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.
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.
Present Yourself as a Living Sacrifice unto God
Through the inspiration of the apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit of God pleads with every child of God in Romans 12:1, 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.” This is the first instruction of the passage. Yet it is not delivered so much as a command, but as a plea. Certainly the wishes of our Lord are to be our commands. Yet the manner in which our Lord communicates His instructions is also, just as certainly, significant. Here then the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to follow the will of our God. Oh, how important is this matter to our Christian lives, when the Holy Spirit of God would not simply command us, but would put forth the effort to plead with us. Oh, how tender and gentle is our Lord, when His Holy Spirit would not force us as a slave, but would woo us a beloved one. Oh, how deep is this matter, when God the Holy Spirit would not just move our outward behavior, but would win the full commitment of our hearts. Oh, how cold and carnal are our hearts, when the Holy Spirit must not only instruct, but must also stir our hearts and beseech us “by the mercies of God.” Oh, my beloved brethren, this instruction is no small matter to our Christian lives. It is an important, significant, and foundational element of living the abundant, victorious, fruitful Christian life.
What then is this important, significant, foundational element of our Christian living? What is the instruction that the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to do? He pleads with us to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” He pleads with us to consecrate and commit ourselves, our whole selves, each and every part of ourselves, unto the Lord our God. The parallel verse of Romans 6:13 proclaims, “But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Now, some would teach us that this consecration and commitment of ourselves is a one-time decision. They would teach us that this consecration and commitment must be made once in a lifetime, and that thereafter we shall continually live a life of faithful consecration and commitment unto our Lord. Yet this is not true to the teaching of God’s Word. In Luke 9:23 our Lord Jesus Christ gave instruction to the twelve disciples – “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Our Lord deals with us on a daily basis, and in this verse He instructs us take up our cross daily.” What then does it mean to take up our cross? The cross was a symbol of death. Even more, in the light of our Lord’s death upon the cross, the cross for us believers is a symbol of laying down our lives in sacrifice. Our Lord took up His cross and laid down His life in sacrifice for us. Now we are to take up our cross and lay down our lives as a living sacrifice for Him. Yea, this we are to do daily. It is not an “once-in-a-lifetime” thing; it is an “every-day” thing.
Brethren, the Holy Spirit of God is here pleading with us to present ourselves specifically and daily unto the Lord as a living sacrifice. Each and every morning of our Christian lives we should enter the day with this commitment in our hearts and upon our lips unto our Lord – “Dear Lord, I deny myself for this day; I present myself as a living sacrifice unto Thee, to live unto Thee, and not unto myself; I will follow Thy will for my life today, and none other.” In addition, each time that we lay down our cross and take up ourselves to live unto ourselves throughout the day, we must confess our sin and again present ourselves as a living sacrifice unto our Lord. This is the first instruction of Romans 12:1-2.
Be Not Conformed to This Present Evil World
In Romans 12:1 we find the Holy Spirit of God pleading with us; however, in verse 2 we find the Holy Spirit giving us full and forceful commands. Here God’s Holy Spirit commands us, saying, “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.” Two commands are given to us in this verse, and these two commands serve as the two-fold way that we may heed the plea and obey the instruction of verse 1. In verse 1 the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God. Yet how do we actually live out this life of a living sacrifice unto God in our daily Christian living? Romans 12:2 gives answer with two commands, and the first of these is to “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.” We are commanded to “be not conformed to this world.” Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world, nor are we 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 philosophy 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. According to 1 John 2:16 all that is in and of the world involves “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” We are not to be conformed to such things, neither are we to fit in with those who are conformed to such things. Ephesians 5:11 plainly declares, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Psalm 1:1 adds, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” We are not to listen and follow the world’s counsels. We are not to join and fellowship with the world’s crowd. Yea, we are certainly not to influence and lead others into the world’s way. My beloved brethren, if we would daily live a life of a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God, then we must not be conformed in any way to this present evil world. Furthermore, in any way that we are already conformed to this present evil world, we must repent and turn away from this evil. This is the second instruction of Romans 12:1-2
Be Transformed Spiritually by the Renewing of Your Mind
In Romans 12:2 the Holy Spirit of God commands us, saying, “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.” The second command of this verse is to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Now, the word “transformed” means “to be formed over,” that is – “to be distinctly changed in form or character.” Brethren, we need to be changed in our character. We need to be changed from a fleshly character to a spiritual character. We need to be changed from an ungodly character to a godly character. We need to be changed from an unrighteous character to a righteous character. We need to be changed from a self-centered character to a God-centered and others-centered character. We need to be changed from a selfish character to a loving character. We need to be changed from a complaining and critical character to a thankful and kind character. We need to be metamorphosized. We need to be changed like the caterpillar is changed into the butterfly. We need to be changed from whom we are as sinners into the holy and righteous image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 proclaims, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Furthermore, we must take note that the word in the second command of Romans 12:2 is not the word “conformed,” but is the word “transformed.” We do not simply need to be “conformed” to the righteous image of Christ. We need to be “transformed” into that image. We do not simply need to have a change in outward behavior, and to be “conformed” to some outward standard. We need to be changed in the very depths of our hearts, and to be “transformed” from the inside to the outside.
