One Body In Christ

Romans 12:1-13.

GROWING IN CHRIST-LIKENESS IS A LIFE-LONG PROCESS.

The first 11 Chapters in the Book of Romans focuses primarily on teaching Doctrine. (WHAT)

Chapter 12 begins an exhortation on how to live out the Christian Faith (HOW)

Candid Camera

First episode in 1948. It ran through the 1970’s. Allen Funt presented people in the “Act of being themselves”. (THEME)

Can you imagine how most folks felt when shown a clip of themselves in the…. “Act of being themselves?” What emotions do you think they felt?

Embarrassed….Sad….Pain….Shamed….Humiliated?

So think about…What practices are currently a part of your life that CONFORM to worldly patterns?

SO MANY OF THE WORLDLY PATTERNS AND PRACTICES today….are just evil and not of Our LORD!

Abandonment of Christ and the Church, Corruption in Politics, Corruption in Business, Corruption in the media, Immoral behavior in and outside of marriage, Riots, Destruction of government and personal property, and on…..

We have a CHOICE…..CONFORM to the world…OR…Be TRANSFORMED!!!

Today’s Scripture lesson is about how we must TRANSFORM our LIFE and BEHAVIOR…. to be CHRIST-LIKE!

An outline of Romans Chapter 12 would look like this:

-Romans 12:1-3 Be Transformed!

-Romans 12:4-8 One Body, Many Members

-Romans 12-9-13 How to Love

Last weeks Study WAS in Chapter 11, THE LAST VERSE…Vs 36 concluded by saying:

”For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

1^ST….ABOUT BEING TRANSFORMED:

Chapter 12 begins:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God”

What is mercy? Isn’t Mercy… the act of not being given punishment that is deserved?

Consider….What does it mean to present your body as a living sacrifice?

God wants us to offer ourselves….NOT animals…. as a living sacrifice! He wants us daily to put aside our own desires and follow HIM.

WE are to do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven through Jesus Christ!

We are being called upon to Be: FAITHFUL….AVAILABLE….TEACHABLE Believers. Yes, we are to be FAT Christians. WHY…?

-1^st, GOD so loved the world that He gave His only SON….Jesus

-2^nd, Jesus gave His Life for us that we might have Life with HIM

-3^rd, In John 10:28-30 Jesus promised….

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

And…..THIS GIFT IS “IRREVOCABLE”:

“NOT able to be changed, reversed, or recovered, FINAL”

2^ND….ONE BODY, MANY MEMBERS

We are called to SERVE GOD with our Spiritual Gifts:

-Paul uses an analogy of the Human Body to teach HOW we are to live and work together….UNDER the direction of the Brain….Our Lord Jesus!

-He states that just as the body has different parts that perform different functions….we too are with different gifts….but are to work in unison as ONE BODY!

Paul says that we should have healthy SELF-ESTEEM because some of us think too little of ourselves.

Paul also states that we should not OVER-ESTIMATE ourselves.

-We are to think “Soberly”, as God has dealt to each a measure of Faith

Soberly = ”in a serious, sensible, and solemn manner.”

God has blessed us with GIFTS so we can build up HIS Church:

-We have a responsibility to use these Gifts effectively

-So we must:

1) Realize that ALL gifts and abilities come from God

2) Understand that not everyone has the same gifts

3) Know who we are and what we do best

4) Dedicate our gifts to GOD’S SERVICE

5) Use our GIFTS WHOLEHEARTEDLY

It would be very difficult….. for one person to embody ALL the GIFTS God has blessed us individually with!

As you identify your GIFT or GIFTS…..Pray and ask GOD to build you up to use your GIFT wisely….to Honor HIM and to help grow HIS Church!

Be THANKFUL for the people that GOD surrounds you with ….whose GIFTS are completely different than your own.

2 Corinthians 5:20……”We are AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to GOD.”

-Reconciled = “Restore friendly relations…Cause to coexist in harmony”

-We can ALL ask ourselves…..How well are we fulfilling our commission?

