REASONABLE SERVICE
Romans 11:33-12:2
[33] Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! [34] For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? [35] Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? [36] For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [NKJV]
OPENING REMARKS
1. Have you ever been on top of a mountain to look out over the beauty of the valley below?
The Lookout
When I was young (around 6 / 8 yrs. old) – my parents would take my sister and me up to
“The Lookout” in Iroquois Park in Louisville, KY. At this point we were able to view all the different homes and streets below.
. I can still remember looking out in every direction and as-far-as my eye could see there was some new and fantastic site to behold.
Colorado
Once when we vacationed out West, in Colorado – I remember sitting (actually standing – I was very short) in the back of the car and looking out the windshield and seeing the mountains in the distance. This was the most awesome and majestic site that I had ever seen. To this day in my mind’s eye I can still picture that blue sky and the snow covered mountains. I keep a picture in my study of a scene from Yellowstone National Park – which is a reminder to me of the wondrous beauty of the West.
. I can just imagine what it must have been for Moses on Mt. Nebo to view the promise land of Canaan – I wonder what fantastic sites he beheld – Deut 32:48-49.
Blairsville
. In the summer of 2006 – Cindy and I vacationed in Savannah, Georgia – on the way back we stopped in the mountain region of northern Georgia (Blairsville). While there we went to the highest point in the state and at the observation post we were able to look out for miles at all the beautiful natural scenery.
. Again, I can just imagine perhaps this is some of what the Psalmist meant when he wrote concerning the majesty of the Lord –
Ps 145:3-5.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. (NKJV)
2. Have you ever been reading in God’s Word and you get this impression that you are on one of God’s mountain tops able to just look about and observe the marvelous wonders of the Lord?
Holy Ground
Whenever we come to these places in the Scripture (such as) –
. Psalm 148 | speaks of God’s creation praising Him
. Isaiah 6:1-4 | speaks of God’s holiness
. Philippians 2:5-11 | speaks of the humbleness of Christ becoming a man to die for sinners, etc.
– don’t you just feel like you are upon “Holy Ground” and that you should be like Moses of old and remove your spiritual sandals due to the Word declaring such marvelous wonders about the Lord.
The Text – Holy Ground
Our text is such a place – a mountainous view in God’s Word – especially 11:33-36 – for here we see the majesty of God exclaimed for all who dare read and see who the true and living God is declared to be.
v. 33a - The depth of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God – He knows how to do
all things perfectly.
v. 33b - How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out – He plans and directs
all things to execute His purposes.
v. 34-35 - Who has known God’s mind, been His counselor, given unto Him – of course the
answer is no-one.
v. 36 - For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. – cf.
Colossians 1:15-17
He [Christ Jesus – v. 3, 13] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
3. Context of Romans
The Book of Romans can be separated into two (2) distinct sections. Both of these sections are completely built around the theme of God’s eternal purpose – i.e., The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
. The first section – Ch. 1 thru Ch. 11 – summarized in 11:33-36. This section declares that God is sovereign – completely in control of His creation – both visible and invisible.
. The second section – Ch. 12 thru 16 – bringing the epistle to a conclusion in 16:25-27. This section deals with the - how to – of the Christian lifestyle.
TEXT
Our text address two subjects – the first: God (11:33-36) and the second: you (12:1-2).
[33] Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! [34] For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? [35] Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him? [36] For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I. GOD – 11:33-36 | [ Conclusion to Ch. 1-11]
[33] Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! [34] For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? [35] Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him? [36] For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
For eleven chapters Paul has been referring back to and relating to the gospel theme.
1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
. He talks about mankind’s (both religious and the ignorant) rejection of God.
. He talks about how God executes righteous judgment w/o regard for whether one is a Jew or not.
. He talks about how mankind is justified by faith in Christ Jesus.
. Salvation makes no distinction concerning one’s station in life – (rich or poor / Jew or Gentile / slave or free) – for salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9), by God’s grace and not of man’s efforts (Eph 2:8-9).
A. His Depths -
Oh, the depths – Immeasurable
.. Gk. Bathos - means: deepness, depth, inexhaustibility (figuratively – of a great or extreme degree of anything - such as the deepest sea, higher than the highest high) – it is immeasurable – it is beyond our comprehension.
Isaiah 40:18-27
To whom will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? … Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth … To whom will you like Me that I should be his equal? - Says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created [the] stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.
1) Of His Riches – wealth, abundance, value.
