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GE. 3-4 (1/4) |
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"THE FIRST RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS"(1/4) |
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NEW THIS WEEK |
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"THE FIRST RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS"(1/4) |
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THE CHURCH ON HIGHER GROUND |
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HOMEPAGE |
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OTHER STUDIES |
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SERMON NETS short messages |
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PATHLIGHT Light for our Pathway |
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Homepage |
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Gen. 4:1-11 (2/2) |
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A BAD CASE OF FALLEN FACE |
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Josh. 1:5-9 (5/5) |
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THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE |
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Ps. 1:1-6 (6/6) |
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THE BLESSED AND THE UNGODLY |
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Jn. 21:1-17 (4/4 & 2/2) |
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DO YOU LOVE ME?... PERFECT LOVE |
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Ro. 12:1-2 (1-4/15) |
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#1-4...NOT CONFORMED, BUT TRANSFORMED |
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Ro. 12:1-2 (5-8/15) |
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#5-8...NOT CONFORMED, BUT TRANSFORMED |
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Ro. 12:1-2 (9-12/15) |
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#9-12...NOT CONFORMED, BUT TRANSFORMED |
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Ro. 12:1-2 (13-15/15) |
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#13-15...NOT CONFORMED, BUT TRANSFORMED |
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Not Conformed, But Transformed/Ro.12:1-2 (1-4/15)
#1 Not Conformed, But Transformed/Ro.12:1-2/Backgroun (1/15) #2 Not Conformed, But Transformed/Ro.12:1-2/The Tide Line of Romans (2/15) #3 Not Conformed, But Transformed/Rom.12:1-2/To The Brethren (3/15) #4 Not Conformed, But Transformed/Ro.12:1-2/Mercies of God (4/15) <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #1 Not Conformed, But Transformed/Ro.12:1-2/Background (1/15) One of the passages which I took as a "motto" for a stage in my Christian walk was Romans 12:1-2. Most of the passages I chose had to do with total commitment. I guess that is true with most people. Whoever heard of someone taking "Jesus wept" as a life motto?...maybe as a memory verse, but as a motto? A brief word of explanation for this devotional series. Though we will be focusing on verses 1 and 2, I give the background in Romans to help us appreciate 12:1-2. The background to this passage is a great study in itself. Maybe we will do it sometime in the near future, but for the moment, let's just consider the outline of Romans. * There are two main sections to the book of Romans; Doctrinal (ch.1-ch.11) and Practical (ch.12-16). This is seen in the ministry of the High Priest of the Old Testament. The High Priest of Israel would go into the Holy of Holies once a year as part of the Atonement offering. If he was not acceptable to God, God might slay him while about his duties. Since no one else could go into the Holy of Holies, the only safe way to retrieve his dead body was to have a rope tied to him. The way they could tell if he was still alive and moving around was by the sound of the bells in his robe. At the bottom of the High Priests' robe were attached, alternating, little bells and embroidered pomegranates. The pomagranates represented the fruit of his life and the bells represented the his testimony. Our "walk" and our "talk" should balance out. The book of Romans shows us that our beliefs and our walk are also in balance. We need to know the truth if we want to walk the truth. Sound doctrine (teaching) is essential to sound discipleship (living). This is a guiding principle in my ministry and I try to convey it in my writings. * There are two distinct audiences in the church at Rome; Jewish believers and Gentile believers. Though there is no difference between Jew and Gentile in salvation, there were very real differences in their "world view" and Paul writes to them with these differences in mind. As Paul once said, he became as a Jew to win the Jew and as a Gentile to win the Gentile. The message and the salvation were the same, but the hearers were approached on their level of understanding. This principle is true today. The message of God does not change, but the method (as long as it is consistant with the Bible) may change to reach a given group. The important thing is that the message be sound. When Paul says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren..." (1), he says "therefore" in referrence to the previous 11 chapters, the doctrinal section. The doctrines (teachings) he has dealt with are: 1- Hamartiology...the study of sin 1:18-3:20. 2- Justification...the study of forgiveness 3:21-5:21. 3- Sanctification...the study of holiness 6-8. 