Our Reasonable Act of Service Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) It s here in Romans 12, that we begin the third and last section in the book of Romans. Chapters 1-8 - the principles of salvation Chapters 9-11 - the problems with salvation Chapters 12-16 - the practice of salvation In chapters 12-16, Paul will answer the question: what should a Christ-follower look like day in and day out? Now that we are saved and been given a new nature, a new heart, a new start, how does that translate into everyday life? Notice, Paul jumps right in here in verse 1 Vs. 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Paul is going to give us some insights into how to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. But before he does, he reminds us of the mercy of God. That s what chapters 1-11 are all about the mercy of God towards sinful man. Before Paul exhorts us to duty, he reminds us of God s mercy which is the way it should always be. For the love of Christ compels us... 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NKJV) Paul gives a quick reminder remember how good God s mercy is. We just spent 11 chapters talking about it! Then he moves into practice. He moves into the what now? The what s next? And he gives us a few principles to answer those questions, to get us moving in the right direction. The first one is in the second part of verse1. Copyright 2012 Chris Fraley 1
1. Give God your bod Notice the word present here that s our part, we must present the Lord our bodies each and every day. This makes sense since our bodies are something that He purchased. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) When we invited Christ into our lives, that s the day we gave Him the pink slip, the title. I remember the first car I bought it was a 1972 Ford Bronco. I saved every paycheck my senior year to buy that car. When I moved to Oklahoma to live with my older brother, the first item on my list of things to do was to purchase the truck I had been saving for. We found the one we wanted in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. I gave the seller the money, he signed over the title, and I drove that baby home! Then came the work: the rust that needed to be cut out, the water pump that was busted. Interesting how much time and work I put into that truck. I think it was because I had worked so hard to save that money. There was a lot of work that went into purchasing that truck. So too, the Lord put in a lot of sweat and blood to purchase us. When you and I gave our hearts to the Lord, that s the day we signed over the title deed and allowed the Lord to start working. And now He s cutting away some rust, He s fixing what s busted, and He s replacing the old with the new. There is no reason to fear letting the Master Mechanic go to work on our lives. He will do a better job with our lives than we could ever do on our own. Copyright 2012 Chris Fraley 2
Some of us read that and believe that s where this whole thing falls apart. We read it and say, Lord, my body is far from being holy. Isn t holiness all about being perfect? No. It s more about presenting ourselves to the Lord than perfecting ourselves before the Lord. That s what Paul is getting at here the word therefore in verse 1 is to remind us that Paul is speaking here in light of all that was said in chapters 1-11. It s in those chapters that Paul reminds us that when we gave our lives, the Father placed us in His Son. We have been given the righteousness of Christ. We have been justified by Christ. We have been sanctified in Christ. That is our position in Christ, but now we must make it our practice. That s why in verse 12 he says to present yourselves. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:13 (NKJV) Did you get that? Present yourselves to God and as we do, we are in essence consecrating ourselves to be used for God s purposes, as God s instruments. No longer for unrighteousness, but instead for righteousness. according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21 (NKJV) Our bodies are to be used as instruments of righteousness. To be a tool in the tool belt of our Lord is a great privilege. He also points out that to give the Lord our bodies is a reasonable thing to do. It s unreasonable to not give the Lord our bodies to be a living sacrifice, to present ourselves as instruments of righteousness. It s not only reasonable, but it is an act of worship. In other words, every day can be a worship experience when we yield our bodies to the Lord. Copyright 2012 Chris Fraley 3
It doesn t have to be just on Sundays, it can be everyday! Vs. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 2. Give God your mind The world is working overtime to get a hold of our minds. Hollywood billboards television advertisements The enemy, who is behind this world system, knows if he can influence your mind, then he can keep you from being the salt and light that God desires for you to be. He can keep you from enjoying the abundant life that God has planned for you. That s why Paul exhorts us not to be conformed to this world don t conform to the world s way of thinking. Instead, we are to be transformed. How? By the renewing of our minds. In other words, God wants to transform our minds. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him Colossians 3:1-10 (NKJV) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their Copyright 2012 Chris Fraley 4
understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind Ephesians 4:17-23 (NKJV) The word transform can be translated matamorphoo, which is where we get our word metamorphosis. It describes a transformation that is from within. The world tries to make change from the outside in, with pressure, but the Holy Spirit brings transformation by releasing power from within. If the world controls your thinking then you re a conformer. If God controls your thinking then you are a transformer. One of the most powerful ways the Holy Spirit brings transformation to our minds is through His Word. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) When we take time to meditate on the Word of God, it will wash our minds it s the Ajax for our minds! Lastly, did you notice what happens when we put these principles into practice? Giving God our body as a living sacrifice, and then giving God our minds so that He can then transform them, notice the final outcome. I can t tell you how many times in any given month I am asked the question, How can I know the will of God for my life? Copyright 2012 Chris Fraley 5
Here is the answer it s in Romans 12:1-2... Present yourself daily to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, it s our reasonable service, it s our reasonable act or worship. Don t conform to the world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Let the Word of God and the Spirit of God wash your mind daily. Then you will know what God s plan is for you life; His good and acceptable and perfect plan for your life. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV) In other words, have a good time with the Lord. Keep your mind on Him, delight in Him, abide in Him, have a good time with Him, and He will put His desires into your heart. You and I will end up with the right spouse, the right school, the right neighborhood, the right ministry, and even the right vocation. I am simple enough to believe that so are you. Copyright 2012 Chris Fraley 6