1. Your relationship with God – surrendered to Him
2. Your relationship with the world – separate from the world system
3. Your relationship with yourself - sober assessment
4. Your relationship with believers - serving in love
5. Your relationship with non-believers - supernaturally responding to evil with good
When I got saved.
I basically grew up in church with two uncles being pastors and Grandpa Williams being the founder of the Hessville Baptist Church. But it wasn’t until age seven that one Sunday I stopped my play and for the first time listened to what my uncle was preaching. The Holy Spirit smote my heart with my need to get saved and to ask for forgiveness for my sin and I responded and walked the aisle. Two Sundays later I got baptized. It was some time after this that I started to wonder that now that I’m saved and on my way to heaven what did that really mean? In other words I was asking “what did God expect from me now that I was His child?” Was it religious practice like my Catholic and Jewish friends; or was it something else?
What do you think God wants from us?
Is it going to church? Reading your bible? Dressing a certain way? Getting holy water sprinkled on you? Memorizing verses,
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Is it what you do – or is it what you are? What was it about the early church that turned the world upside down; what made them special disciples of God?
Romans chapter twelve reveals some answers for What God wants of us as saved persons.
What does God want? First of all He wants a relationship with you!
He wants us Surrendered to Him!
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1
This first verse has three elements; a command, a motivation and a reason.
Command
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Notice that it says a living sacrifice. This was not a onetime sacrifice where an animal was slain once, but He wants us daily, living still and giving your life to him
Motivation
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Our motivation is that we should want to give our life to Him because He has had mercy on us and forgiven us of our sin; not because it was deserved or worked for but simply because He has mercy on your soul.
Reason
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
God does not expect unreasonable service. His expectation is for us to live a sacrificial life that is holy – that is the acceptable life.
Embracing Surrender
So, just how do you do this? It’s like you are going to write a personal check to God, the amount of the check is All that you are and all that you have; then you endorse the check and present it to Him!
All that I am: Body, Mind, Emotions, Spirit, and Giftedness.
It’s putting all the chips on the table and say to God here is everything that I have.
Motivation: An awareness and thankfulness of God’s mercy to you.
Reason: Offering your body as a living sacrifice
It’s an act of worship that is holy and pleasing to God. We sometimes get so caught up in doing things that seem to be the right "religious" things to do when what God wants is for us to just be surrendered to him in every thing.
Introduction Separate from the World
Have you ever wondered how a Christian can get the Best from God. Ever wonder why there are so many people who confess Christ but so few disciples? There are Christians whose walk doesn’t match the talk, which has behavior of addictive sin, one foot in the world one, one foot in heaven: we all struggle with the lures of the world.
To get the best God has to offer He instructs us: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. Romans 12:2
This verse simply teaches two ideas: NO (Stop Doing This) - Do not be conformed to this world; and YES (Start Doing This) - Be transformed by the renewing of your mind .
By obeying Gods instruction found in Romans 12:2 you will realize three outcomes leading to God’s Will:
- Good - Brings good into your life.
- Pleasing/Acceptable - Meets your deepest needs.
- Perfect - Produces positive results.
What do you think the Bible means to not be conformed to the world?
The World system teaches that: your significance, your worth, how you dress, who you marry, your beauty, your cloths, your car, your home, and your job all dictate whether you will be happy. This lie is fed to us daily, taught to us in school and believed by most of the world. But God says that this just lead to unhappiness!
Compare 1 John 2:15-17 to the world system.
Separate from the World: 1 John 2:15-17
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
What the World Offers You:
We are a sex saturated, materialistic society; one foot in the world and one out; this leads to unhappiness and guilt!
- Lust - Lust of the flesh
- Greed - Lust of the eyes
- Pride - The pride of life
There was an old sailor who had neither wife nor children. Over his life time he had gathered a bag of natural pearls that he could sell for great value. He met a little girl on the beach who was on vacation who befriends him. She had a string of plastic beads which she treasured. He decided to string the pearls and give them to the little girl. He offered her the real pearls for the string of plastic beads and she refused saying that these were her beads and she would not give them up for anything.
