The Grace of God
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
Up to this point, in our previous 18 or 20 messages we have primarily emphasized the centrality, preeminence, and supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus far we have shared very little on the more 'practical' aspects of our walk as Christians. That has been deliberate on my part because unless we have a sure, firm foundation, we can very easily fall into a 'me-centered theology.' I have always planned to get into the type of questions that many Christians have today. In our last message we introduced the subject of the grace of God. Today, we hope to share with you from Romans 12 some additional thoughts about the grace of God, but with a greater emphasis on some of the 'practical' questions that many believers are interested in. But before we get into Romans 12, we need to look at the four verses that precede that chapter.
Again, unless the essence of those four verses are made flesh within us, we need not even try to get into Romans 12. We note that in those four verses the words Him, God, and whom appear eleven times.
Romans, of course, is the first book of doctrine in the Bible. In Chapter 12, Paul shifts from doctrine or right teaching to duty or practice ... what we might call a practical outworking of the first 11 chapters of Romans. I will read the first three verses of Romans 12 and then come back to share about each of those verses.
Back to Verse 1. Paul says,
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren ...". The word 'beseech' means to exhort. It means to urgently encourage or admonish. There is a sense of urgency in Paul's pleading ... a pleading to whom? to the true believers in Christ not only in Rome in his day but certainly to all professing believers in Christ over all of time. Paul also includes the word 'therefore.' Now as I heard one good brother say some 48 years ago, whenever we see the word 'therefore' we should always ask, why is the word 'therefore' there for? Clearly it relates to what has preceded in the Book of Romans, which is the first word of doctrine. Specifically, it refers to the four verses that immediately precede Romans 12, which we just read. We must remember that there are no 'chapters' in the original Greek manuscripts.
Paul then adds 'by the mercies of God.' As we stated in our last message, all of Paul's epistles, except for the Book of Hebrews, start with a salutation of 'grace and peace' to the believers. However, in his epistles to individuals, such as Timothy and Titus, Paul adds the word 'mercy;' grace, mercy, and peace. We as individuals also need the mercy of God, where 'mercy' speaks of compassion.
Now what does Paul beseech or exhort us first to 'do' as a practical outworking of all of the sound doctrine he has previously presented? He says for us to 'present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service,' where the word 'service' means our ministry to God, that is, our spiritual worship to Him. Later we hope to share in more depth about the true meaning of worship. For now, what we see in most churches at what we call our 'worship services' is not worship at all; rather it is, at best, praise and thanksgiving. Now by no means would I ever downgrade praise and thanksgiving. We must enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). But what Paul speaks of in Romans 12:1 is our spiritual worship.
The Book of Leviticus is the first book of worship. Leviticus speaks of five major offerings: the burnt offering, the meal offering, the peace offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. Later we hope to go into great detail on those 5 offerings. But we note that the burnt offering comes first and therefore is the most important of the five offerings. The burnt offering was completely voluntary and the only offering of the five where the animal offered was completely consumed by fire; i.e., no part of the burnt offering went to the priests. We also read in Leviticus 1:6-9,
In like manner, every believer is exhorted to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Now our physical bodies consist of many parts. So we must submit each part of our body to the Lord. We must present our ears to the Lord; we must hear what the Lord is saying to us and downgrade or discard what men say to us if it is not consistent with the Word of God. We must present our eyes to the Lord; we must have a vision, not simply any vision, but The Vision, which is the Lord Himself. We must present our feet to the Lord; we must go only to those places that the Lord tells us to go. We must submit our tongue to the Lord for His purposes.
Every part of our body must be presented to the Lord for His purposes, not for our purposes. Moreover, like the burnt offering, the offering of each part of our body to the Lord must be voluntary and offered without any reservation. As it says in Leviticus 1:6, "And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces." The word 'flay' can be translated as 'strip off self.' Every part or piece of our body must be submitted unto the Lord. Like Isaiah, we must be able to say, "Here am I, Lord. Send me."
We also know, from 1 Thessalonians 5:23, that we humans consist of spirit, soul, and body. We are tri-partite beings.
Now let us return to Romans 12:2. Just as Romans 12:1 speaks of our body, Verse 2 speaks of our mind.
Worldliness is in our mind, in our thoughts. Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." That speaks of what we value. Jesus said,
I tend to believe quite a large number of good men have had to repent of that sin (or at least should have).
