Romans 12:1-2 [2-8-12]

--Sermon Notes

ROMANS, CHAPTER 12

[Verses 1-2]

(2-8-12)

 

Review:

Romans 11:30-32) [NIV] Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

31) [NIV] so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

32) [NIV] For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

QUESTION: What event caused us Gentiles to receive the mercy of God?

ANSWER It was the disobedience of the Jews when they rejected Christ.

QUESTION: Why will the Jews receive mercy again?

ANSWER God showed mercy to us disobedient Gentiles on this side of the cross, as a result of our trusting Jesus, and so He will now show mercy to the disobedient Jews as a result of their trusting Jesus.

QUESTION: What’s verse 32 reminding us of?

ANSWER Romans 1:18 through Romans 3:20 taught us that the Law of Moses brought condemnation to the Jews because they didn’t keep the commandments; consequently, since the Gentiles were already sinners, and the Jews were now found to be sinners, all have sinned and need a Savior!

 

On To This Week’s Lesson:

Romans 12:1-2) [NIV] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.

(MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life–and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

QUESTION: What’s one way to worship God according to verse 1?

ANSWER When we “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord we are worshipping Him.

QUESTION: Why should we “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord?

ANSWER We should do it in response to the mercy He has shown us, that mercy being the grace of God by which He has saved us.

QUESTION: What does it mean to “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord?

ANSWER Note the next verse:

2) [NIV] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

QUESTION: Again, what does it mean to “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord?

ANSWER When we quit living like “this world,” and walk in the transforming power of God we are offering our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord.

QUESTION: How do walk in the transforming power of God?

ANSWER: We do it “by the renewing of” our “mind.” We must wrap our minds around the liberating truths of the Gospel. We are new creations! Old things have passed away! All things have become new! We have been created to do good works! We are more than conquerors through Christ! Ect.

 (BBE) And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.

(GW) Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

QUESTION: What’s the second half of this verse mean?

ANSWER When we live according to the teachings of the New Testament we experience doing what’s pleasing to God. As we continue to do so we develop a sense of what’s right.