The Transformed Life - Centerville Road

1 The Transformed LifeA Study of Romans 12 Compiled by Gene TaylorThe Transformed life : A Study of Romans 12 Gene Taylor-1-PrefaceOver the years I have often gone to the twelfth chapter of the book of Romans to remindmyself how I ought to be living as a Christian. It has been most helpful in guiding meon the path that I believe my Savior would want me to first became acquainted with the practical nature of this chapter when, as a youngpreacher just starting out, I heard a series of three lessons on it by the late Peter at a lectureship presented by the Thayer Street Church of Christ in Akron, Ohio,in the mid 1970's. I have drawn heavily on his outlines over the years. They form theskeletal basis for this study though, over time, I have added a great deal of my lessons have been prepared in this form so that as many people who read andstudy them may come to understand and appreciate the wonderful information theapostle Paul has given in Romans 12 as to how to live before God and others as afollower of Jesus all of us use the inspired Scriptures to be our guide in all that we do so that ourlives will glorify God, that we will set a proper example before others and that, finally,when death comes, we will receive a crown of TaylorMarch 2011 Gene Taylor, 2011.

2 All Rights Transformed life : A Study of Romans 12 Gene Taylor-2-Lesson One: Setting the ContextIntroduction purpose of these lessons is to set forth the marks of the life of the Christian asthey are presented in Romans 12. chapter contains some of the most practical and relevant teaching to be found inthe Bible as it relates to living as a disciple of Christ, a child of God. lesson will examine the context in which the chapter is found. is important in any study. is clear that the apostle Paul draws heavily upon that which precedes The Letter to the Romans apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome. church at Rome. origin is unknown but tradition states that it was founded by theapostle Peter but such a view is inconsistent with known facts and withoutany supporting evidence. s own epistles were neither addressed to nor written fromRome. Paul s letter to this church he makes no mention of Peter. epistles Paul wrote from Rome while in prison there, he makesno mention of Peter.

3 Mention is made of Rome in the writings of Peter and noinspired writer mentions Peter in connection with Rome. Peter were in Rome, why were there no spiritual gifts in thechurch there? (1:11) probable origin. of those present on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2returned to teach the gospel and establish a church there. (Acts 2:10) who were scattered after the stoning of Stephen may havejourneyed there. (Acts 8:1-4) was composed of both Jews and Gentiles. (11:13; 7:1) purposes and messages of the book. state Paul s longtime desire to visit them. (1:13; 15:23) express Paul s thankfulness for their faith. (1:8) show that both Jew and Gentile are under condemnation because ofsin. (3:9) explain that justification was not by the Law of Moses but rather byfaith. (3:28; 5:1) indicate how saved people, Christians, should conduct Transformed life : A Study of Romans 12 Gene Taylor-3-II. Setting the the twelfth chapter of Romans opens, the apostle is: his appeal in this chapter on that which preceded it.

4 I beseech you a well ordered and systematic exposition on justification byfaith that has taken him eleven chapters to complete. theme of the book. theme of the book is stated in 1:16-17. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the powerof God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first andalso for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealedfrom faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith. theme developed. guilt of the Gentile world. (ch. 1) guilt of the Jewish nation. (ch. 2) guilt of all and God s provision to save. (ch. 3) Old Testament supports and proves the theme. (ch. 4) promise to Abraham was given on the basis of faithwhile he was yet uncircumcised. heirs of the promise are those who have the same faithas Abraham, not circumcision. contrast of Adam and Jesus Christ. (ch. 5) As sin and death came into the world by one, life came byone Jesus Christ. life of the Christian.

5 (ch. 6) to sin but alive to God. cannot be a servant of sin and a servant of Christ at thesame time. contrast of the freedom of the Christian to the bondage of thelaw. (ch. 7) contrast of walking by the flesh to walking by the Spirit. (ch. 8) question, Has God rejected His people Israel? (ch. 9) were many advantages to being a Jew. (see 3:1) oracles of God had been committed to them. (3:2) Jews rejected God. (11:1) rejection was due to unbelief, acceptance is by faith. (ch. 10) plan of God is subject to universal application. (ch. 11)The Transformed life : A Study of Romans 12 Gene Taylor-4-Lesson Two: A Living Sacrifice Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present yourbodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable the apostle has just concluded his dissertation on justification by faith, he nowfocuses on how one is to live by faith. is very typical of Paul to go from the sublime to the practical.

