Freedom Follows Following: A God Life Lived Out
Audio
Video
Sermon Notes
“It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God – but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people – and this is not learned in 5 minutes.” - Oswald Chambers
Romans 6:22,23 (AMP)
22 But now since you have been set free from sin and have become [willing] slaves to God, you have your benefit, resulting in sanctification [being made holy and set apart for God’s purpose], and the outcome [of this] is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Textual Breakdown
- Romans 1:1 teaches us how to live out our new lives daily in relationship with God.
- Romans 1:2 teaches us how to live out our new lives daily in relationship to the world around us.
- Romans 1:3-8 teaches us how to live out our new lives daily in relationship to one another.
Romans 1:1 - “In relationship with God”
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
- Urge = A commanding authoritative appeal.
- In view of = in light of, in the consideration of
- God’s mercy = Grace is getting something we couldn’t earn. Mercy is not getting what we deserve.
The Mercy of God
Isaiah 53:4-6 (AMP)
4 But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him]. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us].
Commandments 1-4
#1 You shall have no other gods before me.
This speaks to the priority of God as the object of our daily worship.
#2 You shall not make for yourself an idol.
This speaks to the exclusivity of God in our daily worship.
#3 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord you God.
This speaks to the significance honor plays in our daily worship.
#4 Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy.
This speaks to the essential quality of consistency for our corporate worship.
My obedience to His will and ways isn’t an effort to repay or to earn it’s the appropriate loving response to His ultimate loving act.
Romans 12:2 - “In Relationship with the World”
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
“To conform” is to allow something else or someone else to determine our shape. A rut leads you to a predetermined place in a predetermined way. Getting to new places requires a new path and new processes.
Romans 12:3-8 - “Relationship with One Another”
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
How is Christian humility fostered?
- Living in light of the mercy and grace of God has made me who I am.
- Acknowledging our need for others.
- Acknowledging the gifting of others.
- Taking my place in the body.
Sermon Recap
Romans 1:1 teaches us how to live out our new lives daily in relationship with God through informed worship. My obedience to God isn’t a way to curry favor with God or stay on His good side, it’s an expression of my love and gratefulness for His grace.
Romans 1:2 teaches us how to live out our new lives daily in relationship to the world around us. The world is on an ongoing quest to cram me into its mold but I choose to place myself in a position to be continually transformed through the renewing of my mind.
Romans 1:3-8 teaches us how to live out our new lives daily in relationship to one another in humility and unity.