Many of us have plastic pearls:
- A car or house that you really can’t afford
- Extravagant goods
- Flirting, alcohol, food
- Second rate stuff
God is offering you a much more valuable life that the plastic that the world can offer; He is offering you the real thing!
Transformation of the mind:
The second part of the command is to transform your mind. You’ve got to start thinking right, you can’t do it on your own. It takes a supernatural power! You must start putting God’s word into your mind. Memorize bible verses; turn off the television and dwell on what God has to say to you. The Holy Spirit will take God’s word that you have hid in your mind and turn your thinking!
God wants you to have pleasure and things: the right things at the right time and in the right way!
Becoming a Romans 12 Christian - sober self assessment
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Have you ever noticed how we behave differently according to who we are around? We behave one way at church, another way while at work, and still another way in the home, and perhaps differently when in the store. There is a lizard called a Chameleon that changes its color according to it’s surroundings. We are very much like this in that we try to hide who we are by portraying a different image according to our surroundings. Verse 3 of Romans 12 tells us to think soberly, to have some introspection of oneself reveals us all to be nothing but big phonies.
We will spend our lives asking & answering three basic questions:
Our Questions: Who am I? Where do I belong? What am I supposed to do with my life?
Our Longing: Identity Security Significance
For the rest of your life you will be asking these questions and the world system will give you false answers. But in Romans 12:3-8 God answers these questions for you.
We behave like a chameleon due to sin; after Adam sinned and God asked the question “Adam where are you” he responded “I was afraid, so I hid”: We have been hiding ever since that time. Who am I? I have shame due to sin, I hide myself behind false views of who I am; not wanting others to see who I really am!
The Command verse 3 “think soberly”
Principle: Don’t think wrongly about yourself.
Application: Be honest in your self-assessment. Avoid both arrogance and false humility.
The Reason verse 4-5
Principle: We are part of Christ’s body – the Church.
Application: Recognize your strengths and weaknesses as well as the strengths and weaknesses of others.
Put It in Practice verse 6-8
Principle: Do what God has created you to do in the Church.
Application: You have a gift your church needs – use it!
Pride is the most inhibiting thing in everyone’s life and scripture is clear in this that God hates pride – self sufficiency. The most liberating thing that happens to you when you got saved is that you don’t have to hide anymore; you can be who you are, knowing that you are part of the supernatural body of Christ with a specific purpose!
An exercise: Strengths and weaknesses:
Jot down the top three of each. Most people can jot down their weaknesses easy and but have to search for their strengths (false humility). But the truth is that we all have strengths that God has given us for his work, and weaknesses, so that we are dependent on others in the body of Christ.
When you discover who God made you to be and you start operating in the way God intended for you, you will have great satisfaction in life!
Three things to remember:
- You are unconditionally loved.
- You are uniquely made.
- God has a plan for your life.
You can spend your life answering the question “who am I?” incorrectly and seek worldly rewards ($, position, things, fame) changing how people see you to please people (who don’t really care) by hiding who you really are
or
You can accept who God made you to be and use the gifts He has gifted you with to fulfill His eternal purpose.
It’s up to you.
Becoming a Romans 12 Christian – Serving others
Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment; John 13: 34, 35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
This is not a superficial love but a deeper, sacrificial, God given love; one whereby the depth if it would be noticed by others.
One of Jesus’ last earthly prayers is recorded in John 17:11 “. . . and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
“. . . that they may be one, as we are” In other words, Jesus expects us to be doing life from the heart. He wants us to love one another in such a way as we can feel free to bear our own heart to our brothers and sisters in Him. It is getting and giving life to others!
Romans 12: 9 – 13 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
We are to become a family with strong bonds between each other!