4- Election...the study of God's calling and choosing a people 9-11. Paul is saying, "because of all these divine truths, I give you the following charge. Present yourselves totally to God for Him to transform you into His choice vessle." This devotional series, "Not Conformed, But Transformed" will call us to a total surrender so that we may show others the perfect will of God at work in our lives. Or as Paul said it, ******************** "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not 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." 12:1-2 ******************** <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #2 Not Conformed, But Transformed/Ro.12:1-2/The Tide Line of Romans (2/15) As was pointed out earlier in this devotional, Romans 1-11 is Doctrinal and 12-16 is Practical. Here is where those two tides meet. When I worked on fishing boats off the coast of North Carolina, we would come to places on the ocean where two tides came together. On one side the water would be blue and the on other side it would be green. Where they met with each other would be as distinct as a painted line on a highway. Sometimes there would be froth, paper and other debris brought up by the influence of these two tides. This was called a "tide line." Romans 12:1-2 is a tide line. This is where the Doctrinal meets the Practical. After having taught the basic principles of the faith in 1-11, Paul now calls his readers to make the commitment to those truths. It is necessary to make a commitment to truth if we are to live the lives God wants us to live. This is not a call to get "saved" but a call for the Christian to "total commitment." As with a "tide line", the convergence of two forces brings up all manner of flotsam. When we are called upon to move from the theoretical to the practical, we see pride, fear, lust, greed, anger, deceit, envy and many other innner tendencies which we try to hide deep beneath the surface of our daily lives. When God calls us to put into action the truths we have learned, the pressure of conviction forces hidden issues to the top. We must not only see these desires of darkness we must denounce them. This is what 12:1-2 is all about. In Chapters 6-8 Paul explained what it is like to live the off and on, up and down life of a carnal Christian. In I Cor. 2 and 3 Paul said that we would either be the "natural man" - the unsaved man (I Co.2:14) or the "spiritual man" - the saved and mature and sanctified man (I Co.2:15;3:1) or the "carnal man" - the saved but childish, envious, divisive man (I Co.3:13). He also explained that God provided for us to live the victorious life of purity, power and poise. In our passage, "I beseech you", "I charge you" or "I exhort you", the Greek word literally means "to call to one's side." Paul was calling his readers to come along side him. He is not sending where he had not gone. He once was where we are and wants us to come to where he had come. Paul knew what it was like to be a carnal Christian who wanted to do God's will, but he kept coming short*. Paul knew what it was like to be a carnal Christian not wanting to sin, but he kept giving in to temptation*. Paul knew what it was like to see the ugly secrets of the sinful nature, the old man, the carnal mind, rise to the surface and pollute the Christian's life and testimony. Paul also knew what it was like to be delivered from the inner desire to sin, and Paul calls us to come along side him in victory*. Have you experienced what Paul experienced? As a saved person have you found yourself wanting to do God's will, but not having the power? As a saved person have you found yourself not wanting to sin, but unable to resist? Have you found yourself having an inner battle and then slipping into the dark rather than walking in the light? When you read or hear God's word leading you to total surrender, do you see the trash of the sinful nature rising up in opposition to your following Christ fully? So did Paul and he found the way out. The way out is through Jesus*. Just as trusting Jesus saved from sins committed, so trusting Jesus will save from sin indwelling. Not only can we be forgiven, we can be cleansed*. How much? The blood of Christ cleanses from ALL sin*. Not only can we have our deeds forgiven, we can have our hearts purified*. But just as it took an act of faith and commitment to be "saved" it takes an act of faith and commitment to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus in this present evil world*. " I beseesh you therefore brethren,..." <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #3 Not Conformed, But Transformed/Rom.12:1-2/To The Brethren (3/15) "I beseech you therefore BRETHREN..." We must understand that Paul is writing these words to Christians. There comes a time in the Christian life and experience to make a total commitment. Why would Paul call his fellow believers to make a total commitment unless they had not? Paul explained that the unsaved must believe on the Lord for forgiveness of sins commited, then he explained that Christians must believe on the Lord for the deliverance and cleansing from sin. * Paul explained the problem of sin, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (1:18). * Paul explanied the solution to the penalty of sin, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (5:1). To be one of the brethren (a fellow believer regardless of gender), a person must be justified by faith and thus saved from the penalty of sin. * Paul explained the solution to the power of sin, "Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yoursleves to God, as those who are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law but under