Paul's Epistles Part 30 – A Living Sacrifice

Paul's Epistles

Part 30 – A Living Sacrifice

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. Paul has explained in the last few verses that God's mercy is great, and He forgives all who call on the name of the Lord.

All those will be counted as if they were always part of the tree, grafted into the Vine, which is the Lord.

Paul then explains who we should not be surprised that God will also forgive the Jews who have rejected Him if they repent and accept Him as Lord and Savior. Paul explains that there will be a restoration for those who repent, just as the Gentiles at one time rejected Christ, and were forgiven when they repented.

Today we will read Romans Chapter 12, and take a look Paul explaining how, in light of God's mercy he has just explained, we should be Living Sacrifices.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Romans 12:1-21

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

                   I.            I URGE YOU BROTHERS AND SISTERS

a.      Paul pleads to those listening to consider the Grace and forgiveness of God he just preached about.

b.     Paul explains, we must offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him

                                                                         i.      A living sacrifice which is holy and pleasing to God

                                                                      ii.      THIS is your TRUE worship!

1.      John 4:23 "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

2.      By offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, we are worshipping God in the Spirit, obeying His Holy Spirit as opposed to the lusts of the flesh.

3.      We worship God in Truth when we obey God's Word over the instruction of the fallen world.

a.      Paul says about those following the lusts of the flesh in Romans 1:25 "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen."

b.     They exchanged the Truth of God for the ways of the fallen world...the world "conformed" them.

c.      Do not conform to this world

                                                                         i.      Be transformed!

1.      Allowing Christ to do a work in you and transform you into a NEW CREATION!

a.      2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

                                                                      ii.      How? By renewing your mind!

1.      Allowing Christ to change the way this fallen and broken world has taught you to think.

2.      Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

                                                                   iii.      When you mind has been renewed...THEN you will be able to TEST and APPROVE what God's will is.

               II.            HUMBLY SERVE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

a.      Do not be prideful

                                                                         i.      Judge yourself soberly according to God

                                                                      ii.      2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?"

b.     Recognize your Spiritual Gifts

                                                                         i.      Paul spoke about the Body of Christ a few chapters ago, and talked a little about the Spiritual Gifts then as well.

                                                                      ii.      When we receive Salvation, God places His Holy Spirit within us.

                                                                   iii.      We then receive access to;

1.      Understanding scripture

2.      Access to the Whole Armor of God

3.      Spiritual Gifts

4.      and you will begin to produce Spiritual Fruits

c.      Once you discover your Spiritual Gifts...USE THEM!

                                                                         i.      Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

            III.            OUR LOVE MUST BE ACTION

a.      Love must be an action which is sincere

                                                                         i.      Hate what is evil and cling to what is good

                                                                      ii.      Be devoted to one another

                                                                   iii.      Honor one another ABOVE yourself

                                                                     iv.      Never lack in zeal when serving the Lord

                                                                        v.       Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

b.     Bless those who persecute you

                                                                         i.      Bless and do not curse

                                                                      ii.       Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

                                                                   iii.      Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

c.      Do not repay evil for evil

                                                                         i.      Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

                                                                      ii.       If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

                                                                   iii.       Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath

for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

CONCLUSION

Paul shows us that if we are to truly worship God the proper way, then we must offer our bodies as living sacrifices.

We must not be prideful, and must remain humble.

Discover our gifts and use them in the Body of Christ, and always be sure that our love is action, and that it is sincere. Bless those around us, even the one who persecute us, and never repay evil for evil.

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