Lesson 150
Romans Chapter Twelve
Responsibilities in the Christian Life
Review:
In the context the sacrifice of
the body is described 4 ways.
#1 “its living” za,w
#2 “holy” a[gioj to be set apart
#3 “acceptable” euva,restoj best meaning is “well pleasing”
?? Can we please God? You bet we can!
Premise is logical, Christ was God’s gift and gave everything for us, logically what should our response be? Tremendous gratefulness from each of us!
Point is that under grace we do because of
what we now are in Him!
Under Law you do in order to be!
4th
description is found in the last phrase:
“which is your spiritual service
of worship”
Lit. your reasonable/logical service of worship
spiritual logiko,j rational, reasonable, what belongs to the real nature of things
service of worship latrei,a this word takes us to the OT sacrifices; root of its idea is that service based on worship of God!
This term has both the connotation of service to God and worship of God.
Think about it, what were we? dead to God, ungodly, enemies, and we are brought by grace to the point where we by that grace are able to offer up holy, well-pleasing sacrifices to God.
What a marvel of the mercies of God!
12:2 Two Cmd’s
establishing expected direction of our lives.
Neg. And
do not be conformed to this world, [Rejecting]
Pos. but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, transforming
And do not be conformed to this world
Word conformed is suscwmati,zw to be conformed or fashioned into a pattern or mold; a response to external pressures.
Pres. Says the action is continuing, its ongoing;
Pass. Voice recognizes the influence of the external, the impact of this world on our thinking and therefore our lives.
Imp. Mood coupled with the neg. mh = stop being conformed
or fashioned by the this world; therefore idea of rejecting
Paul’s exhortation here is to stop being conformed to the scheme of this age.
What
is Paul referring to by the phrase “this world”? tw/| aivw/ni tou,tw
Some ideas of what is referred to
Biblically by “this world/age.”
1. aiwn = a segment of time
We must understand that God’s program involves ages is essential.
Past age
Why is it important?
There is no warrant to bring any aspect of M/L into this age!
2. This age is expressly called evil Gal. 1:4.
kakoj innate/inherent evil, not solicitous, not attempting to snare.
ponhro,j refers to active evil; evil that is solicitous.
This age,
the now age is said to be dominated by Satan. Eph
2:1-2
We will clean up the air but do nothing about the fact that we’re submerged, we’re about to drown in a sea of moral filth, an environment totally controlled by Satan. 2 Cor. 4:3-4
If we do nothing as believers we will be impacted by the age! You can count on it!
We are to have a transformed mind, renewed by consistent input of DVPT.
This gives us the capacity under the empowering of the Holy Spirit to fight the onslaught of the age.
We must recognize that just rejecting, turning from the scheming and seductiveness of this age, does not cut it, there must be a positive choice there must be a transforming and renewing in each of our lives.
BUT alla strongest contrast; be transformed metamorfo,w [p.p.i]
metamorfow refers to an inner change of nature that is reflected in the life!
Uses of metamorfo,w
metamorfo,w Used of Christ! Mt. 17:2; also Mk 9:2 transfiguration
Used of the
inner change of the believer that should be ongoing in the life of each of us
continually, pres. tense. 2 Cor
#1. It spells out a condition required, unveiled face.
An unveiled face speaks of a choice to look [seeing clearly]
#2. The place we are
to look, “beholding in a mirror
the glory of the Lord”
Where is the place to look for the glory of the Lord? Its in the mirror! Jms. 1:23-25 gives us a clue!
#3. The thing seen, “the glory of
the Lord.”
Often used of the whole person, who and what He is! Essence!
#4. The result accomplished, the same image as the Lord;
note, there is nothing here that leaves any of us out;
We are being transformed into the same image, [eikwn] Rom. 8:29
#5. Its a step by step process. “From glory to glory”
its a process over time;
#6. Its empowered by Holy Spirit! from the Lord, the Spirit.
from = apo [originator, source] the Spirit of the Lord.
Back to Rom. 12:2
Notice in the next phrase where the transformation takes place,
“in
your mind.” “by the renewing of your mind”
The change is the result of what God does in us as we continue looking into the mirror of the Word, and through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the change is effected as we grow and mature as believers;
W.E. Vine says of the renewing of the mind
that it is the adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the
mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon our lives.
What is the purpose in view
here?
That
you may prove what the will of God is,
As we grow and mature in the Word we will have the insight and the discernment to know what the will of God is in our life.
Then we have 3 adjectives to describe the will of God.
“that
which is good and acceptable and perfect.”