INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. A Life of Sacrifice
2. A Life of Unconformity
3. A Life of Transformation
Remarks.
1. In our lesson today we are going to be discussing a “Prescription for Perfection.” Is spiritual perfection even possible? Many have given up on this idea. Some religious groups interpret the word “perfection” as living free from sin. In our discussion it means as always in the bible: “completeness, full grown or obtaining spiritual maturity.” Paul outlines this prescription in Roman Chapter 12 verses one and two. He suggests three important elements in this prescription, and they are a life of sacrifice, a life of unconformity, and a life of transformation. These were, as you know the epithet of the life of our Lord, as well as the life of the beloved Apostle Paul. We all know what a prescription is; and who writes it?
2. First, he says it begins with presenting your bodies as a “living sacrifice” unto God. He begs us to live a life of sacrifice. The life of Christ was borne out of love and sacrifice to God, and for mankind. Paul urges us to live a life of continued self-denial, of divine service, and commitment to the will of God. If our lives are to ever measure up to that which proves as “good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God,” it will be through such a life as Paul here describes.
3. Secondly, he says the believer must exhibit an “unconforming” life style. The believer must be uncompromising in his devotion to God, unswerving in his faith, and serving the Lord in reverence and godly fear. We can no longer pattern ourselves after the course of this world, but after the divine character, and example of Jesus Christ himself. We should walk in his footsteps, thereby endeavoring to be pleasing and acceptable to God, and no longer in favor or friendship of the world. For, “whosoever will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God,” James 4:4.
4. Finally, the last element of this spiritual prescription involves a genuine change of heart or a “transformation.” This is a change from within, that of the “inner man, the new man.” This is accomplished by the “new birth” or “regeneration.” The proof of the new birth, then, is seen through the fruit of a transformed life, a new behavior. This is made possible by a continual and constant “renewing of the mind” that we may serve God with our whole being, our body, soul and mind, Matthew 22:36-40. Do you want to hear more?
BODY OF LESSON
I A LIFE OF SACRIFICE
A. The apostle begins his instruction by pleading, or beseeching the brethren, “by the mercies of God,” or in light of the mercies of God, that they present their bodies as a “living sacrifice.” Paul was careful not to direct, but to beseech or entreat their willing obedience. This admonition was introduced with kindness, and with genuine compassion. He addressed the worst of the congregation as brethren, a term of affection and endearment. A leadership, which entreats and exhort its brethren rather than commanding; would accomplish more, by winning over the opposition rather than continually clashing with it, 2 Timothy 2:24-26. Real leadership will beg, entreat and encourage, rather than threaten!
B. His motivation for this request - “the mercies of God.” Paul reminds them that they were recipients of God’s Mercy. He concludes chapter 11 with a burst of praise regarding the mercies of God upon both the Jews and Gentiles, Romans 11:30-36. Survey these verses.
1. It is because of the mercies of God. Paul beseeches them to be living sacrifices.
2. David speaking of God’s mercy said, “For thou Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee,” Psalms 86:5. Elsewhere, “His mercy endureth forever,” Psalms 136:1.
3. And Peter speaking to the church. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him ... which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, which hath not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy,” 1 Peter 2:9-10. And Paul: “God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4.
4. It is because of God’s mercies he asks them, “to present their bodies as a living sacrifice unto God.” He urges us to be living, active, willing sacrifices, “which is your reasonable; --expected service,” because of God’s abundant mercy.
C. He asked them to be a “living sacrifice.” He no doubt alludes to the law, where the lamb was brought alive before the altar, and then slain. It was for mercy the priest asked, when he laid the sacrificial lamb upon the altar, and sprinkled its blood on the Ark of the Covenant and mercy seat. Illustrate: The Mercy Seat, Hebrews 8:5. Christ is our mercy seat – the propitiation for our sins, 1 John 2:1-2.
1. The lamb was laid upon the altar in sacrifice. Not for service to God, but in a sacrifice for the sins of the people – a burnt offering. See Leviticus 16:1-2; 1 Kings 8:10-12.
2. Our bodies are to be given in service to God as a sacrifice. Christ is our sacrifice for sins that through obedience were freed from sin to serve God in righteousness.
3. What has kept you and others upon the altar of sacrifice? Truly it is our love for God, our faith in his promises, and our commitment to the work of Christ.
4. Notice Paul, “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all,” Philippians 2:17. Also, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand...,” 2 Timothy 4:6-8. Paul was a living sacrifice. He was God’s Medal of Honor winner.