We also see, in Leviticus 1:8, that the first part of our body, our offering, our living sacrifice, must be our head and the second part, in order, is our fat. The Hebrew word, "fat" is also occasionally used metaphorically to mean "best" or "first." Leviticus 3:16 says, "all the fat is the LORD'S." This truth is seen for the first time in Genesis 4:3-5
There is an old hymn that I have not heard since I was a young boy. The title of the hymn is "Give of Your Best to the Master." The second stanza says,
Back to Romans 12:2 ... "that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The word "that" means "in order that" or "so that." The word "prove" here means to discern. In other words, this is the end produce of why we must daily renew our mind ... that we may discern what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. There are not three different levels of the will of God, only one will. In the process of renewing our mind we must learn through our mistakes.
Now we come to the questions, "Why do we need to renew our mind?" and how do we renew our mind?
Moreover, what God calls good and what man calls good are frequently two different things.
Now let us return to Romans 12:3, "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 [or to be of sound mind], according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
From my experience, as well as scripturally and historically, Paul's exhortation in Verse 3 (not to think of our self more highly than we ought to think) is one of the least accepted exhortations in all of the Bible. Every Christian would agree doctrinally with Romans 12:3. But there is a great and wide difference between agreeing with that truth and actually walking in it.
Inherent within us is spiritual pride. We are born with that characteristic. It comes naturally and it does not automatically disappear after we are born from above. Almost all of us, at times, tend to think that we are more spiritual than another brother. We have read more scripture; we understand more. At times we are like that Pharisee in Luke 18.
What is the antidote to spiritual pride? Paul speaks of the answer in Romans 12:3. It is called humility, which comes only by brokenness, through the grace of God. Humility is the first key to walking in the kingdom of God.
From Verse 5 we see the relationship of grace and humility. What an amazing and wonderful God we serve!
In our next message we will continue sharing about the amazing grace of God. Until then, may His grace ever abound to you and yours as you labor and rest in His Vineyard.
Romans 11:33-36,
33 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!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?
35 Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again?
36 For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Again, unless the essence of those four verses are made flesh within us, we need not even try to get into Romans 12. We note that in those four verses the words Him, God, and whom appear eleven times.
Romans, of course, is the first book of doctrine in the Bible. In Chapter 12, Paul shifts from doctrine or right teaching to duty or practice ... what we might call a practical outworking of the first 11 chapters of Romans. I will read the first three verses of Romans 12 and then come back to share about each of those verses.
Romans 12:1-3,
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 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.
3 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.
Back to Verse 1. Paul says,
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren ...". The word 'beseech' means to exhort. It means to urgently encourage or admonish. There is a sense of urgency in Paul's pleading ... a pleading to whom? to the true believers in Christ not only in Rome in his day but certainly to all professing believers in Christ over all of time. Paul also includes the word 'therefore.' Now as I heard one good brother say some 48 years ago, whenever we see the word 'therefore' we should always ask, why is the word 'therefore' there for? Clearly it relates to what has preceded in the Book of Romans, which is the first word of doctrine. Specifically, it refers to the four verses that immediately precede Romans 12, which we just read. We must remember that there are no 'chapters' in the original Greek manuscripts.
Paul then adds 'by the mercies of God.' As we stated in our last message, all of Paul's epistles, except for the Book of Hebrews, start with a salutation of 'grace and peace' to the believers. However, in his epistles to individuals, such as Timothy and Titus, Paul adds the word 'mercy;' grace, mercy, and peace. We as individuals also need the mercy of God, where 'mercy' speaks of compassion.
Now what does Paul beseech or exhort us first to 'do' as a practical outworking of all of the sound doctrine he has previously presented? He says for us to 'present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service,' where the word 'service' means our ministry to God, that is, our spiritual worship to Him. Later we hope to share in more depth about the true meaning of worship. For now, what we see in most churches at what we call our 'worship services' is not worship at all; rather it is, at best, praise and thanksgiving. Now by no means would I ever downgrade praise and thanksgiving. We must enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). But what Paul speaks of in Romans 12:1 is our spiritual worship.
The Book of Leviticus is the first book of worship. Leviticus speaks of five major offerings: the burnt offering, the meal offering, the peace offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. Later we hope to go into great detail on those 5 offerings. But we note that the burnt offering comes first and therefore is the most important of the five offerings. The burnt offering was completely voluntary and the only offering of the five where the animal offered was completely consumed by fire; i.e., no part of the burnt offering went to the priests. We also read in Leviticus 1:6-9,
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
In like manner, every believer is exhorted to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Now our physical bodies consist of many parts. So we must submit each part of our body to the Lord. We must present our ears to the Lord; we must hear what the Lord is saying to us and downgrade or discard what men say to us if it is not consistent with the Word of God. We must present our eyes to the Lord; we must have a vision, not simply any vision, but The Vision, which is the Lord Himself. We must present our feet to the Lord; we must go only to those places that the Lord tells us to go. We must submit our tongue to the Lord for His purposes.
