Bible
Reading: Romans 12:1-8
Introduction
It will be Australia’s most sacred religious day
coming up tomorrow. All around the country will pause and celebrate not the
victory but service and sacrifice.
The story I am sharing has interconnection with my
family heritage, one from the A.I. F (Australian Imperial Forces) of my
grandfather Hollingsworth McCarthy in WW1
As the title of my message is ‘Service and Sacrifice’,
I believe is it fitting to refresh ourselves on Paul’s teaching on the
Christian way of life in Romans 12. Upon initial glance, Paul might sound like
is demanding an esoteric or mystical kind of devotion but a nearer look reveals
a full-bodied worship or service.
The book of Romans can be divided into two parts:
·
A theological explanation of the gospel (chapters
1-11)
·
A series of ethical exhortation (chapters 12-15)
We will be focusing of the second section.
Paul introduces for our part of inquiry, the story of
Christ’s redemption, the life of the believer in tangible and practical ways.
We are to respond in a living testimony and not are doxology which is good;
toward God’s great mercies. The focus is on transformation of character to be
citizens of God’s kingdom.
Memories
My grandfather Hollingsworth McCarthy joined the
Australian Imperial Force on 20 September 1916 a young 23 years old from
Wellingrove near Glen Innes. He was attached to 5/35th Battalion at
Rutherford just west of Maitland for training then attach to 7/46th
Battalion. He left Rutherford and bounded for Devonport, Tasmania via Sydney
then onto Plymouth, England. At Codford, England saw further training and then
Folkestone near Sandgate for trip to France. While at Etaples, France he
suffered Broncho Pneumonia a few times and was wounded in action twice 8 June
1917 and 28 August 1918 with telegrams sent home advising of the incidents and
in hospital in England. Grandfather returned to Australia 19 April 1919 from
the front-line.
The Christian Way of
Life
I.
The Living Sacrifice (12:1-2)
I have just highlighted
an example of personal service and sacrifice for service to our country
Australian to prevent the advancement of an injustice regime in Europe where
our Australia Imperial Forces served. Tomorrow we will formally remembering
those that served our nation on various war-fronts since WW1.
In America, there a
billboards scattered along the highway and so did we in the late seventy’s and
early eighty’s, we saw them everywhere to remind – those signs from God on the
highway. The ones with white lettering on black background that either day or
night the message is clear. There’s one which read: “We need to talk.” –God
Just like those signs,
Paul is telling the Romans what God has in mind for us and the God’s will is –
“good, pleasing and perfect” in verse 2.
There is something that
is required by me and you; we need to be consecrated to God by worship which is
rendered by obedient hearts. How do we do? The Apostle draws our attention to
two standards which are in conflict with each other.
1.
The standard of the world which is in discord with
God.
2.
The standard of God’s Kingdom which is achieved
through the renewing of our mind and causes our lives to be transformed. By
doing this we will be conforming to the will of God.
For a good foundation and surrendering ourselves to
God is the mark of to be godly.
Verse 1
a.
To offer your bodies – in the Greek, the verb is
render “to yield” and is continuous active, not once but all time. For example
when going to work or university etc. submitting daily to your employment or
studies routine. It has a starting point but not a finishing point,
never-ending on Earth. It is in thankful obedience of the individual to God by
free surrender including everyday life.
The body must be surrender to God daily. We must not be going around
doing what pleases ourselves but God must be focus in our daily sacrifice.
Christian makes their bodies’ sacrifices to God. Our bodies must not be
instrument of sin and immorality, but set apart for God and put to holy
uses. There are three arguments for
offering our bodies; the mercies of God, acceptable to God and our reasonable
service.
b.
A living sacrifice:
a.
Holy to God
b.
Well-pleasing
c.
Reasonable service
I.
Holy has a number of meaning but here it is one, thing
as in the ethical nature of holiness, in the sense of the Old Testament in
belonging to God as 1 Samuel 2:2 picks the idea of “one”, “There is no one holy
like the Lord; there is no one beside you; there is no Rock like our God.” It
is in this relation as “one” where moral perfection and out-shining of that
entire God is achieved. Holy is the supreme goal of Christian living and echo
in Revelation 22:11, “Let those who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the
vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does what is right continue to
do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
II.
Pleasing as in pleasing God. An essential aspect of
the life of believers that is more than a matter of external observation, but a
total and heartfelt commitment to God.
