Weekly Sermon

In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul gave testimony, saying, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Brethren, how seriously do we take our Lord’s commission to preach the gospel of Christ to the lost world around us?  How ready and committed are we to preach the gospel at any given opportunity?  How much confidence do we have in the gospel to convict and save the lost?  How faithful are we in our gospel witness from day to day?  In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul delivered a testimony under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit concerning his own faithful service in gospel witness.  Thereby the apostle is presented as an example for our faithfulness in gospel witness.  Even so, by that example we are taught three truths concerning this matter.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to three previous sermons:
            By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 1) - Romans 12:2     
            By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 2) - Romans 12:2     
            By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 3) - Romans 12:2      

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.”  Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Brethren, we are not to be “conformed to this world.”  We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world.  Rather, we are to be “transformed.”  We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world.  Yea, we are to be changed into the same form and character as our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [as the glory of the Lord] from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In addition, Romans 12:2 reveals that the means of this transforming work is “by the renewing of your mind.”  We are commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.”  This means that we ourselves must involve ourselves in the renewing of our minds.  We ourselves must seek out, and commit ourselves to the things that will make for the renewing of our minds.  What then are the things that will make for the renewing of our minds?  Already in the first three parts of the message, we have considered six answers to this question – (1) We must commit ourselves to the truth of God’s holy Word; (2) we must commit ourselves to put away from us any and all sin; (3) we must commit ourselves to live wholly unto the will of God; (4) we must commit ourselves to the truth of our new life in Christ; (5) we must commit ourselves to walk in and after the Holy Spirit; and (6) we commit ourselves to walk always in prayer and thanksgiving.  Now in this second part of the message, let us consider one additional answer to this matter.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons:  By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 1) - Romans 12:2     
                                                                                       By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 2) - Romans 12:2    

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.”  Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Brethren, we are not to be “conformed to this world.”  We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world.  Rather, we are to be “transformed.”  We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world.  Yea, we are to be changed into the same form and character as our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [as the glory of the Lord] from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In addition, Romans 12:2 reveals that the means of this transforming work is “by the renewing of your mind.”  We are commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.”  This means that we ourselves must involve ourselves in the renewing of our minds.  We ourselves must seek out, and commit ourselves to the things that will make for the renewing of our minds.  What then are the things that will make for the renewing of our minds?  Already in the first two parts of the message, we have considered four answers to this question – (1) We must commit ourselves to the truth of God’s holy Word; (2) we must commit ourselves to put away from us any and all sin; (3) we must commit ourselves to live wholly unto the will of God; and (4) we must commit ourselves to the truth of our new life in Christ.  Now in this second part of the message, let us consider one additional answer to this matter.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 1) - Romans 12:2    

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.”  Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Brethren, we are not to be “conformed to this world.”  We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world.  Rather, we are to be “transformed.”  We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world.  Yea, we are to be changed into the same form and character as our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [as the glory of the Lord] from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In addition, Romans 12:2 reveals that the means of this transforming work is “by the renewing of your mind.”  We are commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.”  This means that we ourselves must involve ourselves in the renewing of our minds.  We ourselves must seek out, and commit ourselves to the things that will make for the renewing of our minds.  What then are the things that will make for the renewing of our minds?  Already in the first part of the message, we have considered three answers to this question of these things – (1) We must commit ourselves to the truth of God’s holy Word; (2) we must commit ourselves to put away from us any and all sin; and (3) we must commit ourselves to live wholly unto the will of God.  Now in this second part of the message, let us consider one additional answer to this matter.

Weekly Sermon

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.”  Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Brethren, we are not to be “conformed to this world.”  We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world.  Rather, we are to be “transformed.”  We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world.  Yea, we are to be changed into the same form and character as our Lord Jesus Christ.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [as the glory of the Lord] from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In addition, Romans 12:2 reveals that the means of this transforming work is “by the renewing of your mind.”  We are commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.”  This means that we ourselves must involve ourselves in the renewing of our minds.  We ourselves must seek out, and commit ourselves to the things that will make for the renewing of our minds.  What then are the things that will make for the renewing of our minds?  In this first part of the message, let us consider three answers to this question.

