Shining God In The Believer's Life Series

Sermon Brief

Date Written: August 18, 2012

Date Preached: August 19, 2012

Where Preached: OPBC (AM)

Sermon Details:

Series Title: A Journey thru Romans

Sermon Title: Shining God in the Believer’s Life

Sermon Text: Romans 12-15 [NLT] Overview

Introduction:

Let’s review a little of where we have come from since we began our journey in the book of Romans last November… WOW… it’s been a long time but we have learned SO much!

First we learned in chapters 1-3 that humanity is without excuse and that we are all sinners and hopeless to rid ourselves of the sin that separates us from God. Paul paints a rather grim picture for humanity…

In Rom 4-8 Paul speaks about the deliverance that is available through Jesus Christ and that this deliverance from Jesus is full and complete… Paul speaks of being made right before God in heaven… justified!! Able to stand before God without blame or fault! This is made possible NOT by our works or deeds but thru the work of Christ and the saving faith he grants to those who truly seek Him…

In Rom 9-11 we have seen Paul speak about how God chose Israel and how God chooses… we may not understand his choices, but God IS in the choosing business and he has chosen to make a way that we can CHOOSE Him!

We learned that the TRUE Israel is NOT based on the physical descendants of Abraham, but those who have the same faith that Abraham did when He trusted God…

We are hopelessly lost in sin with NO way to redeem ourselves…

Jesus Christ has become the supreme sacrifice for our deliverance!

God has chosen THRU HIS SON Jesus… to bring salvation to those who have faith in Him!

So the 1st 11 chapters of set up the final few chapters of this letter for Paul to instruct the believers on HOW they are to conduct themselves as believers in this world…

Today we are actually going to look at the next full section for this letter and it is chapter 12 thru 15… but don’t worry we are not going to read ALL those verses!

Shining God’s Light is OUR DUTY (12:1)

Called to shine God’s light by His Word (13:1)

Called to shine God’s Light among ALL believers (14:1; 15:1)

Today I want us to see how Paul addresses specific areas of conduct for the believer and how we should be living out our witness for Christ…

Paul sets the template for how we should interact with the world by setting the example of how we should live INDIVIDUALLY, how we should live in accordance with the Word of God and finally how we should live in fellowship with other believers…

Shining God’s Light – OUR DUTY (12:1)

[NLT] 1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

[NIV] 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

[HCSB] 1Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

Now Paul begins this verse with the word ‘Therefore’ which again, let me emphasize that this word is here to signal a transition in thought or subject… HERE it is placed to transition the readers FROM where we have COME as believers… to WHERE we should be headed as believers…

This ‘therefore’ not only sets off this chapter but it actually sets off an entire section of this letter… but when we look at chp12 we can see that Paul is writing specifically about how we are to shine the light of God… what is OUR responsibility and duty as believers!

The 2nd thing that jumps out at me when I read this is Paul’s tone… Paul is not merely sharing information with the readers of this letter but he is passionate about them NOT only reading it but living out what he is teaching! Look at his words here…

NLT – “…I plead with you…”

NIV & HCSB – “…I urge you…”

But not only is Paul’s plea a passionate urging to emphasize the importance of his urging Paul qualifies it by saying…

NLT - “…because of all God has done for you…”

NIV – “…in view of God’s mercy…”

HCSB – “…by the mercies of God…”

In other words Paul is re-emphasizing to the readers and to US today… that he was passionate about them living as they should… He URGED them to live as they should and FIRST and foremost it was because they did NOT deserve to even be here…