1. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2. The Radical Implications of the Mercies of God: His Gospel Romans 12:1-2

3. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. The word “therefore” links these verses back to all previous truths Paul has already presented in chap 1-11

4. Romans 1-11 Part 1 Thesis By God’s sovereign grace man is justified by repentant faith in the Gospel.

5. In chapter 1, we learned of the power of the gospel and the reality of God’s wrath In chapter 3, Paul showed us the power of the law to condemn all and the reality that outside of Christ we have no hope for being righteous In chapter 5, we saw that all die in Adam but many will be made righteous through the second Adam In chapter 8, we rejoiced in the glorious truth that there is now NO condemnation to them that are in Christ and in 8:28 we took great solace in God’s ability to weave everything together for good for his children. As we learned of God’s foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and eventual promises of glorification. Then in 9, we were of reminded of the reality that He is the chief potter and each of us are mere masses of clay (but clay that is made in the imagine of God). When we got to chapter 10, we clearly understood that one is saved by repentant faith and faith alone in the person and work of Jesus with Abraham as our incredible example. Finally in chapter 11, Paul shocked us with the reality that the blindness Israel is under is a God ordained consignment to disobedience similar to what the Gentiles experienced when God’s people at the time were ethnic Jews. We were challenged to recognize that God always does what is best—He is sovereign. YET the great truth that NOT one who desires mercy through the cross will be turned away.

6. Romans, Part II Chapter 12-15 Thesis God expects all those who have been saved by the power of the Gospel to RADICALLY live out that Gospel.

7. the Gospel The gospel is the good news that mercy is available through the cross to ____________

8. Let’s Consider The implications of suggesting the gospel should radically impact you in a world that resents religious radicalism

9. Our Radical Savior and Lord And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you Love your enemies Love your enemies If any man come to me, and hate not his father…and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. If any man come to me, and hate not his father…and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

10. Romans 12:1 We need to hear: We need to hear: – I “beseech” – I “appeal” or “urge” (with emphasis)

11. Romans 12:1 We need to hear: We need to hear: – I “beseech” – I “appeal” or “urge” (with emphasis) brethren, (fellow believers) brethren, (fellow believers) by the mercies of God, by the mercies of God, – (the gospel)

12. “Mercies of God” Outside of the gospel of Jesus Christ there is NO mercy; therefore, the “gospel” is a synonym for mercy and grace.

13. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. I am NOT my own I have been bought with a price.

14. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

15. What does it mean to sacrifice? Wars are won through sacrifice Athletes sacrifice to win Parents sacrifice for children Spouses sacrifice one for another Believers sacrifice for the church Christ died for

16. : an act of offering to a deity something precious; especially : the killing of a victim on an altar 2 : something offered in sacrifice 3 a : destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else b : something given up or lost

17. Sacrifice is what we STRUGGLE with in the 21 st Century

18. Why is it that the typical Christian gives less than 2.5% of their annual income to the work of the Lord? Because we don’t want to sacrifice. It is the same reason we are upside down as a society; we don’t want to sacrifice.

19. “Living Sacrifice” Why can’t we afford time away for a short-term mission trip BUT we never miss using our timeshare at the beach?

20. You are out to dinner and the waiter is terrible, the steak is NOT cooked right, and _______

21. What goes through your mind when you hear that William Carey stayed on the mission field in India through three wives? “living sacrifice”

22. Here is the Issue In the remote region of our sub-conscious, are we asking this question: In the remote region of our sub-conscious, are we asking this question: – What if I sacrifice the “golden years” of my life for service to the King and there is NO God? blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed…Jesus

23. The gospel implores me to make Radical sacrifices of lusts, dreams, aspirations and even goals in light of the mercy of God in my life.

24. From Time.com Two-timing politicians, take note: cheating has never been easier. AshleyMadison.com, a personals site designed to facilitate extramarital affairs, now boasts slick iPhone and Blackberry versions that help married [horn] dogs find like-minded cheaters within minutes. The new tools are aimed at tech- savvy adulterers wary of leaving tracks on work or home computers. Because the apps are loaded up from phones' browsers, they leave no electronic trail that suspicious spouses can trace. Two-timing politicians, take note: cheating has never been easier. AshleyMadison.com, a personals site designed to facilitate extramarital affairs, now boasts slick iPhone and Blackberry versions that help married [horn] dogs find like-minded cheaters within minutes. The new tools are aimed at tech- savvy adulterers wary of leaving tracks on work or home computers. Because the apps are loaded up from phones' browsers, they leave no electronic trail that suspicious spouses can trace.

25. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

26. HOLINESS HOLINESS Chief attribute of God and a quality to be developed in his people. Chief attribute of God and a quality to be developed in his people. “Holiness” and the adjective “holy” occur more than 900 times in the Bible. “Holiness” and the adjective “holy” occur more than 900 times in the Bible. The primary OT word for holiness means “to cut” or “to separate.” The primary OT word for holiness means “to cut” or “to separate.” Fundamentally, holiness is a cutting off or separation from what is unclean and a consecration to what is pure. Fundamentally, holiness is a cutting off or separation from what is unclean and a consecration to what is pure. Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale reference library (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 608 Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale reference library (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 608

27. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Pleasing to God

28. Romans 12:1-2 In light of the mercy of God, what God has done in my life through Jesus Christ, the question is NO longer—is this lawful? Does the Bible specifically prohibit this? In light of the mercy of God, what God has done in my life through Jesus Christ, the question is NO longer—is this lawful? Does the Bible specifically prohibit this? The question is NOW is this pleasing to God? The question is NOW is this pleasing to God? So let’s take something like 50 piercings of the body or tattoo—neither of which keep you from heaven or should be judged by others So let’s take something like 50 piercings of the body or tattoo—neither of which keep you from heaven or should be judged by others

29. Bodily Application – I have always wanted a tattoo on my body… – However, I am a tattoo could hurt my testimony for the cause of Christ – I am sure there will not be any tattoo parlors in heaven ( I better do it now) – Will I sacrifice my dream of having a tattoo on my arm in response to gospel?

30. William Wilberforce In 1785, he underwent a conversion experience and became an evangelical Christian, resulting in major changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern for reform. In 1787, persuaded Wilberforce to take on the cause of abolition, and he soon became one of the leading English abolitionists. He headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade for 26 years until the passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807.

31. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable [spiritual] service. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable [spiritual] service. This sacrificial choice becomes an act of worship.

32. Spiritual Service Application Application – Responding to a lazy incompetent waiter in a MERCIFUL (Christ Like) manner becomes an act of spiritual service to your King!

33. Hebrews 13:15 (KJV) 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

34. Romans 12:2 And And – Paul is not finished describing how the gospel is to radically impact every area of my life

35. Romans 12:2 Be not [imperative] conformed to this world: Be not [imperative] conformed to this world: Please Turn John 17:9-17

36. “In” but NOT “of” for a distinct purpose

37. Instead of Conforming but be ye transformed but be ye transformed – [into holy, God-pleasing, living sacrifices]. The Bible knows nothing of a scenario where the people of God look, walk, talk and act like the people of the world; HOWEVER _____________

38. WE CAN ALSO SAY THAT under grace IT IS NOT GOD’S INTENT TO GIVE MAN A LIST OF RULES TO LIVE BY WE CAN ALSO SAY THAT under grace IT IS NOT GOD’S INTENT TO GIVE MAN A LIST OF RULES TO LIVE BY SO HE OR SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ANYMORE SO HE OR SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ANYMORE THEY JUST OBEY RULES AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY KEEP THE RULES AND OTHERS DON’T THEY JUST OBEY RULES AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY KEEP THE RULES AND OTHERS DON’T

39. Real Change Begins w/ the Mind but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, Outward conformity without a transformation of the mind is NOT what Paul had in mind.

40. The Agent of Change Titus 3:5 Titus 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy [the gospel] He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

41. Renewing Continual Process God has saved me from the power and penalty of sin God has saved me from the power and penalty of sin – past tense God is saving me from the power of sin God is saving me from the power of sin – Present tense Ultimately God will save me from death and His wrath Ultimately God will save me from death and His wrath – Future tense

42. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove [discern] what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ye may prove [discern] what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. why

43. Fact Baptists have historically taken a strong stand for soul liberty. Knowing where to draw the line in your own life is NOT easy. It takes discernment.

44. Three Possibilities Black #1 The Bible is very clear about this matter White #2 The Bible is NOT clear about this matter Gray #3 The Bible provides some guidance concerning the matter BUT it is not absolute

45. Application Every scenario requires this question: How should the gospel impact how I think or what I do in this scenario?

46. Answer Three possibilities: Three possibilities: – Positive This actively advances the gospel This actively advances the gospel – Neutral Neither positive or negative Neither positive or negative – Negative This hurts the intent and goal of the gospel This hurts the intent and goal of the gospel

47. Christianity Is NOT NOT a religion NOT a religion NOT about rules to appease God’s wrath NOT about rules to appease God’s wrath NOT about rituals or ceremonies NOT about rituals or ceremonies NOT about regulations to win God’s favor NOT about regulations to win God’s favor

48. Christianity is about a relationship with the Person and Work of Christ that results in radically different attitudes and behaviors toward nearly every scenario because of the Gospel.

49. Radical Implications With my spouse With my spouse In the body of Christ In the body of Christ With my boss With my boss In my worldview In my worldview While out to dinner While out to dinner With my coworkers With my coworkers In my neighborhood In my neighborhood With my time With my time In my marriage In my marriage

50. Men’s Conference What about attending the October Conference in light of Romans 12:1-2?

51. Calling for Sacrifice Young Single Adult Young Single Adult Mother with three children Mother with three children Retiree Retiree Small Business Owner Small Business Owner Soldier in the Army Soldier in the Army