D. Paul urges them to, “present their bodies as a living sacrifice.” It’s not just with our spirit we serve the living God, but also in our bodies, Romans 1:9. The man of clay!
1. Notice Paul:
a. To the Corinthians: “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
b. To the Romans: “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin...yield yourselves unto God…and as instruments of righteousness unto God,” Romans 6:13.
2. This is the service Jesus requires. He says: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with thy entire mind,” Matthew 22:37-40.
3. We serve God in our spirit and our body, which is His; purchased by blood, Acts 20:28.
4. Lay on the altar of sacrifice and service to Christ, Philippians 2:17-18. Our sacrifice and service should be offered through:
a. Selflessness to Christ, deny self, Matthew 16:24. Illustrate: Selflessness of Christ. "He emptied himself and took upon him the form of a servant...," Philippians 2:5-11. See also 2 Corinthians 8:9. Exchanged His riches for poverty - that we might become rich.
b. A sustained contentment, 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Philippians 4:11-13; Hebrews13:5.
c. The sufficiency of Christ's grace, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Matthew 6:34; 2 Corinthians 3:5.
E. “Holy and acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable service.” Christians are unique. We have be consecrated and set apart for the service of God. We are not only the living sacrifice; but the priest, that offers up spiritual sacrifices unto God.
1. Reasonable service. That which is expected; well as required.
a. Reasonable, Gr: logikos, service and worship that is understood as that which implies intelligent meditation or reflection without human practices or thoughtless expression and actions.
b. Service, Gr: latreia, to worship; service or divine service. Therefore service and worship that is holy and acceptable unto God, Romans 12:1-2.
c. Acceptable, Gr: euarestos, pleasing, agreeable. Well-pleasing, acceptable to God. That which Gods wills and recognized. “Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably and with godly fear,” Hebrews 12:28.
2. John writes: “He has made us kings and priest unto God..,” Revelations 1:6.
3. Peter: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, and holy priest-hood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 2:5.
4. Paul: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased,” Hebrews 13:15-16. Read Philippians 4:15-18, on this fruit. This involves worship, service and devotion unto God, John 4:24.
5. Paul: “But I keep under my body (I buffet my body), and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to other, I myself should be a castaway,” 1 Corinthians 9:27. Paul and the Jewish leaders, Romans 2:21-24. See also Matthew 23:1ff
II THE UNCONFORMED LIFE
A. Paul suggests next that the second element to this prescription for spiritual perfection is an “unconformed life style.” That is a life of non-conformance. We are no longer fashioning ourselves after the world, its practices, or its pleasures. But we are to, “set our affections on things which are above,” Colossians 3:1. Illustrate: Little car, big car; American car, foreign car. Why don’t you make up your mind what type of car we’re going to drive! We may be in the world, but it cannot be in us. It cannot influence our thinking, our behavior or our attitude. What a challenge it is to remember that on a daily basis!
B. Paul says: “we are not to be conformed to this world.” Reform the world, but never conform to it. There can be no compromise, no surrender, or no retreat. Onward Christian Soldier. Stand fast in the principles of faith you have received, and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have received them.
1. Jesus was a nonconformist! He never attended their schools; nor sat in their council. They said of him: “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” John 7:15. He was not a member of their inner-circle. They said of Jesus unto the blind man: “...Thou are his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is,” John 9:28-29.
2. I rather be considered a fool for Jesus; “ignorant and unlearned” than to be numbered among the wicked and ungodly, and to suffer their end, Acts 4:13, 19-20.
3. Cannot be a friend of the world. James writes: “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God,” James 4:4. Peter again: “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished,” 2 Peter 2:9. See also 1 Peter 4:16-19.
C. He was not of this world. Jesus said: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (One). They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world,” John 17:15-16.
1. Young people: “don’t go along to get along!” Turn from and “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them,” Ephesians 5:11.
2. As a child of God you may have to stand alone, when you stand for righteousness.
3. Know, that when you stand for Him – you are not alone; nor without help.
D. We have been rescued from sin and death. Let us live as if we have been freed from sins, and the wrath of God. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of life; because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy,” 1 Peter 1:14-16.
E. Why? We can’t change the world, if we join in or participate in its sins or it pleasures. Illustrate: More men like Moses.
1. Who: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,” Hebrews 11:25. How many times have we lost our witness, because our behavior was in conflict with our message?
2. For we are “living epistles...known and read of all men,” 2 Corinthians 3:3. What type of letters are we writing? What are people reading about our faith? If evidence was gather to convict you for being a Christian, would there be a mistrial?
