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Romans 12:1-8 The Body of Christ. Forest Hills Bible Chapel 11 September 2005. The World Trade Center The Pentagon Flight 93 crash in western Pennsylvania. Hurricane Katrina. A Minute of Silent Prayer. In Memory of the Victims of 9/11 and the Victims of Hurricane Katrina.
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Romans 12:1-8The Body of Christ Forest Hills Bible Chapel 11 September 2005
The World Trade Center The Pentagon Flight 93 crash in western Pennsylvania
A Minute of Silent Prayer • In Memory of the Victims of 9/11 and the Victims of Hurricane Katrina. • On Behalf of the Families of those victimized on 9/11 and of those victimized by Hurricane Katrina. • For the Protection and Preservation of free societies around the world in which the Gospel of Christ can be proclaimed.
Romans: A Brief Review • Introduction: 1:1-17 • Condemnation: 1:18-3:20 • Justification: 3:21-5:21 • Sanctification: 6:1-8:39 • Vindication: 9:1-11:36 • Application: 12:1-15:13 • Conclusion: 15:14-16:27
Romans 12:1-2 • 12:1-2 represents a transition to the final phase of Romans. • 12:1-2 looks back at all of chapters 1-11; hence the “Therefore…” • 12:1-2 is a summation of all that is to follow: 12:3-15:13 describe what this “living sacrifice” looks like.
Romans 12:1-2 • “I urge you…”; that is, Paul encourages us, or exhorts us. • “in view of God’s mercy…”; It is always the mercy of God, not the anger of God, that should motivate believers to obey Him. • “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God –”; offer yourself, not something else; a living sacrifice of oneself, not the death of an animal.
Romans 12:1-2 • “Do not be conformed (“schematic”) to the pattern of this world (“aeon”; this “age”). • Be transformed (“metamorphosis”) by the renewing of your mind. • Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – in the sense of affirm and verify God’s will. • “The analogy of anesthesia” – you think you understand, but you don’t!
Romans 12:3; Proper Self Analysis • A proper estimation of self – vv. 3-4. • Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought to. • Think of yourself with sober judgment. • Think of yourself in accordance with the measure of faith God has distributed to each one. Cf. 14:1-2. • Cf. 1 Corinthians 12:15-16, 21. • Remember our “corporate reading” of Romans.
Romans 12:4-5 • The Analogy of the Human Body – one body, many members; each member functions differently. • There is unity, and there is diversity. Both of these are crucial to the overall health of the body. • In Christ, we form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:6-8; Gifts to Serve the Body • We have different gifts, according to the grace (i.e., gracious gift) God has given to us. • If your gift is prophesying, then do so in accordance to your faith (or the faith). • If it is serving, then serve. • If it is teaching, then teach. • If it is to encourage, then give encouragement.
Romans 12:6-8; Gifts to Serve the Body • If it is giving, then give generously. • If it is to lead, do it diligently. • If it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. • We cannot, and we must not, stand alone; in Christ we belong to one another, and we need one another; we are indispensable to one another.