James 3:5-9,5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Every part of our body must be presented to the Lord for His purposes, not for our purposes. Moreover, like the burnt offering, the offering of each part of our body to the Lord must be voluntary and offered without any reservation. As it says in Leviticus 1:6, "And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces." The word 'flay' can be translated as 'strip off self.' Every part or piece of our body must be submitted unto the Lord. Like Isaiah, we must be able to say, "Here am I, Lord. Send me."
1 Corinthians 6:17-20,17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
We also know, from 1 Thessalonians 5:23, that we humans consist of spirit, soul, and body. We are tri-partite beings.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now let us return to Romans 12:2. Just as Romans 12:1 speaks of our body, Verse 2 speaks of our mind.
2 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.
Worldliness is in our mind, in our thoughts. Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." That speaks of what we value. Jesus said,
Matthew 5:27-28,27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
I tend to believe quite a large number of good men have had to repent of that sin (or at least should have).
Romans 8:7, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Ezekiel 36:25-28,25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
We also see, in Leviticus 1:8, that the first part of our body, our offering, our living sacrifice, must be our head and the second part, in order, is our fat. The Hebrew word, "fat" is also occasionally used metaphorically to mean "best" or "first." Leviticus 3:16 says, "all the fat is the LORD'S." This truth is seen for the first time in Genesis 4:3-5
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
There is an old hymn that I have not heard since I was a young boy. The title of the hymn is "Give of Your Best to the Master." The second stanza says,
Give of your best to the Master; Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service; Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given; God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.
Back to Romans 12:2 ... "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind," where "renewing" could be translated as "restoration." That means the adjustment of our moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon our life. Here again, this is a continual or on-going process. Our mind must think the same way that God thinks. We must see things as God sees them. That process will manifest itself in our character.
Give Him first place in your service; Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given; God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.
Back to Romans 12:2 ... "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind," where "renewing" could be translated as "restoration." That means the adjustment of our moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon our life. Here again, this is a continual or on-going process. Our mind must think the same way that God thinks. We must see things as God sees them. That process will manifest itself in our character.
Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Back to Romans 12:2 ... "that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The word "that" means "in order that" or "so that." The word "prove" here means to discern. In other words, this is the end produce of why we must daily renew our mind ... that we may discern what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. There are not three different levels of the will of God, only one will. In the process of renewing our mind we must learn through our mistakes.
Now we come to the questions, "Why do we need to renew our mind?" and how do we renew our mind?
Isaiah 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Moreover, what God calls good and what man calls good are frequently two different things.
Hebrews 5:14, But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Any man can discern what we call "evil." But to discern between "good" and the perfect will of God takes practice. The Lord told Adam and Eve that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of GOOD and evil.
Now how do we renew our mind? The same way that we grow in grace ... the same way that we continue to mature as a believer in Christ. First, we must see the need; then we must recognize that we, by our own power or works, cannot attain to such a goal; then we must sincerely ask the Lord to work it out within us by the power of the Holy Spirit; then we must be obedient in all things; and finally we thank the Lord for renewing our mind and giving to us a greater measure of discernment.
Now how do we renew our mind? The same way that we grow in grace ... the same way that we continue to mature as a believer in Christ. First, we must see the need; then we must recognize that we, by our own power or works, cannot attain to such a goal; then we must sincerely ask the Lord to work it out within us by the power of the Holy Spirit; then we must be obedient in all things; and finally we thank the Lord for renewing our mind and giving to us a greater measure of discernment.
Philippians 2:12-13,12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
1 Thessalonians 5:24, Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.
Now let us return to Romans 12:3, "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 [or to be of sound mind], according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
From my experience, as well as scripturally and historically, Paul's exhortation in Verse 3 (not to think of our self more highly than we ought to think) is one of the least accepted exhortations in all of the Bible. Every Christian would agree doctrinally with Romans 12:3. But there is a great and wide difference between agreeing with that truth and actually walking in it.
Luke 18:9-14,9 And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Inherent within us is spiritual pride. We are born with that characteristic. It comes naturally and it does not automatically disappear after we are born from above. Almost all of us, at times, tend to think that we are more spiritual than another brother. We have read more scripture; we understand more. At times we are like that Pharisee in Luke 18.
1 Corinthians 4:7, For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
What is the antidote to spiritual pride? Paul speaks of the answer in Romans 12:3. It is called humility, which comes only by brokenness, through the grace of God. Humility is the first key to walking in the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 5:5-7,5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
From Verse 5 we see the relationship of grace and humility. What an amazing and wonderful God we serve!
In our next message we will continue sharing about the amazing grace of God. Until then, may His grace ever abound to you and yours as you labor and rest in His Vineyard.
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