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This is a message that is part of a series of messages on the Book of Romans. This message speaks concerning Romans 12:1-8.
Written Excerpts:
Introduction:
Well, some of you might have
been thinking this day would never come! We actually are getting back into our
series of messages on the NT book of Romans.
It’s hard to imagine that we
actually started this study nearly a year ago in September of 2013, then took
time off around Christmas & Easter.
As we begin our study in chapter
12, we are heading into a section of Paul’s letter that is quite different from
the first 11 chapters.
Most of the first 11 chapters
covered deeper theological and doctrinal topics regarding the salvation that
God has provided through Jesus Christ.
Now, he is changing his emphasis
and focusing on how Christian believers ought to respond to God’s saving grace
in the way that we live out our faith.
Some have pointed out that Paul,
as in most of his letters, has been using a lot of verbs in the indicative
form, which shows general statements of fact, but now he is going to use many
verbs in the imperative form, which denotes commands, and instructions. The
idea seems to be that he is saying, “Because this is true, do this.”
From now on to the end of the
book we will be focusing on how Christian behavior should reflect Christian
beliefs.
The title I have chosen for today’s message
reflects the words found at the end of verse 1, “which is your reasonable
service.”
Let’s take a look at the first
several verses of chapter 12 in order to discover what is involved in
“reasonable service” to God.
For today’s message I haven’t
really developed an outline that fits the pattern I have been using. I’ll try
to have that ready for next Sunday.
There are two main thoughts I
want to discuss with you today: First, What does “reasonable service” mean? And
Second, what does “reasonable service” involve?
I. Reasonable Service Defined
II. Reasonable Service Described
What is the Apostle talking
about when he uses the terms that are translated, “reasonable service?”
I. Reasonable Service Defined
“reasonable” – This is the same
word from which we get the English word “logical.”
(Wuest's Word Studies), says,
“The word "reasonable" is
logikos, "rational, agreeable to reason, following reason." Thayer
says, "the worship which is rendered by the reason or the soul." This
is in contrast to the worship of the priests which consisted of outward forms,
symbolic in themselves of spiritual truth, and yet not rational in the sense
that this worship was not devoid of a material connection. Vincent says,
"Reasonable, not in the popular sense of the term, as a thing befitting,
or proper, but rational, as distinguished from merely external or material.
Hence nearly equivalent to spiritual…. Israel preached the gospel through the
use of object lessons, the Tabernacle, Priesthood, and Offerings. The Church
preaches the same gospel in abstract terms.”
“service” – (Wuest's Word Studies) …
in the LXX, "the service or worship
of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law." It is used in
Hebrews 9:6 of the priests who performed the sacred service. Thus, it speaks of
priestly service. Doubtless, in the thinking of Paul, the word was used here to
speak of the believer-priest's sacred service, not as the Levitical priests,
offering a burnt sacrifice which was apart from themselves, but a living
sacrifice which was not only part of themselves but also entailed the giving of
themselves in connection with the giving of their bodies to the service of God,
for a person cannot act independently of his body.
So, the Apostle is admonishing
his readers to engage in service to God that is a sacred form of worship, but
it is also that which goes beyond the external or material. It is sacred
worship that is coming from the heart and soul rather than outward ceremony and
ritual.
What is the basis or motivation
for this “reasonable service” or “rational” “worship?”
It is the “mercies of God.” (See
11:30-32)
(Clarence Bence, Wesleyan
Bible Commentary) Dr.
Dennis Kinlaw, former president of Asbury
College
However, Kinlaw suggests it can
be otherwise with the believer whose sinful nature has been crucified and
replaced by the presence of the Spirit. This individual is capable of a truly
selfless act—an act of spiritual worship. The believer offers himself or
herself to God, not so much for what can be gained, but rather as an expression
of pure devotion in view of God's mercy, which has already been
experienced.
The mercies of God include all
the aspects of salvation that the Apostle has already explained in the previous
chapters.
i.e. – calling, justifying,
adopting, sanctifying, filling with Spirit…
II. Reasonable Service Described
The Apostle doesn’t just
admonish his readers to engage in rational worship service to God, then leave
them in the dark about what that involves.
