Leading up to Romans 12, we have spent a lot of time gathering knowledge. Eleven chapters of knowing and learning and gathering information from Paul, but nothing to do. Romans 12 is packed with doing, how to live it out. This is why is critical to keep things in context and to make sure we bridge all the elements together. Knowledge of the Gospel is exceptional, but knowing the Gospel isn’t enough. We must receive the Gospel and then live the gospel out with our actions. 

“We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” - 1 Corinthians‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Knowledge leads to puffing up, arrogance, and pride. Walking and living out the Gospel is love. Paul made it crystal clear that love is the way it builds up and counteracts the knowledge. This is the way we should walk, walk this way, just as Arrowsmith said! Back to Romans 12;

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy...” - ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1‬a ‭NIV‬‬

Paul comes out swinging, in love. He opens chapter 12 with a great transition; Paul has a few of these. “Therefore,” - he also uses “So that..” these transitions are lovely, and when you see them, I recommend you stop and recognize a few things. Recognize it’s a connector and is a bridge for the previous content or thoughts. I learned from a Bible teacher years ago that when we see “Therefore,” ask what’s it there for? Here in Romans 12, it's bridging the previous 11 chapters of knowledge into an action-packed punch of doing, living it out. So, let us dive in.

“Therefore, 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.” - ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We first have to start with the “in view of God’s mercy” - this is the knowledge of chapters 1-11. The Gospel, Jesus the Christ birth, life, death, and resurrection. Two words that capture His grace and what is available to us by believing and receiving this gift. What do we do since we have received God’s mercy?

Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 

This language is from the Old Testament, back when animals were sacrifices to God as a sin offering. In this way, Paul is making the point that we are that offering, not because we are good, or because anything to do with our body, but because of Jesus who is alive in us. Jesus is the one who paid the price for our sins, and now our body can be a model and be visible to all those around us that we honor and follow Christ, therefore pleasing God. Walk this way!

This is your true and proper worship. 

What is “this” when Paul is referring to true and proper worship? Offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. That is proper worship. Order here is essential; we offer our bodies to God in worship first. I love what John Piper says about this passage, and he reminds us of this critical fact;

“Before we give ourselves in mercy, we give ourselves in worship.” - John Piper

God wants our first, and best. This is with the tithe, and this is with our bodies and live. He should get our first and best, and then we give ourselves to others in our mercy. 

We will end today on Romans 12:2, and I am running out of time this morning :) 

“Do not conform 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.” -Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

MIndset, we talked about this earlier in Romans 7-8. The world has a pattern and a direction it is heading, and we must not conform to those ways. But how is a crucial question...how do we not get wrapped up in the ways of the world? The mindset of Christ! We must be transformed but the renewing of our minds. 

What does this look like, the renewing of our minds? Let’s look at the previous verse, that guided us to give our first and best to God is a living sacrifice. We would do this by spending our best time with God, talking with Him, reading His Word, reflecting on HIm, and allowing our relationship with the creator of the universe to be our priority in life. If we do this, bringing intentionality to our walk with Christ, what do you think will happen? I believe a byproduct of this lifestyle will produce verse 2...not conforming and transforming. It WILL NOT happen on accident; it requires purpose. 

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

When and then. When we put God first, worship Him first, not conforming to the world, but transformed in our mind, THEN! THEN we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. Whoa, what does this mean? Test and approve? I like a few other translations better with this text, other translations use “discern.” When we live our lives this way, we can discern, we can understand, we can see as God sees. I believe what Paul is saying here is when we entirely become a living sacrifice, God’s will, and our will start to align. Our minds renew and align with Christ, and the Holy Spirit begins to flow and work through us freely. 

Walk this way! Two verses down in Romans 12.