Gps

Read Romans 12:1-3 (Prayer)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

“And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

In Romans, Paul has discussed the:

(1) Sin of Man;

(2) The Righteousness of God; (Grand Canyon between Rom 3:19-20 and 3:21)

(3) Sanctification (Positional, Practical, Powerless, Powerful)

(4) God’s dealings with Israel (Past, Present, and Future)

Beginning in Chapter 12, Paul begins to discuss Christian Service, Separation and Relationships.

Therefore (Read Chapter 11:30-36 - then “I beseech you therefore).

In Chapter 12 verse 1

I (Paul, an Apostle)

Beseech - (begs – we get more with earnest pleading than with “in your face”.

Isaiah 1:18 God says “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as

scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”

You - brethren

Therefore -Now Paul begins to discuss Christian Service, Separation and Relationships.)

By the mercies of God

That ye present (yield) your bodies -You present You, You decide, You determine, You give …………….

A living sacrifice - contradiction in terms

- Living – alive to/in God – doing His will, His way, etc

- Sacrifice – to die to self daily (we’ll see more in verse 2

- When the animal died in the OT, it died FOR sin – but it also died TO sin !

Holy – Different, Distinct, Unique – not common or ordinary or profane.

Acceptable unto God – It’s simply what God wants and requires

And perfect will of God - Want to know the will of God for your life – HERE IT IS !!

In Chapter 12 verse 2

And be not conformed to this world – do not live according to the style or manner of this present age.

But be ye transformed – A continual process of change from the inside out.

- The word is used of Christ’s transfiguration in Matthew 17:2

- Metamorphosed – to change into ………..

By the renewing of your mind – refreshing, relearning, changing to what God has and wants ………..

That ye may prove - Determine or ascertain what is the will of God

What is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

By permitting the Spirit of God to renew the mind, the believer will be able to test the will of God and find it good.

First it is good – then acceptable – and finally it is perfect.

Kenneth S. Wuest interprets verse 2 - “And stop assuming an outward expression that does not come from within you and is not representative of what you are in your inner being, but change your outward expression from one that comes from within and is representative of your inner being, by the renewing of your mind, resulting in your putting to the test what is the will of God, the good and well-pleasing, and complete will, and having found that it meets specifications, placing your approval on it.”

In Chapter 12 verse 3

For I say – actually God saying through Paul’s letter.

Through the grace given unto me

To very man that is among you - Talking to the Church

Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think – not puffed up, seeking position, etc

But – let’s turn it around and go in a different direction now

To think soberly – Clearly (not like a drunk), humbly, seeking God and His will

According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith

– as God has given you gifts to USE not just to have.

There is an ever-present danger of the believer overestimating his ability and his character and his gifts. We need to have a correct estimation of ourselves in relationship to other members of the church.

Conversely, we need to realize that our gift IS to be used, enhanced, tuned, and made effected for the Church.

We need to recognize our inabilities and just do the things GOD wants us to do.

Wherever God puts us is much, much better that we could put ourselves.

Summary

Verse 1 – speaks of our relationship before and to God G

Verse 2 – speaks of our life being view and lived before the People around us P