He provides some pretty specific
descriptions about what it means.
I want to acknowledge first of
all, that the specific “reasonable service”
he is talking about is restricted to verse 1. However, I am going to include
the main thoughts from vv. 2-8 as well, because they also are part of the instructions
that Paul issues.
The description can be obtained
by looking at the instructions that Paul gives to the readers.
v. 1 – “present”; v. 2 – “don’t
be… be”; v. 3 – be involved by exercising God-given gifts
A. A Complete Consecration
Paul urges his readers to
surrender themselves in a complete and total consecration to God. The language in verse 1 compares
to the presentation of sacrificial animals for sacrifice to the Lord.
The word, “present” is used in a
verb tense that indicates a once-for-all event. In a very real sense, it is
just like putting the animal on the altar knowing that it is an irreversible
sacrifice/offering. This sacrifice, however, is not
a sacrifice of a “dead” animal, but it is a sacrifice of our living bodies;
ourselves.
Perhaps Paul uses the term
“bodies” here to emphasize that this is more than just a mental or spiritual
exercise that is suggested by the words “reasonable service” we mentioned
earlier.
God wants more than our
intellectual and spiritual devotion to Him. He wants our bodies to be
surrendered to Him as well.
It seems to me that this would
include all the appetites and passions of the flesh. Now they are sacrificed to
the will and purposes of God.
It is to be a “holy” sacrifice.
Holy = separated and pure.
It will be “acceptable” or
well-pleasing to Him, like a “sweet-smelling aroma” i.e. OT sacrifices.
B. A Complete Transformation
Not only is it reasonable for us
to completely and totally surrender our lives to God, but it is also important
for believers who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ to have a complete
transformation.
Paul urges them to “not be
conformed” but to “be transformed.”
This is a popular text and many
of you may have already heard plenty of sermons on it.
My studies on this verse have
revealed that the word “conformed” means “to be squeezed into a mold.” (present
tense)
“world” – lit. age
“transformed” – same Greek word
from which we get the word metamorphosis; the process a caterpillar experiences
when it changes into a butterfly. (also present tense)
“renewing of our mind” – the
thought processes and modes of thinking need to be changed before behaviors can
be modified. (ie, “stinkin’ thinkin’”)
C. A Complete Participation
Going on the verses 3-8, it
seems that the Apostle is logically explaining, “If you have totally consecrated
your life to God, just like an animal that has been sacrificed, and if you are
being transformed into a new person, then this is how you should be working
that out into your life.”
Don’t think of yourself more
highly than you ought. (He certainly isn’t saying that we should think of
ourselves more lowly than we ought
either.)
We’re not superior to any other
person, but we’re not a filthy piece of garbage either. We may have made some
very wrong choices in life, but we’re still human beings created in the image
of Christ…
When we have the right
perspective about ourselves, then we will realize that we are part of the body
of Christ and we are meant to fit in and perform our function just like every
other part does.
This is one of the passages in
the NT that emphasizes the use of spiritual gifts within the context of the church of Jesus Christ
God doesn’t expect us or approve
of us independently living our lives any way we please without getting “plugged
in” to His family of believers and contributing to the overall health and
benefit of the whole family.
As part of the “body” you have a
contribution to offer that other members need. And, other members of the body
have contributions to offer to you that you need. We were never meant to “go it
alone.”
I saw some computer files
recently which indicated that Pastor Allen had apparently done a study on
spiritual gifts to encourage people to use their gifts for the benefit of the
church.
Perhaps we will need to do that
again sometime soon and help each Christian believer here to become actively involved
in ministry.
The point I want to make today
is this: it is “reasonable” for Christians who have been redeemed and made new
by the blood of Christ to use their gifts and abilities to serve God in the
context of the whole church body.
Conclusion:
In closing, let me just complete
the circle and come back to the phrase in v. 1 “by the mercies of God.” The mercies of God provide the
basis and motivation for all we give back to God. He has given infinitely more
than we could ever give Him.
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