Practical
Living in a Pagan Culture:
Being
Jesus to a World That Doesn’t Care
A
Study in the Book of Romans
Session
1: June 10
Conformity
– Being a Sacrifice
12
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to
God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that
good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
Today we live in a
culture that is not too removed from what the church in Rome had to deal with:
overt paganism, rampant immorality, corrupt government, mystical religions, and
a society that rejected all they stood for.
It was to this church in this atmosphere that Paul wrote his greatest
letter. In the next 8 weeks we want to
explore the practical side of the book of Romans and see what instructions Paul
gave them in order to impact the world where they lived.
Written from Corinth at
the end of second missionary journey, around 57 AD. Did not found church, but reputation
worldwide! Most likely started by
pilgrims to Jerusalem for Day of Pentecost and among thousands converted;
started by some led to Christ during Paul’s early journeys.
1st eight chapters
form theological foundation of NT; systematic presentation of Gospel. Chapters 9-11 demonstrate Gospel in the
history of nation of Israel. Plan of
salvation for all. Chapters 12-15 practical in nature.
Context Rom 8:18f; Rom 9-11
codicil…
Beg, exhort, parakaleo…
On the basis of all God
has done; heart, inward parts
Yield your body as a
whole; Offer all you are… a living
offering to God… Examples: Isaac; Jesus; Matt.
16:24-26
Set apart; sanctified; separated;
Acts 13; 2 Tim 2:21; Gal 1:15; pair of
shoes…
Pleasing to God; NASB: spiritual service of worship…
fashion, fashioned,
fashionable; external; 1 Pet 1:14; age: a
period marked by spiritual or moral characteristics…;
transfigure, Mt 17;
metamorphosis, 2 Cor 3:18;
We become Jesus to the
world! 2 Cor 2:14f;
T. Austin Sparks: The
Incense Bearer
“The extra point which has
to be noticed is this, that it is something more than our giving out knowledge
concerning Christ; it is that we are to men the knowledge of Christ. There is a
very big difference between giving out the truth concerning the Lord Jesus and
that strange, deep, indispensable element that we are that truth, that that
truth itself takes its power, its strength from the fact that here are those
who are the living expression of it; who have gone through the depths, been
tested, been tried, been taken from place to place, been subjected to
experiences of intense severity, and in the fires have learned Christ, and are
therefore themselves the embodiment of the knowledge of Christ. Wherever they
go it is not that they have truth to give, but it is that men and women learn
Christ because of them, and of them it can be said: It is not what they say
only; there is something coming from them. There is an indescribable
"something" which is an extra element to what they say. That thing has
its reality in their being, and you feel that it is not only the words but the
very virtue that comes out when they speak, or by reason of their presence. It
is that of which the Apostle is speaking. That is the real value of any knowledge of Christ
which we can give, which others may come to possess by us. It is not that they
come through us to know more about Christ, but that there is a ministration of
Christ. That is the thing for which we should seek the Lord very earnestly. It
is, in a word, Christ ministered, not Christ ministered about, but Christ
ministered.”
App: Who are we becoming?
Like the age or like Jesus?
Discussion: How do you
transform your mind?
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