grace...But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ" (6:11-14, 22-23). To make total commitment and be saved from the power of sin, the justified (saved) person must: 1) consider himself to be dead to sin; 2) and not yield any of his/her body as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but instead must yield themself and their body to God. If a believer makes this commitment, he will not be under the power of sin, or under the power of law but under the power of God and His grace. God is greater than sin and grace is greater than legalism. God and His grace does not just count us righteous, God and His grace makes us righteous and the righteous will produce the fruit of holiness which results in eternal life. If you are living under the power of sin and legalism, you are not totally commited. If you are living under the power of God and His grace, producing holiness, you will have eternal life. If you are not living under the power of God and His grace, and you are not producing holiness, you will not reap eternal life. Paul summarises his position by saying to the believer that the wages of sin is death and that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. * Paul explained the solution to the pollution of sin, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." (8:5-9). To make total commitment and be saved from the pollution of sin the justified person must realize that to be carnally minded is death, and that he needs to be spiritually minided all of the time. We must allow the Holy Spirit to not only fill us, but deliver us from the filthiness of fleshly mindedness. We must believe that God can not only forgive us of sins commited, but He can cleanse us of sin indwelling and that we can be conformed to the image of Jesus. (29). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> #4 Not Conformed, But Transformed/Ro.12:1-2/Mercies of God (4/15) After having shown us the mercies of God in the early chapters of Romans, Paul calls Christians to come along side him. He had experienced God's mercy by being delivered from the penalty of sin and then he experienced God's mercy when he was set free from the power and pollution of sin. Paul therefore said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD..." Paul wanted his readers to find the full salvation which he had found. It is a wonderful thing to be forgiven of our sins and have peace with God. It is a wonderful thing to come out of the dark night of condemnation into the glorious light of God's salvation. It is a wonderful thing to be raised from spiritual death and given new life in Jesus. But after getting saved, what Christian has not suffered the heartbreak and embarrassment of the sinful nature rising up in rebellion against Jesus? What Christian has not wanted to do the will of God but found that their sinful nature would not allow them to obey? What Christian has not been driven by his sinful nature to do that which God forbids? What Christian has not felt the urges to be... or to think... or to say... or to do... that which would break the heart of God? Though new life in Jesus is wonderful, the old sinful nature seems to be lurking at every corner in order to rob us of all that God has given us. We find ourselves with an inner war, tearing us apart. The new nature wanting to please God and the old nature wanting to displease God. God understood that problem and made provision for us to have victory over the sinful nature, also known as, "the old man" (6:6), the "sin that indwells" (7:17), the "body of this death" (7:14), the "law of sin and death" (8:2), being "carnally minded" (8:6:). God made the provision of full salvation and Paul experienced it's deliverance in his own life. Paul was therefore able to say, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD..." Not only had God's mercy been extended to deliver us from the sins we commited, but His mercy was also extended to deliver us from our sin nature dwelling within. And Paul, knowing what it was like to live such a double minded life was moved to call others to come along side him in victory. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God..." God in His mercy forgives and God in His mercy delivers from all sin. If He forgave us for our sins commited but did not give us victory over temptation and deliverance from inner rebellion, He would either be a God Who could not save His people from their sins or He would not be a merciful God. Not only was Jesus touched by our infirmities and tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin, He calls us to come to Him and obtain mercy to find help in time of trouble (He. 4:15-16). By the mercies of Christ's death and resurrection and the mercies of God at work in Paul, he calls us to come along side and walk in the power of the Spirit, not fulfilling the lust of the flesh (8:5-10). All Christians face the same disappointments and failures of the inner struggle. Some tell us not to worry about it, there is no hope for us in this life. They are wrong. Some tell us that we must struggle with these inner drives for the rest of our life, but we will never be delivered from them in this world. They are wrong. Paul told us to come along side of him and walk in victory. God in His mercy made it possible for Paul and He will make it possible for us as well. God has always planned for our victory, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son..." (Ro.8:29). Such a directive is cruel if it is not possible. Mercy makes it possible. Pastor David |
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