3. Young people stand for something; stand for Jesus. Malcolm X said: “Any man who does not stand for something; will fall for anything.” Illustrate: Young boy who was set on fire by class mates for not taking drugs. The world knows where he stands about drugs.
III THE TRANSFORMED LIFE
A. Finally, Paul discusses the last aspect of this prescription for spiritual perfection. That is, to exhibit a transformed life. The word is Gr: “Metamorphe” or to undergo a complete change by the power of God, which will find expression in character and conduct; morphe lays stress on the inward change...” WE Vine. Illustrate: Butterfly.
1. The same word used to describe the transfiguration scene. “He took on a new form; he put on the heavenly for a moment. And appeared there with Moses and Elias,” Matthew 17:5. Christ was transfigured before their eyes! See Mark 9:1-7; Luke 9:28-36.
2. Paul writing to the church at Corinth: “But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed or (metamorphe) into the same image from glory to glory...” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
B. But how is this change brought about? Illustrate: The new birth. (Our “Metamorphe” was made possible by the process of the new birth; and the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Ghost), John 3:3, 5; Titus 3:5.
1. Paul says by “the renewing of (or making new) your mind,” Romans 12:2. This is a continual process of remembering, recalling and redefining the will of God in our lives. As we learn better; we do better!
2. Through the new birth and regeneration God has “predestinate us to be conformed to the image of his Son...” Romans 8:28-29. The new mind will enable us to transform ourselves into the very image and the Excellency of Christ. We have taken on the divine nature, “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,” 2 Peter 1:3-4.
3. Truly we are “new creatures,” 2 Corinthians 5:17. Notice: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:10.
4. We have “put off the old man and his deed...And put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him,” Colossians 3:9-10. Also notice: “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man, which is after God created in righteousness, and true holiness,” Ephesians 4:22-24. The new birth; and the new mind bring about; new fruit, Galatians 5:22-23.
C. Through these fruit he urges, “that ye may prove what is...." Peter says: “For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 2 Peter 1:8.
1. Notice these three truths are the proofs that the will of God has been perfected in our lives:
a. life of sacrifice;
b. life of unconformity; and
c. life of transformation of the body, soul and spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
2. Paul says, “that ye may prove.” This is the same word, which is used in Paul’s discussion of the elders and deacons, 1Timothy 3:10. How do we prove them? The word “proved” in this text is Gr: “dokimazo” from the Greek can be used in one of four ways. It means “to be proven” by:
a. Self-examination, 1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5. This is a sensible appraisal, “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,” Romans 12:3.
b. Congregational examination, 1Timothy 3:10; Acts 6:3, 5.
c. Observed behavior, Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:2; Matthew 5:16; 7:16-20.
d. Trial and test, 1 Peter 1:7; James 1:2-4,12; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
D. “That good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.” This is possible by demonstrating these truths and fruits in our lives. Let us continually renew our minds, our hearts, and our inner man day by day, fashioning ourselves after the image of God who gave it, and the Christ who lived it.
E. This prescription once filled and followed will assure us of true spiritual perfection. The saint shall be perfected, Ephesians 4:12.
1. Perfection, Gr: “teleios” or a “full-grown, mature Christian in character and conduct,” Ephesians 4:13. Illustrate: Paul's striving for perfection (maturity in Christ), Philippians 3:13-16.
2. Jesus said: “Be ye therefore perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” Matthew 5:48.
3. This is what Jesus told the rich man. “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me,” Matthew 19:21. When it comes to our possession, most will not share; much less sell all that he has and give it to the poor (needy) to serve the Lord.
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
1. A Life of Sacrifice
2. A Life of Unconformity
3. A Life of Transformation
B. Summarize main points.
1. First, the believer must be willing to live a life of sacrifice. Surrender their lives to Christ. Notice Jesus: “If any man shall come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,” Matthew 16:24. And Jesus again: “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple,” Luke 14:27. God required a dedicated and consecrated sacrifice of service; none else will be acceptable unto Him.
2. Then, the believer must live a life of non-conformance. The believer must hate the world and love God. The believer can no longer hold ownership or friendship with the world - but cling to God and all that is righteous. John admonishes us: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever,” 1 John 2:15-17.
3. Finally, the believer must undergo God’s transformation. The believer must be made over, regenerated, born again, to enter the kingdom of God. Then once in it, walk worthy making our “calling and election sure...For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," 2 Peter 1:10-11.
C. Invitation. H.B.R.C.B.
D. Exhortation.
E. Persuasion.
