New Year's Resolution

We’re at the Start of a New Year

And With a New Year Comes New Year’s Resolutions

A Resolution is a Determined Decision You Make to Do or Not Do Something

How Many of You Have Made a New Year’s Resolution for This Year?

How Many of You are Going to Lose a Lot of Weight this Year?

Some of the Top New Year’s Resolutions People Make Are:

Lose Weight (Of Course)

Exercise More and/or Eat Healthier

Quit Smoking and/or Drinking

Spend Less Time On Social Media

Spend More Time With Family

Learn a New Skill or Hobby

Maybe You’ve Already Made a Similar Resolution

Or Maybe You’re Like Me and You Never Really End Up Making One Most of the Time

Regardless, I Want to Share with You a Great New Year’s Resolution

And I Want to Challenge You to Make This Resolution Your Own

It’s One that Will Impact Your Life for the Better

Much More Than Any of the Usual New Year’s Resolutions

It’s a Resolution that Will Bring You More…

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

It’s a Resolution that Paul Urged the Church in Rome to Make

Romans 12:1 (LEB)

Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

A Perfect New Year’s Resolution for All of Us to Make Would Be Just That:

To Present Our Bodies as Living Sacrifices to God

We’ll Let Paul Explain to Us What All that Means in a Minute

First, Let’s Make Sure We Have an Understanding of the Context of Paul’s Letter to the Romans

The Book of Romans was Written to Defend and Proclaim the Righteousness of God

He is Righteous Because He Keeps All of His Promises that He Has Made to the Children of Abraham

Paul Points Out that the Children of Abraham (Israel)…

Are Not Abraham’s Physical Descendants…

But His Spiritual Descendants Who Have a Faith Like His

That Means Jews and Gentiles are Now Both Adopted into the Family of God

And Through the Gift of God’s Righteous Grace and Mercy…

Those Who Live By Faith in Jesus Will Inherit Salvation and Eternal Life

The First 11 Chapters Focus On God’s Merciful Act of Bringing Salvation to the Spiritual Descendants of Abraham

But Starting in Chapter 12, Paul Begins the Practical Section of Romans

Because of What God Through Jesus Has Done for Us…

Here is How We Should Respond

Romans 12:1 LEB

Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

Paul Begins By Urging/Strongly Encouraging the Roman Christians…

To Present Their Bodies as Living Sacrifices

This Gives Us Imagery of a Priest Making a Sacrifice On the Altar

We are the Priest, But We are Also the Sacrifice

The Book of Hebrews Goes into Great Detail on How Jesus Did that Very Same Thing for Us

He is Our High Priest Who Offered Himself as the Sacrifice

Now He Expects the Same From Those Who Place Their Faith in Him

To Present Your Body as a Living Sacrifice is to…

Make a Resolution to Surrender Yourself Entirely to God

CSB - “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God”

NLT - “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.”

Because of the Mercies God Has Shown Us Through Jesus and His Gospel…

We Ought to Surrender Ourselves Entirely to God

Romans 12:1 (LEB)

Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

Doing So Makes Us Holy and Pleasing to God

And This is Our Reasonable Service

“Service” Refers to the Service of a Priest in the Tabernacle/Temple

Reasonable = logikos - Where We Get Our Word “Logic”

To Surrender Ourselves Entirely to God is the Most Logical, Rational, Reasonable Response…

Because of the Amazing Grace He has Shown to Us in Christ

But What Does it Mean to Surrender Ourselves Entirely to God?

Romans 12:2 (NASB95)

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.

To Surrender Ourselves Entirely to God is to Not Be Conformed to this Age

Instead of Allowing the Present Evil Age to Squeeze Us into its Mold…

We are to Be Transformed

This Transformation Takes Place Within the Heart/Mind

Transformation is the Result of Renewing Our Minds

Paul Describes it to the Colossians This Way:

Colossians 3:1–3 (NASB95)

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Those Who By Faith are Resurrected With Christ in Baptism Have Chosen a Life of Surrender to Him

And Therefore They are to No Longer Set Their Minds on Earthly, Temporary Things…

But on Heavenly, Permanent Things

By Placing Your Faith in Christ, You Die to Your Old Ways of Living…

Offering Yourself as a Sacrifice to God

Romans 12:2 (NASB95)

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.

With a Renewed Mind Set On Spiritual Things…

We are Able to Test, Prove, Know, and Obey God’s Will for Us

His Good, Pleasing, and Perfect Will

What Does it Look Like to Surrender Myself Entirely to God?

What Does it Look Like to Live a Transformed Life Brought On By the Renewing of My Mind?

That’s What Paul is Going to Tell Us Throughout the Rest of the Chapter

Romans 12:3–5 (NASB95)

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(Or as the NLT Says, “Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves”), as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 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.