-We are to represent NOT what the world thinks or says….BUT to represent Jesus as HIS AMBASSADOR

-An AMBASSADOR is charged with representing NOT what they think….BUT what the leadership instructs them to represent!

-Jesus, through the BIBLE, has provided us with CLEAR instructions!

3^rd….ABOUT HOW TO LOVE

Behave like a Christian

VS 9….”Let LOVE be without Hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”

-That pretty much sums it ALL up.

-HYPOCRISY = “Practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform.”

Vs 12….”rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in Prayer.”

-HOPE = “A feeling of EXPECTATION”

As Believers we have HOPE through Jesus

-TRIBULATION = “A cause of great trouble or suffering”

2020 has bought on an enormous AMOUNT of tribulation

-PRAYER = “A devout petition to GOD”

HE LISTENS TO THE SINCERE DEVOUT PRAYERS WE LIFT UP!

Psalm 54:2 “Hear my Prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.”

Psalm 66:20 “Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.”

James 5:16 “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Dr. David Jeremiah……In Concluding a service last week… at his Church in El Cajon California …..For encouragement as we live through very difficult times today….CONSIDER as we enter into HEAVEN:

1. Look forward to a rousing welcome
2. Look forward to a rich reward
3. Look forward to a resurrected body
4. Look forward to a renewed assignment
5. Look forward to a royal throne
6. Look forward to a rapturous reunion
7. Look forward to a RISEN SAVIOR!

REVELATION 22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Sovereignty Of God | Enduring Covenant Love

Romans 11:1-10.

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO ISRAEL.

ISRAEL AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS ARE PROVEN.

The Roman Road To Righteousness:

Sin: Shows The Need For Salvation.

Salvation: Shows The Way Of Salvation.

Sanctification: Shows The Life Of Salvation.

Sovereignty: Shows The Scope Of Salvation.

Romans 9 Speaks Of God’s Sovereignty In Our Salvation.

God Saves Those Whom He Has Chosen From Eternity.

Romans 10 Speaks Of Human Responsibility.

We Must Believe The Gospel To Be Saved.

Both Divine Sovereignty And Human Responsibility Are True.

On Display In Scripture Is God's

Holiness In Condemning Sin.

Grace In Justifying Sinners.

Power In Sanctifying Believers.

Sovereignty In Saving Jew And Gentile.

- His Enduring Covenant Love For His People That Endures Forever.

- His Forgiveness For Mankind's Lies And Failure To The Covenant.

- His Character Will Never Break His Covenant With His Family.

SO ROMANS 11 ASKED THIS QUESTION:

DID GOD CAST AWAY HIS OWN PEOPLE WHOM HE FOREKNEW

POINT ONE: GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE: ELECTION.

Did God Reject His People? No. They Rejected Him.

But Not All Of Them.

There Was A Remnant Of Faithful To His Covenant Agreement.

God Had A Purpose And He Works It Out.

Through History He Works Out All Of His Purposes.

In Spite Of Our Stubbornness And Rebellion,

In Spite Of The Devil And Demons,

In Spite Of The Enmity Of The World,

He Fulfills His Purpose.

Sin Will Never Prevent God From Saving The Elect.

Sin Will Never Prevent God From Making A Holy Nation.

So, God:

Justifies The Ungodly.

Has A Purpose To Save Sinners For His Purpose.

Has A Purpose To Bring Glory To His Name.

Our God:

Is Unchangeable And Can Be Trusted.

Never Violates His Covenant.

Fulfills Every Promise.

Our God Is The Same Yesterday, Today, And Forever.

We Can Count On God’s Covenant And God’s Election!

God Will Never Reject Us.

Men May Do So, But God Never Will.

The Truth Is That God Has Not Rejected His People Whom He Has Foreknown.

Every Elect Will Be Saved.

Election Speaks Of God’s Initiative.

Only The Elect Of God Will Be Saved.

All Of The Elect Will Be Saved, Both Jews And Gentiles.