6 He does here. he does in the book of Ephesians. the twelfth chapter of Romans Paul makes practical application of the principlesof justification by faith. I. I Beseech You the intensity of the language. To beseech means to beg, implore or urge. B. Therefore. Because of all that has been already stated. C. By the mercies of God 1. The word by dia denotes here the reason why they should do it, orthe ground of appeal. So great had been the mercy of God, that thisconstituted a reason why they should present their bodies, etc. see 1 Cor 1:10; Rom 15:30. The word mercies here denotes favor shown tothe undeserving, or kindness, compassion, etc. (Barnes Notes on theNew Testament) 2. By means of the mercies of God as shown in his argument and inour lives. See 2 Cor 1:3 for the Father of mercies. (Robertson s WordPictures in the New Testament) D. Present your bodies. Greeks looked upon the body with disdain that the body is aprison, an encumbrance.

7 To the Greek concept, the Christian believes that the bodybelongs to God. Corinthians 6:19-20. 19 Or do you not know that your bodyis the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you havefrom God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were boughtat a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in yourspirit, which are God s. The Transformed life : A Study of Romans 12 Gene Taylor-5- Corinthians 7:1. Therefore, having these promises, beloved,let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh andspirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 6:12-13. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in yourmortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do notpresent your members as instruments of unrighteousness tosin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead,and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. II. A Living Sacrifice in the Old Testament died in the offering. They were offered one time then Christian is to be dead unto sin but alive unto God.

8 6:11. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be deadindeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. emphasizes the dedication and consecration a Christian is to have. 2:20. I have been crucified with Christ; it is nolonger I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which Inow live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, wholoved me and gave Himself for me. 6:14. But God forbid that I should boast except inthe cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has beencrucified to me, and I to the world. greatest need in the church today is commitment. many make the decision to follow Christ, as in anydecision made in life , for it to be successful it must be seenthrough with a commitment. lack of commitment causes: 1)Marriages to fail. 2)Students drop out of college. 3)Those once baptized to forsake the Lord. 4.) Dead church at Sardis (Revelation 3:1-3) are only as alive as their members are. need for commitment is seen in spiritual matters.

9 Account of the rich young man. (Mark 10:17-22) 9:62. But Jesus said to him, No one, having put his handto the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.' example of the apostle Paul. (Philippians 3:8-16) holy sacrifice. Fundamentally signifies separated (among the Greeks,dedicated to the gods), and hence, in Scripture in its moral andspiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated toGod, sacred. (Vine s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)The Transformed life : A Study of Romans 12 Gene Taylor-6- Corinthians 6:14. Do not be unequally yoked together withunbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?And what communion has light with darkness? Peter 1:15. But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in allyour acceptable sacrifice. 1. Acceptable euareston Literally, well-pleasing. (Vincent's WordStudies of the New Testament) Corinthians 5:9. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present orabsent, to be well pleasing to Him.

10 Timothy 2:5. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is notcrowned unless he competes according to the rules. Samuel 15:22. Then Samuel said: Has the LORD as great delight inburnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat oframs. reasonable sacrifice. logikos, pertaining to the reasoning faculty, reasonable,rational, is used in Rom 12:1, of the service (latreia) to be rendered bybelievers in presenting their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptableto God. The sacrifice is to be intelligent, in contrast to those offeredby ritual and compulsion; the presentation is to be in accordance withthe spiritual intelligence of those who are new creatures in Christ andare mindful of the mercies of God. (Vine s Expository Dictionary ofBiblical Words) 2. Reasonable, not in the popular sense of the term, as a thing befitting or proper, but rational, as distinguished from merelyexternal or material.