III.
Reasonable service – logical/rational – having a sound
judgement, fair and sensible. It is interesting that we need to be reasonable
people and in using reasons to make just decision in our spiritual worship. I
have heard in many Christian quarters that one doesn’t need reason if you have
the word of God but Apostle Paul is encouraging us to use reason for service to
God. In the NIV the verse is read as “this is your true and proper worship”
whereas in the Greek “a sacrifice living holy to God well-pleasing which is the
reasonable service of you”. From
“reasonable service” (NKJV) has been interpretates to mean as “true and proper
worship” (NIV). Reasonable service can
be translated as “spiritual service” that involves the presentation of the
body, accomplished by the renewal of the mind. “Spiritual worship” does not
refer to a mystical experience; it is an actual physical experience that Paul
is eluding as the outworking of the renewal of the mind.
Verse 2
I.
Do not conform to the patterns of the world by
adopting an outward shape that looks similar to the world.
II.
But be transformed – a metamorphosis, a change from
into another form. We are to allow ourselves and are our responsibility as
believers to be transformed.
III.
The renewing of your mind – a change of heart and life
which make fresh, new, a process from old to
new. The mind must be renewed for God because conformity to this world
is the enemy before God and the great effect in transforming will help us to
understand his revealed will about our duty.
Through knowledge we will be able to know the good, acceptable and
perfect will of God and also to test and approve the will of God.
II.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ (12:3-8)
I
have adopted the name for verses 3-8 as “Humble Service in the Body of Christ”
and not only bounded by the gathering on Sunday for worship or sharing but in
agencies attach to the institution. One of the key ingredients is diversity of
people and not uniformity like that of police, fire brigade, SES unit or
military unit needs to be for effective service to community. Diversity is the
hallmark of God’s handiwork when he created humanity. As F Bruce say in his
commentary, “All can co-operate for the good of the whole” and “each part has
its own and distinctive work to do” (Bruce, 1963. P. 227).
Verse 3
I.
The grace given me – the Greek word can be translated
to mean of manner or act and can be either (abstract or concrete; literal,
figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and
its reflection in the life, including gratitude):- acceptable, benefit, favour,
gift, grace, joy, liberality, pleasure or thank-worthy. F Bruce suggests that it is more to the idea
of “gift” and in accordance with the faith God has distributed. It is the spiritual power for the discharge
in thinking yourself with “sober judgement”.
II.
Verse 3 is an extension of the preceding verses and
Paul gives two clues that he need to conclude what he had started – first he
introduce a reason and second, continues the themes. It calls for a new way of
thinking, instead of self but others first.
Verses 4-8
I.
What is listed here is in response to the reason that
benefits others in building up the body of Christ as presentation of the living
bodies of sacrifice. These gifts are representatives for service to God for
other members of the body; prophesying, serving, teaching, encouragement,
giving, leading and to show mercy. Notice these are active participation of gifts
that God has bestows on us individually for the body. As believers we are to
use these gifts for the sake of others.
II.
When we read “in accordance with the faith” is not
talking about a personal commitment, a better sense to view as “the faith” –
the Christian faith. The Christian faith is the measuring stick that has been
given to every believer and this is what we “test and approve” in verse 2.
Verse 5
I.
So in Christ we (NIV) – one body in Christ (NKJV). The
Greek portrays the image, while the body has many members – it is one and
likewise we are many individuals in Christ and with other members. Christ is
the head and we are the rest of the body working individually as one body under
Christ.
Conclusion
I.
If we conclude that worship is sole the exercise on
Sunday performed through our corporate liturgy, preaching, and music. This view
is wrong; worship is full-bodied according to Apostle Paul. As one commentator
some up this portion of scripture as, “the quality of our worship is not
measured by what happens on only Sunday mornings, but by what happens when we
are together Monday through Saturday.” (Elizabeth Shively in the Working
Preacher)
II.
The transformation process that causes radial inward
change and don’t we hate change, we want everything to stay as the way we are
used to but as Christian we don’t live a static life. God choose us to be his
light and salt, to be dynamic believers, always changing to meet new situation
that communities challenges the body.
III.
Let us pray.
Dear Lord, give us you grace and power so that what you want
for us is what we want. The answer is yes, Lord. Whatever your will is, we will
do it. Amen.
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