One Way We Surrender Ourselves Entirely to God and Live a Transformed Life is:

By Not Thinking Too Highly of Ourselves

Instead, We are to Recognize Our Place in the Body of Christ

We are Given Different Measures of Faith By God

We are All Different Body Parts that Make Up the Body of Christ

And We are to Function as Different Body Parts that Make Up This Unified Body

Okay Paul, Be More Specific About These Different Measures of Faith…

And the Different Functions We All Have in the Church

Romans 12:6–8 (NASB95)

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; 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 1:11 Tells Us that the Roman Christians Did Not Yet Have Spiritual Gifts

So that Leads Me to Believe that the Gifts Mentioned Here are Not Miraculous in Nature

The First Gift Mentioned May Be the Only Exception to That

Prophecy = To Proclaim the Mind, Will, and Knowledge of God

This Could Refer to Some of the Congregation Who Had the Miraculous Gift of Prophesying

Or Possibly it Could Refer to Those Who Preach/Proclaim the Will of God to the Congregation Through the Scriptures

Regardless, Those Who God Has Gifted With the Ability to Prophecy, Should Us it

If You are a Member of This Congregation…

And You Have the Ability to Preach/Proclaim God’s Word…

Please Don’t Withhold Such a Blessing From Us!

God Gave You That Ability to Use!

Talk to the Elders and Ask for Opportunities to Preach

If You Have the Gift of Being Able to Serve the People of This Church…

Whatever that Service May Look Like…

Serve!

I’m Going to Pick On the Men for a Second

We Have Got a Strong Group of Sisters Who Keep the Works of This Church Going

And if We Were to Lose Them, Nothing Would Ever Get Done

We’ve Got a Few Men Who Will Step Up and Serve as Well

But Men, It’s Time We Step Up, Be Leaders, and Serve

God Has Given You That Gift to Use

If You Have the Gift of Teaching…

Teach!

We Have Great Women and a Handful of Men Who Do a Great Job Teaching Our Classes

But We are in Desperate Need of More

Again, I’m Going to Pick On the Men

Most of the Teachers of This Congregation are Women

Men, Where are We?

With a Congregation this Size, We Surely Have More Men With the Gift of Teaching

Men, Step Up, Lead, and Teach

If You Have the Gift of Comforting and Encouraging…

Please Use Your Gift for the Building Up of this Congregation

If God Has Blessed You With the Means to Give…

Do So Generously to Those in Need

If You Have the Gift of Leadership…

Use it to the Benefit of the Church With Diligence, Zeal, and Seriousness

If You Have the Gift of Showing Mercy/Compassion to Those in Need

Use it With Cheerfulness

God Made the Church so That Everyone is Different…

And So We Would Use Our Differences to the Benefit of the Whole Church

No One Has Every Gift…

And Therefore, No One Should Be Expected to Do Everything

Christians, Each of Us is Uniquely Gifted By God for a Reason

Use Your Gifts!

Now Paul is Going to Tell How All Christians, Regardless of Our Gifts, are to Live Transformed Lives, Completely Surrendered to God

Romans 12:9–21 (NASB95)

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Have and Show a Sincere Love for/to Others

Hate With Passion All that is Evil

Only Be Associated With and Hold On Tight to that Which is Good

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

Love One Another With a Love that Can Only Be Found Within a Loving, Affectionate Family

It’s a Wonderful Thing to Treat Each Other as Equals

But We are Called to Treat Each Other More Highly and Better Than We Treat Ourselves

not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Put Your Heart and Soul Into Everything You Do

Serve the Lord with a Zeal and Excitement that Can Only Be Explained By the Spirit of God Working in Your Life

rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Rejoice in the Confident Expectations of God’s Promises

Faithfully Endure Through Trials, Temptations, and Persecutions

Devote Yourself to Speaking to God Regularly

contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Share What You Have With Other Christians in Need

Show Love and Kindness to Strangers, Guests, and Foreigners

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Bless Means to Speak Well of

We are to Speak Well of Those Who Persecute Us

Jesus Told us to Pray for Their Well-Being

We are Not to Hope for Their Downfall or Destruction

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Be Happy/Joyful When Others are Experiencing Happiness and Joy

Feel Sadness and Sympathy When Others are Experiencing Pain and Sorrow

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Have Unity With Other Christians

Not Uniformity, But Unity

Pride is the Destroyer of Unity…

Therefore, Be Humble and Lowly in All Your Ways

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Never Seek Revenge

Jesus Taught Us to Turn the Other Cheek

God Will Take Vengeance On Those Who Wrong Us

We Must Stay Focused On Having a Good Reputation…

In the Eyes of God of Course

But Also in the Eyes of the World

“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

When We are Done Wrong, We are to Retaliate With Good

God Will Ensure that Evil Will Be Punished and Good Will Prevail…

When Our King Returns

Conclusion

Paul Continues Throughout the Book Showing What it Looks Like to:

Surrender Entirely to God

And Live Transformed Lives

Let’s Make a New Year’s Resolution Together

Let’s Surrender Entirely to God This Year

Let’s Allow Our Way of Thinking to Be Renewed By the Good News of King Jesus

Let’s Allow Our New Way of Thinking to Transform the Way We Live Our Lives

And Most Importantly, Let’s Remember Why

Because of the Wonderful Mercies that God Has Given Us in Jesus