Yet how can we thus be “transformed”? Romans 12:2 gives answer, “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” My beloved brethren, we need our minds renewed. We need our thinking made new. The old carnal thinking of our old sinful flesh will never bring forth a “transformed” life. Just as we need to be born anew in salvation, even so we need our minds renewed for transformation. We need our minds to be filled with, and governed by the spiritual thinking of God’s Holy Spirit and God’s holy Word. If we are to walk like Christ, we must think like Christ. Now, 1 Corinthians 2:16 reveals to us that “we have the mind of Christ.” This we have through the indwelling Spirit of God and the engrafted Word of God within us. Yet we must use the mind of Christ that has been given. We must allow the Word of Christ to dwell in our hearts richly in all godly wisdom, and we must walk under the holy influence of the God the Holy Spirit. Then, and only then, shall we be “transformed” into the righteous and holy image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through the inspiration of the apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit of God pleads with every child of God in Romans 12:1, 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.” This is the first instruction of the passage. Yet it is not delivered so much as a command, but as a plea. Certainly the wishes of our Lord are to be our commands. Yet the manner in which our Lord communicates His instructions is also, just as certainly, significant. Here then the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to follow the will of our God. Oh, how important is this matter to our Christian lives, when the Holy Spirit of God would not simply command us, but would put forth the effort to plead with us. Oh, how tender and gentle is our Lord, when His Holy Spirit would not force us as a slave, but would woo us a beloved one. Oh, how deep is this matter, when God the Holy Spirit would not just move our outward behavior, but would win the full commitment of our hearts. Oh, how cold and carnal are our hearts, when the Holy Spirit must not only instruct, but must also stir our hearts and beseech us “by the mercies of God.” Oh, my beloved brethren, this instruction is no small matter to our Christian lives. It is an important, significant, and foundational element of living the abundant, victorious, fruitful Christian life.
What then is this important, significant, foundational element of our Christian living? What is the instruction that the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to do? He pleads with us to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” He pleads with us to consecrate and commit ourselves, our whole selves, each and every part of ourselves, unto the Lord our God. The parallel verse of Romans 6:13 proclaims, “But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Now, some would teach us that this consecration and commitment of ourselves is a one-time decision. They would teach us that this consecration and commitment must be made once in a lifetime, and that thereafter we shall continually live a life of faithful consecration and commitment unto our Lord. Yet this is not true to the teaching of God’s Word. In Luke 9:23 our Lord Jesus Christ gave instruction to the twelve disciples – “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Our Lord deals with us on a daily basis, and in this verse He instructs us take up our cross daily.” What then does it mean to take up our cross? The cross was a symbol of death. Even more, in the light of our Lord’s death upon the cross, the cross for us believers is a symbol of laying down our lives in sacrifice. Our Lord took up His cross and laid down His life in sacrifice for us. Now we are to take up our cross and lay down our lives as a living sacrifice for Him. Yea, this we are to do daily. It is not an “once-in-a-lifetime” thing; it is an “every-day” thing.
