Title: A Call to Commitment
Text: Rom 12:1-2
Date: 3-30-08.am
Beginning with chapter 12 continuing through the middle of chapter 15 we find what most call the practical section of the book of Romans. Paul has laid an important foundation of the Christian life based on theological truth. But, the Christian life is not just a study of theology, it is about living out that theology. Having been justified, sanctified and made righteous through the atoning sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the Cross and by His resurrection, that righteousness must make itself manifest in the and through our lives as believers. In the next several messages Paul is going to tell us how it is to manifest itself among believers, then how it is be manifest in the world and finally how it is manifest among those who are weak and those who are strong.
This morning we want to address the issue of righteousness in the life of believers made manifest through commitment. The word commitment means dedication, devotion, faithfulness. We are talking about our commitment as believers to God and to living a godly life.
Spring football is beginning and you might picture the dedication and commitment of fans to Husker football. Good or bad, rain or shine the stadium is always full. Many if not most of those haven’t missed a game in years. I'll be going to the race at KC in a few weeks and the same is true for that. Although this first race isn't a NASCAR race on Sunday there will still be about 85,000 plus people there. Most of them will be there from Thursday through Sunday. Can you imagine the power and influence of the church if Christians had that kind of commitment to God. As believers we should have an greater commitment, because the basis of our commitment is greater.
I. The Basis of Commitment v. 1a
When Paul says I urge you or I beseech you it is a statement of both exhortation and encouragement but also one of authority. Paul makes it clear that this authoritative urging is made to believers, brethren not in the flesh, as he mentioned earlier about Israel, but brethren in the Spirit. It is a call to commitment to those whose lives have been redeemed. I want to point out one more time so you won’t ever be able to say you haven’t heard it before. Paul has made it clear we are justified fully and completely and exclusively by faith in Jesus Christ. So when he calls us to a commitment to holy living it is not for the purpose of gaining God’s favor, but it is a logical, spiritual and expected response to our justification.
1. God's Mercy
What is the basic for such a commitment? For Christian’s our dedication, devotion and faithfulness to God, to His Word, both the written and Living is not based on subjective feelings or temporal rewards, such as a win/loss record. It is based on God's great Mercy. This is what Paul has been talking about in this letter. We have been redeemed, or reclaimed, from a life of sin by the mercy of God. Men and women, boys and girls all of humanity whose lives have been stained and marred, who are spiritually dead in their trespass and sin find redemption through the mercy of God and not by our own merit. That is so completely different from any other “religion” in the world.
John Stott says, "The gospel is precisely God's mercy to inexcusable and undeserving sinners, in giving his Son to die for them, in justifying them freely by faith, in sending them his life-giving Spirit, and in making them his children." (p. 320)
II. The Characteristics of Commitment v. 1b (Five of them)
1. It is TOTAL
This is as bold a call to total commitment by believers as is found anywhere in Scripture.
Present your bodies a living sacrifice is not a reference to just the physical body, but all that is you. We often make the evangelistic appeal for people to give their hearts to Jesus. Paul's appeal is stated in much stronger terms, God wants all of you. Like the joke about the chicken and the pig which one was most committed to the farmers breakfast. The chicken made a sacrifice, but the pig gave all. That's what this is calling for, for Christians to give all.
There is an old saying that is certainly applicable here, Jesus is Lord of All, or Jesus is not Lord at all. It is a saying that should cause all of us who claim or wear the title Christian to examine our commitment to Jesus Christ to determine if that commitment is a half-hearted, part-time commitment total or complete.
2. It is CONTINUAL
Paul says this total commitment of presenting our bodies is a continual commitment as a living sacrifice.
That means that our commitment to Christ and to our faith is an ongoing process of continually committing or giving ourselves to the Lord. Yielding to His Spirit allowing Him to direct our lives in every situation, in every circumstance. It’s not just a Sunday morning commitment it’s also a Monday through Saturday commitment.
3. It is to be HOLY
We have talked about that word holy before. It means to be separate or set apart. Simply put it means our lives are to reflect the fact that we have renounced sin and are set apart for God. And it is to reflect godliness in every area.
4. It is to be an ACCEPTABLE
By acceptable means we are to present ourselves according to God’s terms. Just like if you were having a house built, or think of our addition we hope to have. If you were to give a builder a set of plans for your building would it be acceptable if you came back and it was totally different? You still have your house or your addition but he says well I thought this would work better in a different place so I put the kitchen here and moved the bathrooms there and I thought this color was more appealing than what you choose and on and on would that be acceptable to you? Probably not. Yet that’s often what we do with our commitment to God. God wants certain things from us, but we want to give other things that are easier or more appealing or whatever. But a complete, continual, holy commitment is what is acceptable to God.