Unfathomable
. Who has been His Source – means to give before, give first
Job 41:11
[God speaking to Job] - Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
NOTE: WHAT NEED DO YOU HAVE THAT GOD DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCE?
2) Of His Wisdom – His knowledge is perfect.
. Who has been His Counselor – Adviser: where is the architect, where is the designer, where is the engineer, where is the scientist, etc. who knows all of the answers That has given counsel to God?
James 1:5a
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God …
NOTE: WHAT SITUATION ARE YOU IN THAT GOD CAN NOT DETERMINE THE COURSE FOR YOU TO TAKE?
3) His Knowledge – possession of information, what is known
. Who has known His Mind – the faculties of understanding.
NOTE: WHAT TRIAL ARE YOU FACING THAT GOD IS NOT AWARE OF?
B. Judgment – a decree, a condemnation of wrong, sentence of a judge, inscrutable
. Unsearchable – that which cannot be searched out (impossible to understand)
C. Ways – path, course of conduct, way (i.e.) manner of thinking, deciding, feeling
. Untraceable – cannot be searched out, cannot be comprehended
D. For all things are -
[36] For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
. From Him – original designer and author
. Through Him – prime and sufficient cause
. To Him – the ultimate end
. God is the Creator
. God is Sovereign
. God is Providential
. Amen! – So Be It! – Let this be established forever!
II. YOU – 12:1-2
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
NOTE: Here Paul relates back to the Gospel theme and tells how we are to react accordingly.
.. Therefore –
We should always ask the question what is – therefore - there for. One should always look at what thought(s) proceed this word and what thought(s) follow after this word.
. This word – therefore – is a connecting point:
To:
2:1 – You have no excuse who judges others when you do the same
5:1 – Having justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
8:1 – There is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.
11:33-36 – God is Sovereign in all of His dealings.
12:1 – Because of the mercies of this glorious God – present your body
A. Beseech [earnestly desire] You Brethren
.. Present your body
. A living sacrifice to God – active offering [willing to die daily]
. That is holy – set apart to godliness (w/o blemish)
. That is acceptable – pleasing, well-pleasing (Cain and Abel[Abel sacrificed more excellent than Cain] – Heb 11:4)
.. This is your reasonable service – logical (rational, valid, commonsense) end
. This is our Reasonable Service. – Not out of the ordinary! | Not unachievable! | Not too hard! | Not optional! | But reasonable!
.. Conform not to this world – to fashion one’s self mind and character to another’s pattern
.. Transform your mind – change into another form – let an inward change produce an outward change (you are a new creature in Christ)
.. By renewing it – (renewal, restoration) complete change for the better
. That you may prove – what is the good, acceptable, and perfect – (honorable, well-pleasing, and complete) will of God
2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent [i.e., study, dwell into, meditate continuously] to present yourself approved unto God, a worker that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [NKJV]
My interpretation of this verse -
Study God’s word not to prove your position or doctrinal stand. Instead study God’s word to see what it actually says and then make the appropriate application in your life to conform to God’s standard found in His word.[BEA]
CONCLUSION
How do you view God?
Do you see Him as an Almighty Sovereign Providential Creator?
Do you see Him as Righteous, Holy, and Just?
Do you see Him as the only hope for eternity?
If so, then your only reasonable service as a believer is to worship Him.
Therefore – what hinders you today from doing that?
INVITATION
Lost – Perhaps you have never seen the need for a saving relationship with the Lord as Savior.
Are you prepared to meet God? Are you prepared to stand before Him and be judged eternally? If you have never seen a need for Jesus Christ as your Savior – know that you must stand alone before His righteous court of justice and give an accounting for your time on this earth.
For all who fellowship with God must be born again. I urge you to recognize today your sinfulness before God, turn from it (repent) and look to the crucified and resurrected Christ in faith as your only hope for salvation.
Believer/Church – You have a personal saving relationship with Christ as your Savior.
I urge you too to run to Jesus Christ today and cast yourself upon Him and plead unto Him to show you how to practice biblical fellowship in a way that brings honor and glory to God.
Come Worship The Lord
.. Our Invitation is open to all –
. Come to Christ
. Come if you need to pray
. Come be a part of us
. Come share with us what the Lord would have you to do
.. May the Holy Spirit guide and lead you in these matters.
Bruce Allen
Guest Speaker
Faith Baptist Church – Hinesville, GA 31313
September 7, 2008
bea0210@hotmail.com
www.pilgrimskeyboard.blogspot.com
