes.

If you see you you want it. Whether it is sex, money, stuff.

Pride of life.

Conifidence in doing life on your own, in your own strength; showing prideful, and no need God.

This isn’t just for the individual believer - it can be applied to the modern church as well.

Are we as the church compromising on doctrine, regarding marriage, gender, and equality in order to make people feel good?

Are we making worship performance enterainment than actual worship?

Are we not teaching the intensity of sin and God’s Judgement.

1 John 2:17 NASB

“ 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

Instead of being molded and shaped by the world Paul says “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. Renew refers to a change for the better and Transform means to change form, having an effect on the whole person. When God transforms us by way of the Holy Spirit - our thoughts, attitudes, and perspectives change, and in turn our behavior and conduct changes along with the position of our hearts. But, we have to do some work too, we have to be intentional. We have to have gratitude for God’s mercy - We have to have a reason.

This is very clear - We can no longer live by impulsive or passive behavior that is shaped and influenced by the world. This kind of transformed thinking requires that we actually THINK -

Think before responding to an irritating text message.

Think before we respond in an agrument.

Think before we make that large purchase.

Seriously, think about how we think, how we speak and act in all situations.

Simply put, we need to be self controlled and mindful. Transformed thinking is based upon the mind of God. Therefore, we must learn to think like God.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 NASB

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We are not the natural man anymore who lived by human impulse. We are Spiritually alive and have the knowledge of Christ which is the mercies of God. What is nice about Paul is that he knows that this is a process and that we are merely humans, our emotions and feelings fluctuate - we will fall and fail from time to time- that is why he teached is that the mind is so important.

One of the best ways to help do our part in transforming our minds is by………. Reading Scripture! We must saturate minds with the word of God. Pastor Steve Lawson once said that if someone cut Theologian/Pastor Charles Spurgeon on the arm he would bleed out Bibline. We need to manifest just that - and reap the benefits!

Psalm 1:1-6

1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

This illustrates saturation! and the Blessing is viewed in a life sacrifice to the Lord. Seriously take a look at verse 3 - we are the tree! When we realize the pleasure that comes from not only knowing the Lord, but also understanding His righteous will for us, and thinking on it regularly - we are glorifying the Lord and producing good works that are based on faith for Him, and we even prosper. This isn’t a material prosperity but a spiritual one, being more than content with God, knowing He will take care of our everyneed. And it’s not just reading about God’s mercy in Scripture.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NASB

6 “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates

We are called to memorize the mercies of God.

To teach the mercies of God to our kids.

Talk about the merices of God in our homes at work, in the world.

We are to think about the mercies of God at night before we go to bed and when we wake up.

We shall put up reminders and signs of the mercies of God.

And it is by saturation of the word of God that we are not only blessed, and glorifying God but we will be able to discern or prove that His will is good and acceptable and perfect.

Our Youth Group just studied the Will of God a few weeks ago. We learned that God has two Wills. His Sovereign Will in which comes to pass by whatever means necessary. And then there is God’s Will of Command. This is the will of God we can disobey and fail to do. Scripture is littered with the God’s Will of command in fact Romans 12:1-2 is a great example of God’s Will of Command.

What Paul is saying in essence is that when we are transformed by God, and renewed by the word we are viewing the world through biblical glasses. And we are able to test and prove God’s will against the lies and values of the world, and realize that God‘s will and word never fails.

Isaiah 55:11 (NASB95)

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

I’m sure a lot of mature Christians here today can attest to the blessing and goodness of God that came as result of reading the Word of God.

Conclusion

As we close this morning and reflect on this two verses I want to share with you some of the questions that came to mind -

Are we as beleivers and the body of Christ responding in the acceptable manner?

Are we living a life that is acceptable to God? That is based upon the kindness of God.

Are we doing our part studying the word, keeping the Mercy of God , that is The Gospel at the forefront of our minds?

Or are we letting the world form us, shape us, mold us into the prototype the enemy wants?

I can’t help but wonder when Paul wrote this letter, did he write it with the unconverted in mind in addition to believers. The fact that he mentions, “ 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” - encourages that thought, and should encourage those that have not put their faith and trust in Christ yet. Paul’s letter to the Romans is quite clear that the Gospel offer is open to all who hear it, regardless of how muddy and messy your life is. Paul in essence has challenged us all believers and non-believers - he has given us the relationship between informing and applying that information, by providing us with a reason, or rather the mercies of God; that should influence response of sacrificial living; producing the result of reasonable worship and he tells the life long requirement - do not be conformed by the world -but be transformed by the renewing of your mind - which once tested against the values of the world - reveals God’s will which is perfect. But, are we willing to do it.

Let us Pray.