Weekly Sermon

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.”  Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Herein the word “transformed” means “to be formed over,” that is – “to be changed into a different form or a different character.”  Brethren, we are not to be conformed unto this present evil world.  We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world.  Rather, we are to be “transformed.”  We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world.  So then, let us consider the need for our transformation, the objective of our transformation, and the means to our transformation.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to five previous sermons:
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 2) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 3) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 4) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 5) - Romans 12:2

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  The first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the activities that this world has.  Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does.  We are to “be not conformed to this world.”

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world?  God’s holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question.  Already in the first five parts of this message (see above), we have considered ten of these answers.  We are to “be not conformed to this world” –

  1.  Because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  2.  Because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ.
  3.  Because this world is willfully without God.
  4.  Because this world is under Satan’s deception.
  5.  Because this world is following Satan’s direction.
  6.  Because this world is evil and wicked by nature.
  7.  Because we have been delivered out of this world. 
  8.  Because we are not of this world, but of the Lord our God. 
  9.  Because we are to be the spiritual light of the world.
10.  Because this world will corrupt our Christian lives.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to four previous sermons:
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 2) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 3) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 4) - Romans 12:2

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  The first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the activities that this world has.  Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does.  We are to “be not conformed to this world.”

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world?  God’s holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question.  Already in the first three parts of this message (see above), we have considered nine of these answers.  We are to “be not conformed to this world” (1) because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2) because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ, (3) because this world is willfully without God, (4) because this world is under Satan’s deception, (5) because this world is following Satan’s direction, (6) because this world is evil and wicked by nature, (7) because we have been delivered out of this world, (8) because we are not of this world, but of the Lord our God, and (9) because we are to be the spiritual light of the world.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to three previous sermons:  Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
                                                                                          Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 2) - Romans 12:2
                                                                                          Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 3) - Romans 12:2

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  The first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the activities that this world has.  Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does.  We are to “be not conformed to this world.”

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world?  God’s holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question.  Already in the first three parts of this message (see above), we have considered eight of these answers.  We are to “be not conformed to this world” (1) because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2) because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ, (3) because this world is willfully without God, (4) because this world is under Satan’s deception, (5) because this world is following Satan’s direction, (6) because this world is evil and wicked by nature, (7) because we have been delivered out of this world, and (8) because we are not of this world, but of the Lord our God.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons:  Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
                                                                                      Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 2) - Romans 12:2

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  The first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the activities that this world has.  Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does.  We are to “be not conformed to this world.”

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world?  God’s holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question.  Already in the first two parts of this message (see above), we have considered six of these answers.  We are to “be not conformed to this world” (1) because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2) because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ, (3) because this world is willfully without God, (4) because this world is under Satan’s deception, (5) because this world is following Satan’s direction, and (6) because this world is evil and wicked by nature.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2    

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  This first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the same activities that this world has.  Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does.  We are to “be not conformed to this world.”

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world”?  God’s Holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question.  Already in the first part of the message, we have considered three of these answers.  We are to “be not conformed to this world” (1) because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2) because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ, and (3) because this world is willfully without God.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to previous sermons:   By the Mercies of God - Romans 12:1
                                                                                  I Beseech You Therefore, Brethren - Romans 12:1-2
                                                                                  A Living Sacrifice - Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  The first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren as God’s people we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks.  We are not to feel like this world feels.  We are not to behave like this world behaves.  We are not to talk like this world talks.  We are not to look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophies that this world has.  We are not to have the same priorities that this world has.  We are not to have the same purposes that this world has.  We are not have the same desires and interests that this world has.  We are not to have the same habits and activities that this world has.  We are not to make our decisions like this world does.  We are not to be conformed unto this world.

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world”?  God’s Holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question, and these answers from God’s holy Word are worthy of our notice.  Let us then begin to consider them.

