Perhaps today’s message is the most important sermon I have ever preached: APRIL Sermon Series: “UNPRECEDENTED”
April 5 Palm Sunday Unprecedented Deliverance: Romans 8:1
April 12 Easter Sunday Unprecedented Effort: Romans 8:28
April 19 Unprecedented Conclusion: Romans 8:37-39
April 26 Unprecedented Approval: Romans 12:1,2
Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
One comment I wish to make. In using the word ‘sacrifice’ Paul is obviously drawing from the Old Testament sacrificial system set forth in the Book of Leviticus. All the sacrifices together portray the one great sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to consecrate our entire being and all that we have, repeated daily, emotionally, continually, to use as God pleases. May I give you a powerful example from Scripture in the short letter of Paul to Philemon?
At some point prior to that letter, the slave Onesimus had deserted Philemon and had probably stolen from him in the process. Onesimus had made his way from what is now modern-day Turkey across Greece all the way to Italy. There he encountered Paul in Rome during Paul’s imprisonment. Then Paul led Onesimus to Christ and discipled him. But there was still one issue to be resolved. Onesimus had to make things right with Philemon. So Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter.
The purpose of the letter was to ask Philemon to receive Onesimus, to forgive him for running away and probably having stolen as well. The letter instructed Philemon to receive him as a Christian brother. “Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you” (Philemon 8,9). Paul wanted Philemon to desire to do what it was his duty to do. He did not want to coerce Philemon. His appeal to Philemon was to do for love’s sake that which he should do in obedience to the command of God.
“I appeal to you… by the mercies of God.” As we daily appropriate the gospel, we bask in God’s love. Genuinely basking in God’s love will lead us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. But that has to be renewed daily. WE CANNOT LIVE TODAY ON YESTERDAY’S COMMITMENT. My “living sacrifice” is truly a privilege that the Gospel affords to me everyday.
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Pastor Mike Brubaker, DMin
860-537-3914
Christian Life Chapel Website
Christian Life Chapel
PO Box 91
392 South Main Street
Colchester, CT 06415