Transfomation Series

Transformation

Romans 12:1-2

In light of God’s mercy for us, Paul encourages us to become living sacrifices.

SLIDE #1

INTRODUCTION

• On Easter Sunday, we spent some time talking about the resurrection of Jesus and how that event has blessings for both now and for eternity!

• Today we begin a new series entitled FLASHBACK: Remembering the Work of the Cross.

• This six-week series through Romans 12 and 13 examines Paul’s command for us to be a living sacrifice and to live our lives in light of what God has done for us through Christ.

• In each message, we will “flashback” to the life of Jesus to see how we are to live in the present—no longer being conformed to the world but instead being transformed into the likeness of Jesus.

• Becoming a Christian has implications for our life, as we dive into the message together today, we are going to focus our attention on the issue of TRANSFORMATION.

• We read passages like 2 Corinthians 5:17 that reminds us that we are new creations in Christ.

• However, to become a new creation, we have to allow ourselves to be transformed into the image of Jesus!

• Another passage in 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us we are being transformed into the image of Jesus!

• What we find in Paul’s letter to the church in Rome is that he establishes a foundation of all God has done for humankind by focusing on the work of Jesus through the first eleven chapters.

• In chapter 12, Paul enters a new section of his letter, focusing on what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus in light of what God has done for us.

• The work Jesus completed on the cross was meant to make an impact on my life today, which in turn will make a mark on my eternal destiny.

• Why is it that we read about being transformed into the image of Jesus? Why do we read about being a new creation in Christ?

• Why did Paul write the passage we will examine today IF we are to simply be baptized into Christ and go live life however we see fit?

• Turn with me to Romans 12:1-2 as we examine the issue of TRANSFORMATION together today!

SLIDE #2

Bible Verse

Romans 12:1 (CSB)

1Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

SLIDE #3

1. I. Transformed through His mercies.

Explanation

• What is it that should motivate me to become transformed? What should cause me to want to be transformed?

• Should my reason want to be transformed is so that I can get into heaven? Should it be so that I can be a good person, however one defines that thought?

• Paul pleads with his brothers and sisters in Rome to do something special.

• One thing that Paul is very careful about is to not just to give them a new law or an updated list of dos and don’ts. Duty or an attempt to earn anything from God won’t motivate us to do what Paul will ask of them.

• Instead, Paul’s appeal to them—and to us—is based upon the mercies of God. That is, we are to live our present lives in view of remembering God’s past mercy and love for us.

• As Paul states, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15).

• Paul gives us the answer as to what should drive us. He tells us why we need to be PASSIONATE about being transformed!

• Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God!

• We are to be motivated to be transformed because of the MERCIES OF GOD!

• The word MERCY has its roots in the concept of COMPASSION. God did something for us because of His compassion!

• The word MERCIES denotes the sum of all of the provisions which God has made so that we can have the opportunity to receive salvation!

• This thought is a flashback to the work God did through Jesus on the cross.

• Every provision God made or us is an expression of the mercy Paul speaks of in verse 1!

• The request is based on these mercies that Paul bases his appeal to be transformed!

• In fact, this word occurs five times in the New Testament, and in four of them, it is used in the plural (Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Philippians 2:1; Hebrews 10:28), while it is used in the singular only once (Colossians 3:12). In a number of languages, great mercy may only be expressed as “the many times that God has shown mercy to us.” Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1973). A handbook on Paul’s letter to the Romans (p. 233). New York: United Bible Societies.