Opening Prayer
Last Week
What was valuable, or what stuck with you from last week?
Romans 12-16
From the Life God Gives (Romans 5-8) to the Life a Believer
Lives (Romans 12-16)
Theme Verse of Romans: Romans 1:16-17For I am not ashamed of
the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone
who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For
in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it
is written: The righteous will live by faith.
So, now that we know how/why we are righteous, how should we
live?
Romans 1-11 – 13 imperative verbs
Romans 12-16 – 49 imperative verbs
Romans
12 – 11
Romans
13 – 7
Romans
14 – 9
Romans
15 – 5
Romans
16 – 17 (all but one are a request to “greet” someone)
We might consider this part of the letter to be more
practical.
Key assumptions about the readers of this part of the letter:
1.
They are Christians – Paul is not accusing them
of sin (he did that in 1-3). This is instruction.
a.
Three Functions of the Law
i. Curb
ii. Mirror
iii. Guide
2.
They cannot live for God by their own power and
abilities.
3.
Their day to day lives are normal and they seek
to live practically and experientially conforming to the righteousness given to
them in Baptism.
4.
They are capable of returning to their former
life under sin which leads to death, so they benefit from encouragement and
warnings. (Positive and negative exhortation)
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of
God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy
and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do
not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect
will of God.
Therefore … what is it there for?
In view of - because
of – through
Mercies, Sympathy, Compassion, Pity
Present your bodies as a sacrifice – modified by three words
(a participle and two adjectives)
-
Living
-
Holy
-
Acceptable/Pleasing to God
This is your reasonable/rational worship/service.
This makes
sense.
“There are more people in worship
on any given Sunday … than are at all the football games or on the golf links
or fishing or taking walks in the woods. Worship is the single most popular act
in this land.” – Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Our First Imperative Verbs
Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world/age
Penultimate
v. Ultimate
Conformed –
molded – shaped
We are
called to live in opposition to the world’s values, even as we live for the
world’s benefit.
Be transformed by the renewal of the mind
Romans 8:5-8 - 5 For
those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the
flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on
the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the
flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and
peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is
hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is
unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the
flesh cannot please God.
So that you [will be able] to examine/test/approve/discern what
the good and pleasing and perfect will of God [approves].
How does
the world know how a Christian should act?
How do you
know how a Christian should act?
Wrapping Up
What is one insight/word of comfort/challenging idea that
you hope to hold onto from these verses?
How will the lessons learned from these verses impact your
faith life?
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