WORSHIP My Response to His Mercy Romans 12:1-2

WORSHIPMy Response to His MercyRomans 12:1-2

Nathan Auby Finley born February 15, 7lbs, 14 oz, 21”

Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Paul appealed for the dedication of the whole of life to God. The basis of the appeal rested in the mercy of God. As believers are transformed in their minds and conformed to the image of Christ, they will be able to discern, desire, and approve the will of God.

How should we respond to the divine mercy? 1. Present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (v. 1) A call to surrender I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2. Renew minds to discern and to do God’s will (v. 2) A call to sanctification Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will Surrendering ourselves to God as a living sacrifice is a life devoted to change.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). “Do not be conformed to this world,”

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). > What are you being conformed to? There are only two models: (1) This world – be conformed (2) God’s will – be transformed Giving our lives to God as a living sacrifice is the decision to be shaped and influenced by God and not by our fallen world.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). > What are you being conformed to? > Will the pressure to be conformed to this world ever cease?

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will “It does cost something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run. “Conversion is not putting a man in an arm-chair and taking him easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory.” ~ J.C. Ryle

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). > What are you being conformed to? > Will the pressure to be conformed to this world ever cease? > What do we become when we conform to this age? Romans 1:18-3:20 is about mankind’s refusal to glorify and serve God. The fundamental sin is the failure to worship God.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will Rom 1:18, 20-25 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Matt 17:2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > Will the process of be transformed by the renewing of our mind ever cease? > How can we be transformed? There must be a radical change in the inner man for one to live rightly in this evil age, "by the renewing of your mind.”

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > Will the process of be transformed by the renewing of our mind ever cease? > How can we be transformed? Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > How can we be transformed? Eph 4:20-24But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > How can we be transformed? It is a foundational transformation of character of conduct, away from the standards of the world and into the image of Christ Himself.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > How can we be transformed? > How does it happen? 2 Cor 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > How does it happen? - By God’s grace “And we all, with unveiled face…”

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > How does it happen? - By God’s grace - By our focus “beholding the glory of the Lord”

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > How does it happen? - By God’s grace - By urfocus - By God’s work “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another”

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). > How does it happen? - By God’s grace - By our focus - By God’s work Rom 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will - By God’s work Progressive sanctification is the inner change of our character whereby we are conformed more and more to the likeness of Christ.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will - By God’s work = The ministry of God’s Spirit 2 Cor. 3:18 For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will - By God’s work = The ministry of God’s Spirit = The work of God’s Word

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). c. We are to discern what is the will of God (v. 2c) that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. As we are being transformed by the renewal of our minds we will be able to discern the will of God. A renewing mind produces a transformed will that is eager and able by the Spirit of God to do God’s will.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). c. We are to discern what is the will of God (v. 2c) > What is God’s will? Here the will of God encompasses His comprehensive and all-inclusive will for His creation, for time and eternity.

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will These three adjectives function like nouns. These three qualities are not attributes of God’s will as some translations imply. Rather, Paul said that God’s will itself is what is good, well-pleasing (to Him), and perfect. “good” – useful, beneficial “well pleasing” – acceptable “perfect” – complete

2. Renew your mind to discern and to do God’s will a. We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2a). b. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (v. 2b). c. We are to discern what is the will of God (v. 2c) > What is God’s will? > Do you want to know what the will of God is? Worshiping God means not conforming to this world. Worshiping God means renewing your mind through the Scriptures. Worshiping God means offering everything you have and are to God. Worshiping God is a way of life.

WORSHIP My Response to His Mercy Romans 12:1-2