B1 What does this mean?
C1 Do Not Conform to the World’s Ways
D1 There are only two ways to live our life in this world. This would include one’s worldview and lifestyle. What one believes is how they live public and private.
E1 God’s way can be understood by
F1 Understanding Yahweh is King of all kings and Lord of all lords. He has a kingdom. This universe that we live in is part of His kingdom. He is the prophet, priest, and king. He is the law giver, the judge, the teacher, the healer, etc.
F2 Reading His dealings with people in the Old Testament and New Testament.
F3 The Ten Commandments
F4 The teachings and life of Jesus Christ
F5 Here are a few lists of what pleases God or displeases God.
G1 Consider this contrast: Galatians 5:18-26 WEL but if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual sins, moral corruption, unrestrained lust, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 Those, who are Christ’s, have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also conform to the Spirit. 26 Let us not be longing for empty praise, irritating one another, and envying one another.
G2 James 3:13-18 WPNT Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him exhibit his works in the meekness of wisdom, by his good way of life. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth—such ‘wisdom’ is not coming down from Above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. Because where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is unruliness and every foul practice. In contrast, the wisdom from Above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those making peace.
F6 Our passage: Romans 12:1-2 WEL I implore you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present yourselves as a holy, living sacrifice [which is] acceptable to God [and] your rational service [to Him]. 2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what [is] the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
E2 The only other choice is anything other than God’s way.
E3 Contrasted:
F1 God’s ways:
G1 Proverbs 15:3 NIV the eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
G2 2 Kings 20:3 NIV Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
G3 God’s ways lead to
H1 Love
H2 Order
H3 Peace
F2 Not God’s ways
G1 Judges 17:6 NLT in those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
G2 Any other way leads to
H1 Hate (and the actions of hate as bullying, abusing, etc.) or a fake love (a person pretending to love in order to manipulate another person).
H2 Disorder
H3 Unrest
D2 Holy, living sacrifice
E1 Think of the Nazirite/Nazarite Vow.
F1 It is seen in
G1 A oath of service
G2 Dedication to God and His ways
G3 Separation from any other service
G4 Purity (as defined by God)
F2 Resource: The Vow of the Nazirite (Roman Catholic)
E2 Holiness
F1 Not tainted by sin in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. The only human who is this way is Jesus Christ, God the Son.
F2 Believers need God’s grace to do this and an attitude of asking for forgiveness.
F3 Ephesians 4:1 NIV as a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
F4 Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
D3 Mind
E1 A renewed can only be created by God.
E2 It is in conformity with God’s will.
E3 A renewed mind is freed from self and bondage to sin.
E4 When renewed by God, one can discern God’s will.
F1 We know God’s will when we read and study the Bible in its plain, normal sense.
F2 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NRSV All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
E5 God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect.
E6 Words
F1 Prove as in tested (examined) as true.
F2 Good as in honorable and pleasant for society and the world.
F3 Acceptable as in well-pleasing to God. Compare: Hebrews 13:21 NIV equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
F4 Perfect as in nothing missing.
D4 Why does God want a living sacrifice from us?
E1 A sacrifice can be living and undergo a non-physical death.
F1 1 Corinthians 15:31 PickNT I die every day—so I affirm by the boasting about you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
F2 Many understand Paul’s statement to refer to he faces death every day. I fail to understand this, for he was not physically threatened with death as in Acts 22:22 GNB The people listened to Paul until he said this; but then they started shouting at the top of their voices, "Away with him! Kill him! He's not fit to live!" Though he did have a sentence of death on him. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 GNB We want to remind you, friends, of the trouble we had in the province of Asia. The burdens laid upon us were so great and so heavy that we gave up all hope of staying alive. 9 We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead.
F3 It seems more reasonable that Paul speaks of his fleshly desires set aside, so that he could continue to serve the Lord Jesus. The “I” died. The me, me, me needs to die every day. By grace we can say and do this.
G1 2 Corinthians 5:17 GW Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
G2 Colossians 3:5 NRSV Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
E2 Every person makes sacrifices for those we love. We are to love them more than ourselves. We feed our family before we would feed our neighbors.
C2 All Believers Are Needed to Help Each Other
D1 Verse 3, the opinion of ourselves must be true. It is not to be self-abasing, nor self-promoting. We need to remember: Proverbs 27:2 NLT Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips.
D2 Believers are one family. We are the family of God. In every congregation, God has given different abilities/gifts. We must use them in an honest way serving God first and then our fellow believer.
E1 We must acknowledge that God is the giver of gifts. It is not in ourselves. Proverbs 25:14 WEB As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
E2 Give God the credit just like we want credit for what we do. Matthew 7:12 GNB Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teachings of the prophets.
C3 God’s Definition of Love
D1 Verse 9, again the importance of truth. We must have true love. How can we love someone who is unlovable, disagreeable, abusive, etc.? We are to treat them kindly. We are to help them when we can. We are not to argue with them. We are to pray for them. We are to listen to them.
D2 Then there is a list of things acceptable, well-pleasing to God, and perfect. We have well over 25 things we must do. God gives grace to help us. If we love God, we will do these things. If we love our neighbor, we will do these things.
D3 If a crime is committed, we must report it to law enforcement. It is not seeking revenge.
D4 We are not to seek revenge, but this doesn’t mean we have to be in their presence.
D5 Verse 21,
E1 Adam Clarke writes: A moral enemy is more easily overcome by kindness than by hostility.
E2 Schaff writes: When we requite evil for evil, we are overcome, when we return good for evil, we overcome it. So, Christ did on the cross.
E3 Darby explains the first part of this verse "If my bad temper puts you in a bad temper, you have been overcome of evil." (Interesting thought!) (Source)
E4 From a devotional:
Romans 12:21 "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
The text appears to give us a choice between two things, and bids us choose the better one. You must either be overcome by evil, or you must yourself overcome evil. One of the two. You cannot let evil alone, and evil will not let you alone. You must fight, and in the battle you must either conquer or be conquered. (C H Spurgeon)
This text inculcates not merely passive non-resistance, but it teaches us active benevolence to enemies. "Overcome evil with good," with direct and overt acts of kindness. If any man has done you a wrong, do not only forgive it, but also avenge it by doing him a favor. (C H Spurgeon)
You know the old saying: Returning evil for good is devil-like, evil for evil is beastlike, good for good is manlike, and good for evil is God-like. Rise to that God-like point. (C H Spurgeon) (Source. Scroll down).
C4 Questions:
D1 How do we give ourselves as a living sacrifice?
D2 Why is God pleased with doing this?
D3 How can we know God’s will?
D4 Give some examples of loving our neighbor from our passage?
How do I apply this to my life? Father, help us to learn, live, and teach these principles. Without your help, we will fail.
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