Beliefs And Behaviors Series

Beliefs and Behaviors

Romans 12:2

OUTLINE: The Wills of God: 1. Will of Decree. (Daniel 4:35)

2. Will of Command. (Matt. 7:21, 1 Jn 2:7)

1. Continually Savor the Savior.

(1 Pet. 2:1-3, Ps. 34:8)

2. Consistently Submit to the Spirit and Word of God

(Ps. 119, 2 Cor. 10:3-5, 3:18, 4:4,6, John 15:7, Rom. 8:5-9, Gal. 5:25)

3. Completely Surrender to the Mission of Christ (2 Cor. 4:5, Matt. 28:19-20)

4. Consciously Transition to the Will of God

a. You are able in Christ to discern God’s Will (Heb. 5:14, Phil. 1:9-11)

b. You are able in Christ to display God’s Will (Eph 4: 23-24, 1 Thes 4: 1-3)

When you came to the church this morning, did you bring your MIND with you? Some of you are looking at me with a puzzled look: What kind of question is that? Of course I brought my mind with me! Sometimes people don’t realize that when you come to God and receive His forgiveness and NEW LIFE in Christ by FAITH, it INCLUDES not only a “heart-change”, but a change of mind. That’s what we looked at last week.

Read the setting for today's consideration, starting with Romans 11: 33-12:2:

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways ! 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Today we look at the second part of Romans 12:2 to understand the results of the transformation that occurs as your heart AND MIND “GROW UP and MATURE in Christ;

Here it is: Romans 12:2b: “So that you may prove (putting to the test, or DISCERN) what the will of God is, that which is good (fulfilling the duty demanded, that which is honorable and upright and excellent to God) and acceptable (not “border-line” but well-pleasing to God,) and perfect. (lacking nothing to completion)”

Two “Wills” of God

Our text includes the words, “so that you may PROVE what the will of God is.” I know that we looked at the two “Wills” of God earlier in Romans, but here is a short review of God’s two wills. First, we have God’s Will of Decree: One example is in Daniel 4:35: “He (God) does according to HIS WILL among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” God is Sovereign over all that comes to pass and WHATEVER God WILLS, comes to pass.

The Second is God’s Will of Command: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Some of God’s Commands we obey and some we fail to keep. The first, God’s Will of Decree will occur whether we believe it or not, and whether we obey it or not, but God’s will of Command does not always come true. Example: “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). Do all abide forever? No. Some will and some will not. Those who do the will of God will abide forever, but those who do not will pass away along with the world.

So God’s Will of Decree is invincible no matter what, but God’s Will of Command is grievously disobeyed by mankind. In the context of our verse, which WILL of God would you think is intended? God’s Will of Command! God’s Will of Command is plain to us in what HE TELLS US TO DO; we HAVE the ability to obey or disregard those commands, but we should be willing and ready to be obedient, and God certainly gives us the power to obey by His Spirit. We are going to quickly look at four facets to live our lives in daily acceptable worship to Him and for His Glory.

Continually Savor the Savior

1. If you want to obey God and give your life as an acceptable and HOLY offering to Him, you should Continually Savor the Savior. You just HAVE TO be able to taste and enjoy Christ completely and continually.