Romans 12:9 – 13 speak to how to do this and are outlined as follows:
· The Real You
· Meeting Real Needs
· For the Right Reason
· In the Right Way
The Real You: - “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
· The word “dissimulation” is rooted in the theater where the actors would present themselves as a different character by use of a mask. God is asking us to remove the mask that we hide behind; be open, honest, with out hypocrisy
· People hide behind a mask to hide their sinful nature. When Adam sinned the first thing he did was to hide. When Christians are in sin they will hide behind the mask of Christianity; we learn the right words to say, the right things to do, and yet, our hearts are black with the sin in our lives. God’s love can only flow through a clean vessel. Clean up your heart, confess your sin to God and turn from it.
Meeting Real Needs: - “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
· Being a disciple of Christ brings deep devotion, unselfish behavior to other Christians.
o Encouraging
o Right words
o Having empathy
o There is pain in every pew
· Not just giving, but receiving
For the Right Reason: - “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
· Not slow but fervent
· Doing all things as an offering to God
In the Right Way: - “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
· Not to receive praise of men
· Have an Upward focus
· Treat others as Jesus would
· God’s love to others flows from His Spirit presence living in a Christian
· You must invest time and money in someone else.
Becoming a Romans 12 Christian – Supernatural response
Who is that one person in your life that has wounded you? Perhaps that person stole from you, abused you, or hurt you in some significant way? This is the person who when you think of them emotions well up in you that are very uncomfortable to bear. You may have lost sleep over this person or you may even have feeling of hatred towards that person.
How do you, as a disciple of Christ, deal with that person? The world teaches you to lash out to hate, to despise, to get revenge, or to hurt them back in a similar or more aggressive way. But how would Christ behave towards that person?
Remember that life is about relationships and relationships are about love. Loving God is being surrendered to Him. Not loving the world is being separate from the world and its system. Loving self is having a sober view of who you are and how you fit. Loving others means that you are seeking ways to serve and care for other’s needs as an offering to God.
Matthew 5:43 – 44 says “ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; . . .”
So, what does it look like to love your enemies? First of all it is not possible, humanly speaking, to do this. It takes a Supernatural Power within you; it takes the power of Christ working through you to love your enemies! Romans 12:14 – 21 gives instructions on how to do it.
Romans 12:14-21 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
There are three separate commands here:
1. Romans 12:14-16 commands us to bless those who persecute you.
2. Romans 12:17-20 commands us to not take revenge; for a Christian personal retaliation is not an option!
3. Romans 12:21 commands us to repay evil with good.
So, how do you bless those that persecute you, not take revenge, and do good to those who have hurt you? Forgiveness is the key!
Forgiving, like loving, is more that just saying the words! How many times in your life have you told someone that you forgive them (because that is the expected thing to do) only to harbor bitterness in your heart towards that person?
Just like loving someone, forgiving is an action and it is a progression over time.
· Forgive: Forgiving someone is an act of the will. You make a conscious decision to forgive – you say, before God, “I forgive you” and you really mean it. Your action is to release the person to God for His handling.
· Forgiving: Forgiving is a process, you must forgive that person every day that the hurt and bitterness comes back; you’ve got to “let it go!” Your action is to align your emotions by an act of your will; it takes a period of time for your emotions to catch up with your will.
· Forgiven: You get to this point when your desire is to bless your enemy; literally you will want their salvation, you will want God’s blessing of forgiveness to fall on them – just like it fell once upon you! God forgave you – you should want God to forgive them also!
The progression may be evidenced by your prayers as follows:
· Dear God help them see the error of their ways; to
· Dear God Bring discipline on them so that they will repent; to
· Dear God I don’t want what I deserve, please don’t give them what they deserve; have mercy on them. (Luke 23:24)
The lesson on having a supernatural response for a disciple of Christ is for you to forgive those that have wronged you, do good to them as God has done good to you!
I'm praying for each reader to strive to become a Romans chapter 12 Christian.
Ed
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