THE MERCIES OF GOD (Romans 12:1) I. A Pivotal Passage. “Therefore” indicates this is a pivotal passage in Romans, and indeed it is. Chas. 1-11 are doctrinal, while 12-16 speak of duty; doctrine gives us our belief and duty our behavior. So we move from creed to conduct. The Bible was written for two main reasons: to tell us everything we need to know about God and what God requires of us. We are not just told what to learn; we are told how to live. We don’t just learn the Bible; we live it. In Acts 27:23 Paul gives us two things; he talks about “the God to whom I belong and whom I serve.” Romans 1-11 tells us about God and what He has done to take ownership of us through the cross, and then 12-16 tells us how to serve. When Paul was saved on the Damascus road he only said two things to Christ and both of them were questions: “Who are you Lord?” (Rm.1-11) and then when he found out it was Christ he said, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” The Bible tells us some things to know and some things to do. We must have both, and we have them in Romans, the gospel according to Paul. People sometimes wonder which is more important; but that’s like asking which wing on an airplane is more important, the left or the right. The most important verse in the Bible deals with our relationship with God. What is it? John 3:16. But what would you say is the 2nd most important verse in the Bible dealing with our relationship with God? Habakkuk 2:4. Right! It gives us the proof-text for in general the whole New Testament and in particular three of its major books: Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38. “The just (Rm.1-11) shall live (Rm.12-16) by faith.” We not only are justified by faith, we live by faith. Faith without works is dead (Jas.2:17). Have you ever asked yourself this question, “Now that I believe, what do I do?” Romans tells us what to believe and how to behave. The transition between those two things is 12:1-2. Don’t leave it to your mind or feelings to tell you what you should do or how you should be living. God tells us! What does He tell us to do? II. A Perfect Present. “Present your bodies,” speaking plural here because he’s appealing to everyone (brethren: Jews, Gentiles, men, women). Everybody who has believed the gospel must present their bodies to God. Actually in these transitional verses we have two things: present your bodies and be renewed in your minds. I’ll be covering both of these in detail in coming sermons. For now, present your bodies. You sinned with your bodies; now serve God with your bodies. Even Jesus had to have and present His body. With that blessed body He served His Father and sacrificed Himself for us (Mk.10:45). So must we sacrifice and serve. The appeal of God is based and grounded on something. He doesn’t just say in 1:1, “present your bodies.” No, that comes 11 chapters later. He doesn’t just say, “Do such and such; “and if you ask why, he says, “Cause I said so!” Parents sometimes say that and that may be good, and God certainly has the right to say that because He’s GOD! (Jesus could have thrown a stone!) But He doesn’t do that. He gives a reason for what He tells us to do. What is the reason? III. A Passionate Plea. “The Mercies of God” There is no greater incentive to holy living than the contemplation of God’s mercies. Far from being a license to sin, mercy becomes the reason NOT to sin. Religion is grace and ethics is gratitude. Mercies here is the one word Paul chooses to summarize all the grace and love God has shown to underserving sinners in the first eleven chapters of Romans. We are overwhelmed with unmerited favor! A quick survey of Rm.1-11 will give you an idea of the mercies of God. In the 1st three chapters we have God’s condemnation of the entire human race: Heathen (1:18-32), Hypocrite (2:1-16), Hebrews (2:17-3:8) and Humans (3:9-20). The three-word summary of this condemnation could be the popular 3:23, “All Have Sinned;” but that does not carry the full weight of the truth, which is found in 3:9, “All Under Sin.” We’re not just guilty of wrong-doing; our very nature is evil, which is described for us in 3:10-18, where you will notice he is speaking of “Jews and Greeks” and “all.” “There is NONE righteous, none who understands, none who seeks after God, all have turned aside and become unprofitable. There is none who does good, no, not one.” We’re not just under the penalty of sin, we’re under its power. We are guilty and depraved. This is where the mercies of God come in. Read 3:21-26. In Rm. 3:21-5:12, God justifies the ungodly who believes in Jesus through the death of His Son on our behalf (4:5; 5:8). Jesus said the sinner who cried out for mercy went home justified (Lk.18:9-14). But God in His mercy didn’t leave us declared righteous; He has also made the believer righteous (5:12-17). We are sanctified by the gospel of mercy. Think of it! We who were once guilty before God and deserving of hell are now pardoned and on our way to heaven! We who were under sin are now under grace. We who were once enemies of God are now His children. “Survey the Wondrous Cross” and then present your body to God.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 12:52:30 +0000
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