POINT 2: PROOF THAT GOD DID NOT REJECT HIS PEOPLE:

1) Personal Proof. Paul was:

One Example Of That Proof.

An Israelite: A Descendant Of Abraham.

A Descendant Of Jacob Of The Covenant Tribe.

A Descendant Of Benjamin Whose Tribe Was Born In Canaan.

A Blasphemer But Was Shown Mercy By Jesus.

A Converted Jew Saved By Jesus Christ.

2) Theological Proof. Paul was:

Foreknown By God.

Foreloved By God.

Chosen From All Eternity.

One Of God's Elect.

God Saves All His Elect.

God Foreknew Paul Would Be Saved.

3) Biblical Proof.

Paul Explains Israel Had Fallen Into The Great Apostasy.

The Time Of Wicked Jezebel And Ahab.

Jezebel:

Was Destroying The Altars Of God.

Was Killing The Prophets Of God.

Chose The Religion Of Baal That Practices Perversion.

The Prophet Elijah Thought He Was The Only Faithful One Left.

God Always Has A People Who Worship And Serve Him.

Elijah Did Not Have All The Facts.

Do Not Judge By Appearances Alone.

There Is The Bible Proof That God Has Not Rejected His People.

He Does Not Save Everyone But He Saves His Elect.

There Is Always A Remnant Saved By God.

For Everything That Was Written In The Past Was Written To Teach Us. It Is So That Through Endurance And The Encouragement Of The Scriptures We Might Have Hope. Romans 15:4.

4) Contemporary Proof.

At The Present Time There Is A Remnant According To The Election Based On Grace.

God’s Election Is From Eternity.

God Chooses Some Sinners To Salvation Based On Grace.

Based On God’s Unmerited Favor, Not On Human Works.

This Election Is Not Conditional Upon Human Goodness.

That Is Why We Call It Unconditional Election.

God Does Not Choose To Save The Rest Of Sinners.

He Passes Them By.

They Face Judgment Based On Their Works.

Salvation Is Based On Election Of The Grace Of God Alone.

The Elect Are A Minority, A Remnant.

The Non-Elect Are A Majority Who Continue On The Broad Way.

3,000 Were Saved When Peter Preached His First Sermon.

5,000 Were Saved At Another Time Soon Thereafter.

Most of Those Saved Were Jewish.

Proof That God Did Not Reject His People.

Salvation From Beginning To End Is Of Grace.

It Is Never Based On Human Works.

For It Is By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith, And This Not From Yourselves-It Is The Gift Of God, Not By Works, So That No One Can Boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.

5) The Eschatological Proof.

God Has A Plan For The Jewish People In The End.

God Has A Plan For The Salvation Of The Jewish Nation.

Presently, The Norm Is A Remnant Minority Who Are Saved.

In The End Times, It Will Be The Majority Of Jewish People.

Jesus Came To His Own, And His Own Crucified Him.

But In The Future, The Jews As A Nation Will Receive Jesus.

THESE CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS ARE AN ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY OF GOD'S PEOPLE:

Can Anyone Or Anything:

Keep You From God's Love.

Keep You From God's Sovereign Purpose Thru You.

Keep You From God's Sovereign Purpose In You.

Israel's Promise -- Chapter 8.

Israel’s Past Election – Chapter 9.

Israel’s Present Rejection – Chapter 10.

Israel’s Future Restoration – Chapter 11.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE ONE OF GOD'S ELECT?

IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO BE TRULY ONE OF HIS FAMILY THEN SAY YES TO HIM PLEADING FOR YOU TO COME TO HIM TODAY !

Eternal Security

Romans 8: 1-11, 31-39

THE CASE FOR ETERNAL SECURITY.

DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE SPIRIT:

DEPENDENCE THRU THE PRACTICAL COMMAND TO PERSEVERANCE:

FIRST, DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE SPIRIT:

A Believer Is:

Given A New Nature From God.

Given A Desire To Keep The Spiritual Principles Of The Law.

But: Do We Have The Power To Keep Them.