Brethren, the Holy Spirit of God is here pleading with us to present ourselves specifically and daily unto the Lord as a living sacrifice. Each and every morning of our Christian lives we should enter the day with this commitment in our hearts and upon our lips unto our Lord – “Dear Lord, I deny myself for this day; I present myself as a living sacrifice unto Thee, to live unto Thee, and not unto myself; I will follow Thy will for my life today, and none other.” In addition, each time that we lay down our cross and take up ourselves to live unto ourselves throughout the day, we must confess our sin and again present ourselves as a living sacrifice unto our Lord. This is the first instruction of Romans 12:1-2.
Be Not Conformed to This Present Evil World
In Romans 12:1 we find the Holy Spirit of God pleading with us; however, in verse 2 we find the Holy Spirit giving us full and forceful commands. Here God’s Holy Spirit commands us, saying, “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.” Two commands are given to us in this verse, and these two commands serve as the two-fold way that we may heed the plea and obey the instruction of verse 1. In verse 1 the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God. Yet how do we actually live out this life of a living sacrifice unto God in our daily Christian living? Romans 12:2 gives answer with two commands, and the first of these is to “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.” We are commanded to “be not conformed to this world.” Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world, nor are we 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 philosophy 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. According to 1 John 2:16 all that is in and of the world involves “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” We are not to be conformed to such things, neither are we to fit in with those who are conformed to such things. Ephesians 5:11 plainly declares, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Psalm 1:1 adds, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” We are not to listen and follow the world’s counsels. We are not to join and fellowship with the world’s crowd. Yea, we are certainly not to influence and lead others into the world’s way. My beloved brethren, if we would daily live a life of a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God, then we must not be conformed in any way to this present evil world. Furthermore, in any way that we are already conformed to this present evil world, we must repent and turn away from this evil. This is the second instruction of Romans 12:1-2
Be Transformed Spiritually by the Renewing of Your Mind
In Romans 12:2 the Holy Spirit of God commands us, saying, “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.” The second command of this verse is to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Now, the word “transformed” means “to be formed over,” that is – “to be distinctly changed in form or character.” Brethren, we need to be changed in our character. We need to be changed from a fleshly character to a spiritual character. We need to be changed from an ungodly character to a godly character. We need to be changed from an unrighteous character to a righteous character. We need to be changed from a self-centered character to a God-centered and others-centered character. We need to be changed from a selfish character to a loving character. We need to be changed from a complaining and critical character to a thankful and kind character. We need to be metamorphosized. We need to be changed like the caterpillar is changed into the butterfly. We need to be changed from whom we are as sinners into the holy and righteous image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 proclaims, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Furthermore, we must take note that the word in the second command of Romans 12:2 is not the word “conformed,” but is the word “transformed.” We do not simply need to be “conformed” to the righteous image of Christ. We need to be “transformed” into that image. We do not simply need to have a change in outward behavior, and to be “conformed” to some outward standard. We need to be changed in the very depths of our hearts, and to be “transformed” from the inside to the outside.
Yet how can we thus be “transformed”? Romans 12:2 gives answer, “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” My beloved brethren, we need our minds renewed. We need our thinking made new. The old carnal thinking of our old sinful flesh will never bring forth a “transformed” life. Just as we need to be born anew in salvation, even so we need our minds renewed for transformation. We need our minds to be filled with, and governed by the spiritual thinking of God’s Holy Spirit and God’s holy Word. If we are to walk like Christ, we must think like Christ. Now, 1 Corinthians 2:16 reveals to us that “we have the mind of Christ.” This we have through the indwelling Spirit of God and the engrafted Word of God within us. Yet we must use the mind of Christ that has been given. We must allow the Word of Christ to dwell in our hearts richly in all godly wisdom, and we must walk under the holy influence of the God the Holy Spirit. Then, and only then, shall we be “transformed” into the righteous and holy image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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