Romans 12- Mission of The Church

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Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

So what does it mean to live as the Church? As a Christian you don’t live like the world, or for the world, you live for Christ. The Apostle Paul teaches us, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Let love be without dissimulation or hypocrisy/be sincere” How did Christ demonstrate his love for you? (Romans 5:8) Jesus died on the cross for You, even though we were still sinners, even though we were still in rebellion with God. That’s true love, love with action not just words. 

Again going back to saying you love Christ, yet neglect His Church, is hypocritical love. You love in words, yet not in action, your life doesn’t reflect your heart. “Abhor to what is evil, cling to what is good” The problem with modern day Churchianity, is alot of self professed Christians love what is evil and hate what is good! Woe to them who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) It’s very easy to detect a false Church from a true Church, as Jesus said “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16)

A true Christian should adhor or hate what is evil, but yet many Christians want to conform to the ways of the world, but we need to be transformed by Jesus Christ (Romans 12:2) Cling to what is good, that’s the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only way you can be saved (John 14:6) A true Church doesn’t need worldly entertainment, they need to cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they need to cling to the sacraments instituted by The Lord, they need to cling to prayer, they need to cling to one another in Christ!

“Be kindly affectionate with one another in brotherly love” While the world is “dog eat dog”, the Church loves one another. This is why the Church is strange to the world, why do we love one another? Why do we gather and worship? Because Jesus is our Lord, there is nothing like the Church, that is why Satan tries to destroy and fabricate a false Church. 

“Never be lacking or slothful in business, not lagging in diligence, fervent in Spirit, serving The Lord” This should be the motto of the Church, not lazy but on fire for The Lord serving The Lord. If Jesus is truly your Lord, then why don’t you do what he says? (Luke 6:46) If your going to talk the talk, you must walk the walk, a true Church serves The Lord our God “persistent in prayer” Amen!

Romans 12- Serve The Church

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For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8

There are many “Christians” today who will claim they don’t need “The Church”, they don’t have to go to “Church”, but the reality is , if you are truly a Born Again Christian, then you are the Church, to forsake the assembly of the Ekklesia, you are denying yourself, you are denying Christ since the Church is the Body of Christ. As the Apostle Paul states here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” Many “Christians” will claim they are too good for that Church, they know more than the Pastor, they don’t like the music, but if you are part of the body of Christ, you are part of them in Christ

One of the biggest of neglecting the Church , is the neglect of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. “For as we have many members in One body, and all members have not the same office or function” If you are a Born Again Christian, you have a gift of the Holy Spirit, maybe multiple gifts, however if you forsake the Church, you can’t utilize your gifts from God because of your disobedience. One of the reasons the Church needs each other, is because together we are strong when we combine the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But when the Church is separated, it becomes weakened and more vulnerable to the attacks of Satan 

“So We, being many are One Body in Christ and individually members of one another” You are not your own, you were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20) If you are a Christian you are part of the Body of Christ, and you belong to the Church in Christ. If you continually forsake the assembly of the Church (Hebrews 10:25) are you really a Christian? Are you really Born Again in Christ? If you are then you are part of the Body of Christ, the Church, this is not negotiable. 

 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” When you forsake the Church, you forsake your gift of the Holy Spirit, which was intended for the Church. What an awful thing to “bury your talent” (Matthew 25:14-30) When The Lord returns will ask you “What have you done with this gift given to you”? Will Jesus say “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) Or “You wicked and lazy servant” (Matthew 25:26) Serve The Church, because the Church needs You, and You are a servant of Christ, Amen!

Romans 12- Conforming or Transforming?

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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!

Romans 12- Living Sacrifice

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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!

Romans 11- All Glory to God

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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!”

Romans 11- Grace and Mercy

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As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Romans 11:28-32

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, continues to explain the “Mystery of Israel”, as many Christians find it hard to understand how God can still have a plan for the nation that crucified The Lord (Acts 2:36) “As concerning the gospel, they (Israel) are enemies for your (Church) sakes” So it’s no surprise that a majority of Christians today consider Israel to be their enemies, because they haven’t been Born Again yet

However what most Christians forget is election and the sovereignty of God, For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” (Romans 9:15) Many who claim Israel has been “done away with”, are not only denying the Word of God but they are also denying the sovereignty of God. As God can raise up an army in a valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37)

“But as touching the election, they (Israel) are beloved for the fathers sake” There is still a remnant that God has saved (Romans 9:27) And just because you can’t understand it or maybe you don’t like it, doesn’t mean its not happening. “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable or without repentance”  This is the grace of God being fully demonstrated on Israel, none of us deserve mercy , all of us deserve eternal Hell-fire, but its because of the grace of God through faith in Christ we are saved (Ephesians 2:38)

“For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,” before you condemn Israel, before you condemn anyone, remember your calling. Remember when you were unsaved headed to eternal damnation. But Christ choose you and gave you grace and mercy, you didn’t do anything to deserve mercy, but its by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ “even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.”

“For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” God will use Israel as an example to the world, that no matter how far away we have strayed, mercy is still possible though our Lord Jesus Christ, who is calling all the prodigal sons and daughters home (Luke 15:11-32) so all of heaven can rejoice! (Luke 15:7) Amen!