Then: Paul Was Then Able To Give A Cry Of Victory.

Paul Knew: Justification Is Found In The Person Of Jesus Christ.

Paul Explained: Sanctification Is Found In The Person Of Jesus Christ.

THE ANSWER TO INDWELLING SIN.

THE INDWELLING CHRIST.

THE ANSWER TO HOLY LIVING.

DEPENDENCE ON THE INDWELLING SPIRIT.

The Indwelling Holy Spirit Can Produce The Righteous Requirements Of The Law In Believers.

The Responsibility Of Believers Is To Be Rightly Related To The Holy Spirit In Their Experience.

To Submit To His Guidance And Will.

RELEASE FROM CONDEMNATION:

There Is Therefore Now No Condemnation To Them Which Are In Christ Jesus.

If In Christ, We Are Now:

Secure In Eternal Destiny.

Not To Be Judged By God In Eternity For Sin.

Alive In Vital Union With The Lord.

Never To Fear The Wrath Of God Or Eternal Punishment.

If God Condemns The True Believer.

He Must Condemn The Lord Jesus Too.

For Every Believer Is In Union With Christ.

God Would Never Condemn His Own Son.

RECOGNIZING THE NEW POWER OF THE SPIRIT:

Believers Need Not Fear Condemnation Because:

The Law Of The Indwelling Spirit.

The Life Of Christ.

The Union Of Christ.

The Power Of The Spirit | The Law Of The Indwelling Spirit.

Overcomes The Limitations Of the Mosaic Law.

Gives Progressive Victory Over The Flesh.

Reproduces The Life Of Christ In The Believer.

Frees The Believer From The Power Of The Sin Nature.

The Law Of The Indwelling Spirit.

Supersedes The Law Of The Sin Nature.

The Broken Power Of The Sin Nature | The New Life Of Christ.

God Judged The Sin Nature.

Jesus Broke The Power Of The Sin Nature.

The Spirit Produces A Progressive Reality Walking By The Law Of The Indwelling Spirit.

The Guarantee Of Completion | The Union With Christ.

The Union With Christ:

A Guarantee Of Progressive Victory Over Sin.

A Guarantee Of Complete Final Victory Over Sin In Glorification

REGARDING THE PRACTICE OF THE UNSAVED.

For Those Who Are According To The Flesh:

Set Their Minds On The Things Of The Flesh.

Dominated By The Sin Nature In All Things.

Walks According To The Flesh In All Things.

Feeds The Flesh Or Sin Nature.

Lives For Self.

Practices Evil.

Seeks Conflict To Satisfy Ego.

Those Who Are In The Flesh Cannot Please God.

Has No Ability To Please God.

Can Be Kind, Nice, Peaceful BUT Can Not Please God.

Lacks The Indwelling Holy Spirit To Please God.

Lacks Spiritual Requirements Of The Law Being Produced.

REGARDING THE PRACTICE OF THE SAVED.

For Those Who Are According To The Things Of The Spirit:

Dominated In Thinking By The Things Of The Spirit.

Considers The Will Of God In All Things.

Longs To Have Christ As Master Of Life.

Practice And Disposition Are Towards Spiritual Truth.

REGARDING THE POSITION OF THE SAVED:

The Distinguishing Characteristic Of The True Christian.

Is Set Apart For Producing Spiritual Fruit.

Is Set Apart For Evidence Of Progressive Spiritual Growth.

Is Set Apart For Victory Over Cravings Of Sinful Deeds.

FIRST, DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE SPIRIT:

THEN, DEPENDENCE THROUGH PERSEVERANCE:

Believers Are Under No Obligation To Live According To The Flesh.

The True Christian Is Not A Debtor To The Sin Nature.

Believers Are Not Under Obligation To Obey It.

Why?

God Has Positionally Judged The Sin Nature.

Has Indwelt The Believer With The Holy Spirit.

Has Guaranteed Progressive Ultimate Sanctification From Sin.

But Are Under Obligation To The Spirit.

