ROMANS OUTLINE Chapters 1 - 8 Our FAITH :: Individual Chapters 9 - 11 Israel’s HOPE :: National Chapters 12-16 Our LIVES :: Communal

The Gospel in Practice: A Living Sacrifice Romans 12:1-2

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. A living sacrifice is reasonable

The Christian Body is a Temple 1Co 6:19 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?

...because the Spirit lives in you Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

It is our privilege to live for him Phl 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. A living sacrifice is beneficial

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Three Types of Christian Life 1) Convenient - is a Christian ruled by their senses.

KEY POINT #1 A living sacrifice is not controlled by fleshly tendencies or worldly preferences

Three Types of Christian Life Convenient - is a Christian ruled by their senses. Consecrated - meaning a Christian who is ruled by intellect, emotions and personal will power.

KEY POINT #2 A living sacrifice is not measured by intellect, emotional responsiveness or will power alone.

Three Types of Christian Life Convenient - is a Christian ruled by their senses. Consecrated - is a Christian who is ruled by intellect, emotions and personal will power. Controlled - is a Christian who is absolutely and completely yielded to the Holy Spirit.

KEY POINT #3 A living sacrifice offers up their will to die in exchange for God’s will to live

Be NOT conformed 2 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.

Be TRANSFORMED!!! 2 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.

Transformation begins with the mind Phl 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

KEY POINT #4 A living sacrifice exchanges their mind for the mind of Christ.

How do we get this mind? Heb 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. A living sacrifice is cut by the word and set a fire by the Spirit – a sweet savour before God