Weekly Sermon

 

This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons:  By the Mercies of God - Romans 12:1
                                                                                       I Beseech You Therefore, Brethren - Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.”

What kind of sacrifice are you making for the Lord?  Many of God’s people, yea so very many of God’s children, are not willing to make any kind of sacrifice for the Lord at all.  Their goal in life is to live in comfort and convenience; and making a sacrifice of any kind, even for the Lord, is not comfortable or convenient.  Yet in Romans 12:1 the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to make a sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  The Holy Spirit of God pleads with us on the basis of “the mercies of God” toward us.  He would have us to remember the infinite guilt, the infinite punishment, and the infinite wrath from which the Lord our God saved us.  He would have us to consider the horrible, miserable, wretched pit of darkness out of which God our heavenly Father delivered us through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He would have us to meditate upon the infinite sacrifice that God the Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, made for us when He bore our sins upon Himself on the cross, becoming a curse for us and laying down His own life to pay the penalty and suffer the punishment of our sins.  On the basis of Christ’s sacrifice for us, the Holy Spirit of God would move us and motivate us to make a sacrifice for the Lord.

Through the inspiration of the apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit of God pleads with every child of God, saying, “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.”  Let us take notice of the three words “acceptable unto God.”  Yes, brethren, we are to make a sacrifice unto the Lord our God.  Yet it must be an acceptable sacrifice.  There are two kinds of sacrifices made unto God – those that He accepts and those that He does not accept.  Even so, in Genesis 4:4b-5a we read, “And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect.”  In Jeremiah 6:20 the Lord declared unto His people in Jeremiah’s day, “To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country?  Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.”  Many believers do not make any sacrifice unto the Lord at all.  Others do many things that they view as sacrifices and offerings unto the Lord, but the Lord does not receive them.  They are not acceptable unto God.  God does not have respect unto them. 

Indeed, the Holy Spirit pleads with us to make a sacrifice unto the Lord.  Yet He pleads with us to make a sacrifice that is “acceptable unto God.”  Even so, in Philippians 4:18 the apostle Paul gave report to the believers at Philippi, saying, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”  So then, what kind of sacrifice is acceptable unto God and well pleasing in His sight?  The answer to this question is found in Romans 12:1.

Weekly Sermon

This is a companion sermon to a previous sermon:  By the Mercies of God - Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In these two verses of God’s holy Word, we find three instructions for our lives.  First, we find the instruction to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Second, we find the instruction to be not conformed to this present evil world.  Third, we find the instruction, rather, to be transformed into our Lord’s image by the renewing of our minds.  Now, all three of these instructions are built upon the same foundation; for the apostle stated under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God.”  The foundation for our obedience to our Lord Gjod’s instructions is the foundation of our Lord God’s mercies toward us.  Brethren, when we truly meditate upon “the mercies of God,” then we will be motivated unto obedience.  Yet, after meditating upon “the mercies of God” toward us, we must then move forward unto obedience.  We must then consider the three instructions of this passage, and we must follow them in our daily living.

Weekly Sermon

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.  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.”

In these two verses of God’s holy Word, our Lord gives us three instructions.  First, our Lord instructs us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him.  Second, our Lord instructs us not to be conformed unto this present evil world.  Third, our Lord instructs us, rather, to be transformed into His own image by the renewing of our minds.  Yet all three of these instructions are built upon one foundation.  That foundation is presented in the opening phrase of Romans 12:1, where the apostle Paul states under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God.”  The foundation for our obedience to our Lord God’s instructions is the foundation of our Lord God’s mercies toward us.  Indeed, when we truly meditate upon “the mercies of God,” then we will be moved and motivated to obedience.

What then is involved in “the mercies of God” toward us?  Mercy can be defined either as a holding back of a punishment that is certainly deserved, or as a helping compassion for an individual in desperate need.  In “the mercies of God” toward us, we find that both elements are involved.  Under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul presented the elements of “the mercies of God” throughout Romans 1-11.  Thus we shall find the answer to our question in these chapters – What is involved in “the mercies of God” toward us?