Believers Are :

Under Obligation To Walk In The Spirit.

Dominated By The Spirit.

Able And Willing To Obey The Spirit.

Willing To Put To Death The Evil Deeds Of The Body.

Why?

Because The Believers:

Sin Nature Has Been Judged.

Inner Person Has:

The Indwelling Of The Spirit

The Empowerment Of The Spirit.

Put To Death The Cravings Of The Sin Nature.

THE GRASP OF SIN HAS BEEN OVERPOWERED:

LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT'S INFLUENCE.

REST IN GOD'S PROMISE OF SECURITY.

-God's Son, Through Death, Resurrection, And Appeal On Your Behalf Ensures Your Ultimate Salvation.

-No One And No Thing | Nothing

Can Separate You From God's Love.

Can Keep You From Your Victory In Christ In Glory.

-So Rest In God's Promise Of Security.

-So Believe God’s Promise For The Future.

THE ANSWER TO INDWELLING SIN.

THE INDWELLING CHRIST.

THE ANSWER TO HOLY LIVING.

DEPENDENCE ON THE INDWELLING SPIRIT.

THE ANSWER TO ETERNAL SECURITY.

DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE IN CHRIST.

NOTE:

THE LIBERATION OF OUR HUMAN NATURE

There Was A Time When As Unsaved A Person Was At The Mercy Of A Sinful Human Nature.

In That State The Law Simply Became Something That Moved Him To Sin

One Would Move From Bad To Worse, A Defeated And Frustrated Man.

But, When He Became A Christian,

Into A Life There Came The Surging Power Of The Spirit Of God,

And, As A Result, Entered Into Victorious Living.

THE TWO PRINCIPLES OF LIFE

A Contrast Between Two Kinds Of Life:

1. There Is The Life Which Is Dominated By Sinful Human Nature Whose Focus And Center Is Self

Whose Only Law Is Its Own Desires

Which Takes What It Likes Where It Likes

In Different People That Life Will Be Differently Described

It May Be:

Passion-Controlled

Lust-Controlled

Pride-Controlled

Ambition-Controlled

2. There Is The Life That Is Dominated By The Spirit Of God

As A Person Lives In Christ A Person:

Is Never Separated From Christ

Has No Mind Of Their Own But The Mind Of Christ

Has No Desires Of Their Own But The Will Of Christ

Is Spirit-Controlled, Christ-Controlled, God-Focused

These Two Lives Are Going In Diametrically Opposite Directions

A LIFE DOMINATED BY SINFUL HUMAN NATURE IS:

On The Way To Death

Self Extinction

Spiritual Suicide

Unfit To Ever Stand In The Presence Of God

Hostile To Christ

Resentful To The Law Of God

Resentful To The Control Of God In Their Life

Not A Friend Of God

An Enemy Of God

Spirit-Controlled

Christ-Centered

God-Focused

Daily Coming Nearer Heaven Even While Still On Earth

Progressing Toward Godliness

Dies Only To Rise Again

One With Death's Conqueror

THE SPIRIT-CONTROLLED ONE IS ON THE WAY TO LIFE

BUT IN POINT OF FACT EVERY PERSON MUST DIE

All Die Because One Is Involved In The Human Situation

Sin Came Into This World And With Sin Came Death

Death Is The Consequence Of Sin

Inevitably, Therefore, All Will Die

The Christ-Possessed Person Is On The Way To Life

Death Is An Inevitable Interlude That Must Be Experienced To LIVE.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

What does it mean that we face no condemnation? (vv. 1 – 4)

[Paul is using imagery of the courtroom at sentencing. You have been found guilty, you know you are guilty, and yet, there is no condemnation. Jesus, who is both the judge and the defense attorney for believers, intercedes for you and the Father, the judge, pardons you.]

What does Paul mean that we are conquerors? (vv. 37 – 39)

[Jesus Christ loves us and gives us the victory, no matter what may come our way. Our security in Christ is an established fact, and we claim it for ourselves because we are in Christ.]