5. It is REASONABLE/SPIRITUAL
I say reasonable because presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice is the only logical or appropriate response to such great mercy. It is spiritual because it is a commitment not just to ceremonial ritualistic religion. It’s not just attending church although church attendance is an important aspect of commitment. But, it goes beyond that to living a dynamic spiritual life that impacts our families, our communities and our world.
III. The Demands of Commitment v. 2a
In the first part of verse two Paul gives us some of the demands of that kind of a commitment. The first is stated negatively.
1. The negative demand -
Do Not Conform - conform - to be in line with or shaped by.
Any longer - the indication that we previously did conform
The pattern of this World
Believers are no longer to conform themselves to the present pattern and ways of the thinking of the world. 1 Pet 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. Paul told the Colossians Col 3:2-3 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Paul reminded the Galatians that the present age is evil (Gal 1:4). The world cannot, and must not, serve as a model for Christian living. Its values and goals are opposed to growth in holiness. The church, and by church not just to the cooperate body, but to each individual believer, must stand out from the world as a demonstration of God's intention for the human race. To be culturally identified with the world is to place the church at risk of being the body of Christ. If you read the Values section in Saturday’s paper you understand from most of the things written there that more and more the visible church is trying to blend in with the world. We can see some of how that dynamic is at work In an article for USA Today just before Easter.
Has the 'notion of sin' been lost?
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY 3-19-08
The rise of secular culture also is exerting an influence. "Secularism is situational without fundamental, universal rules.
A new survey by Ellison Research in Phoenix finds 87% of U.S. adults believe in the existence of sin, which is defined as "something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective." That sounds reasonable but here are some other things mentioned to modify what that means.
Sociologist Barry Kosmin a research professor of Sociology at Trinity College in Hartford Conn says “what is unacceptable has changed.” The article mentions several things but notes that only 45% now believe premarital sex is a sin.
Ellison Research President Ron Sellers says, “we tend to view sin not as God views it, but how we view it."
David Kinnaman, president of Barna Research, a company in Ventura, Calif., that tracks Christian trends, draws a similar conclusion: "People are quick to toe the line on traditional thinking" that there is sin "but interpret that reality in a very personal and self-congratulatory manner" — I have to do what's best for me; I am not as sinful as most.
We don’t want to be living sacrifices. As one contributor said we just want a good batting average. However, believers are to be salt and light (Matt 5: l 3-14). We are to be purifying and enlightening contemporary culture rather than adapting to it.
2. The Positive Demand
Be Transformed - transformation comes from within -
by the renewing of your mind.
The word translated transformed is used for the transfiguration of Jesus, it is the word from which we get metamorphosis it means to change forms or into something completely different. It is like the caterpillar changing into a butterfly.
Rather than allowing the world to squeeze us into its own mold (Phillips), Paul told believers to be "transformed [to be changed into something different] by the renewing of your minds." From the outside there is a continuing pressure to adopt the customs and mind-set of the world in which we live.
Although that influence must be rejected, that alone will never create the kind of change God has in mind for his followers. Real and lasting change comes from within. We must "allow ourselves to be transformed.''
The key to this transformation is our minds. Our thought life controls our attitudes, our feelings and our actions. We are to allow the Spirit of God which we have been given to transform our thinking.
The Bible never shies away from urging Christians to use their minds. Some people have the mistaken belief that somehow having faith means not thinking, or that when we allow the Spirit of God to transform our minds we quit thinking for ourselves, but that’s not the case.
The Bible presents historical facts to base our faith on and urges people to examine the evidence and see for themselves it’s truth. Luke talks about convincing proofs in Acts 1:3 and begins his gospel by telling us he investigated everything carefully. Paul writing to the Church at Thessalonica in 1 Th 5:21-22 wrote, But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. NASB
The bible wants us to use our minds, but also warns us of the dangers of what we put into it - how and what we think. Paul called it the futility of the mind in Eph 4:17 - 5:1. It tells us to fill our minds with things that are good and wholesome Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. NASB
So instead of conforming or being shaped by the world or molded, Paul urges us to be transformed changed completely in our mind in the way we think about things. It’s about developing a biblical world view of life.
IV. The Results of Commitment v. 2b
The end result of God's work in our lives and the commitment of our lives to Him is the ability to discern the will of God. That doesn’t mean it necessarily comes easily but it does become easier. The closer we walk with God, the greater our commitment to Him the easier it becomes to discern His will and to understanding that His will is good and acceptable and perfect. And, the easier it becomes to allow it to transform us into the image of His Son. On the other hand, a half-hearted commitment only brings about confusion in seeking to find and understand the will of God for your life.
2 Cor 3:18 says, And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Col 3:10-11 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
What kind of commitment have you made? Have you presented your total self as a living sacrifice to be transformed into His image, or have you brought a substutute? Can you say with complete conviction and assurance this morning that I have decided to follow Jesus committed totally to Him. If not we invite you to do that very thing this morning, and Christians we are challenged to continually live out that commitment moment by moment day by day.