October 8, 2018
Live for Christ
Romans 12
Carlos Lopez
Central Truth
In view of God’s mercy, our most important duty is to present our lives to God. In order to present our lives to God, our relationship with God should govern who we are, how we think, and how we live.
Romans 12
A Living Sacrifice
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, 1 12:1 Or brothers and sisters by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 12:1 Or your rational service 2 Do not be conformed to this world, 3 12:2 Greek age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 4 12:2 Or what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God
Gifts of Grace
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, 5 12:4 Greek parts; also verse 5 and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, 6 12:8 Or gives aid with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Marks of the True Christian
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, 7 12:11 Or fervent in the Spirit serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. 8 12:16 Or give yourselves to humble tasks Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it 9 12:19 Greek give place to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Footnotes
[1] 12:1 Or brothers and sisters[2] 12:1 Or your rational service
[3] 12:2 Greek age
[4] 12:2 Or what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God
[5] 12:4 Greek parts; also verse 5
[6] 12:8 Or gives aid
[7] 12:11 Or fervent in the Spirit
[8] 12:16 Or give yourselves to humble tasks
[9] 12:19 Greek give place
Dive Deeper | Romans 12
How does one worship God? By singing? Praising? Praying? Meditating? Generally, that is what comes to mind when I think of worship. But, in Romans 12, Paul says that presenting our bodies as living sacrifices is our true spiritual worship. Paul uses the term present the same way he used it in Romans 6:13. “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness.”
Our true worship is "presenting" our bodies, every part of us, every thought, word, and action, from the moment we open our eyes in the morning to the moment we close them at night. I can sing praises every Sunday, but if I’m not presenting my entire being to God on a daily basis, saying, “Lord, in response to your loving grace and mercy, I offer you every part of me,” then I’m missing out on the true spiritual worship Paul talked about.
Presenting that last two percent has often been hardest for me. Even identifying that two percent is hard at times! Recently, my friend Kyle encouraged me by sharing that when he wakes up each morning he asks himself, “Where is my heart hooked, scared, cold, or proud?" In addition to examining my heart, I often pray Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Let's present every part of ourselves as an act of gratitude. It is our best form of worship. But it is not what qualifies us to be a child of God by any means. It is purely by God’s grace and mercy, the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, that we humbly approach the altar and participate in this awesome form of worship!
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)
This month's memory verse
A Living Sacrifice
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
– Romans 12:1–2
Discussion Questions
1. What comes to mind when you think of worship?
2. Are there any activities in your life that you are not "presenting" to God? What is keeping you from presenting your last two percent?
3. In Romans 12:3-8, Paul talks about being part of a body of believers with diverse spiritual gifts. What does this look like for you?
4. What is one verse you can memorize and meditate on this week to help renew your mind?