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. Romans 12:2

The state of Christianity can be summed up with this one verse, are you conforming or are you transforming? As we look at the state the majority of the “Church” today, most of it wants to conform to the world. The modern day Church wants to look and relate to the world, be appealing to the world, but if your truly Born Again, you will not be appealing to this world, in fact you are at war with the world (Ephesians 6)

The Apostle John stated “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway/control  of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) The world is under the influence of the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) How can the Church be conformed to the world, when the world is in opposition of Christ? Understand brothers and sisters, you are “of God” or you are “of the world”, there is no inbetween. Churches that are trying to be like the world, are just trying to be like the devil. 

You might say “Nobody will come to our Church, unless we are more appealing to the world” consider this scripture “because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) The word Holy means Set Apart, Be Set Apart from the world, because Christ is Set Apart from the world.  Consider what The Lord Jesus Christ said “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first” (John 15:18) The world crucified our Lord, do you really think you can be part of the world? 

Instead of trying to be like the world “Be transformed the renewing of your mind” Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) You need to be transformed, you need to be regenerated, you need to be Born Again as a Child of God, not as a friend of the world. You need the Holy Spirit to give you a new heart, a new mind, the Holy Spirit will live inside of you (Ezekiel 36:26)

This is the Will of God, that you become saved, that you become transformed as a New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7) The Will of God is not that you remain spiritually dead in your sins, let the dead bury the dead, but you Christian GO and preach the Kingdom of God, (Luke 9:60), Amen!

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 Romans 12:1

Recently I just preached on Luke 9 What Is A Christian? In this chapter Jesus lays out what he requires of us to be a disciple of Christ. Just an example Jesus said “If anyone wants to come after me (be my disciple), they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me (Christ) (Luke 9:23) Jesus is saying if you really want to be a Christian, you must carry your cross and follow Christ. How many of the billions of people, who identify as Christians, carry their cross on a daily basis?

So as we look at our text today, the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, continues this theme. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice” Wow this seems pretty extreme right? Well our sin is so extreme that the Son of God had to die on the cross for your sins, so yes salvation is extreme. Today’s Christianity is all about self worship and self glorification.

Most people don’t want to sacrifice anything, they want things added to them. Most peoples view on Christianity today is my life plus Jesus added as a bonus, but if you are truly a Christian, Jesus is your entire life. Consider what the Apostle Paul said here “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galtians 2:20) You are not your own, you were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

So going back to this theme, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, first understand your body is a temple of the Living God, as a Born Again Christian, the Holy Spirit lives inside of you. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) How can you be pleased to continue to live in sin if God lives inside of you? While we battle against the sins of the flesh, we sacrifice the daily pleasures of the flesh to give glory to God. 

Lets consider this, if you are a Born Again Christ, the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you are now a Temple of God. If you were at your local Church, would you be watching pornography? Would you be drunk? Would you be continually cussing? No, because you have respect for the house of The Lord, so if you’re a Temple of God, why don’t you treat your body with the same reverence?

As the Apostle Paul says “Holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” Many will cry “Legalism” but No you are honoring your Lord, this is your service, to crucify the flesh daily and live for Jesus Christ as a living sacrifice, Amen!

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.  Romans 11:33-36

After several chapters of difficult teachings, the Apostle Paul ends this section with worship to our God! What a beautiful and humble way to end this section of scripture, remember our God is an awesome God who reigns! The reason we wrestle with these scriptures is as the Apostle Paul states here “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” The mind of God is beyond our human comprehension, as The Lord stated through the prophet Isaiah ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Job stated “Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?” (Job 11:7) This is why when we come to the Word of God, we must come with all humility and reverence, and be willing to learn by the Holy Spirit. Just as we look out into the universe, can we fathom how it all began? Or when we look from the shore of the ocean, another whole world is going on under those waters, we are just a grain of sand on the seashore, fill us Lord with your Spirit so we may comprehend your ways and thoughts!

How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways unfathomable! How can we fathom the mind of our Heavenly Father? When you open your Bible, Thank the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for this unspeakable gift, to learn and know the thoughts of God. “Who has known the mind of The Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” Who can possibly know the mind of God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth? The one who breathed your soul into existence? Yet many believe they are Gods counselors! They say well I have this degree and that degree, I was raised in the Church from a child, I know the Word of God! Do you really? “Fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding!” (Proverbs 9:10)

The Apostle Paul actually quotes Job here “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.” (Job 41:11) Everything belongs to The Lord, including You! God doesn’t owe us anything, and we owe Him everything! Humble ourselves before The Lord and you will receive understanding of His word by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul ends this perfectly  “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things, to whom be the glory forever, Amen!”