WEBVTT 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:18.000 As I was preparing for this sermon, I was reminded of a few things that influence us as Christians living in a culture in a world that obviously is not Christian and does not support our Christian view of the world. 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:31.120 We live in a society that values radical autonomy, radical individualism, pride, envy, and covetousness are normative and some might even say virtuous for some. 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:34.640 But then when you become a Christian, everything changes, right? 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:42.000 It's like the Lord gives you new glasses by which you're supposed to look at the entire world through and live your life in accordance to that. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:54.640 Two passages of scripture came to mind as I was just even just looking at some of the current events going on around the world, certain narratives that are put in front of us trying to shape how we think and lead our lives. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:09.519 I was reminded of Paul in Corinthians when he says, referring to Jesus, and he died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:10.719 Just reminds me. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:21.200 The world says, live for yourself, live for your comfort, live for your happiness, live for you pursuing the American dream. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:33.359 But Paul says, Jesus died for his church, so that those who now live in him should no longer live for themselves, but live for the one who died for them and was raised. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:43.120 In 1 Corinthians, he says, a person should think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:48.959 In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:52.640 In some translations, that word managers is stewards. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:55.680 Stewards be found faithful. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:03.040 The biblical narrative for those who are in Christ is Jesus went to great lengths to purchase you on the cross. 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:04.719 Therefore, you are no longer your own. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:06.159 You belong to Jesus. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:08.960 Therefore, you are to live as if that's true. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:24.960 Your whole life is to be this act of worship to Jesus who died and resurrected on your behalf, and you are to live a life in which you worship him by being a faithful steward of all that he has entrusted to you. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:31.280 Or another way to summarize that is your life is a gift and an assignment from God. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:35.120 Your life is a gift and an assignment from God. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:39.520 Think about it, not a single one of you right now is keeping yourself alive. 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:44.800 You have no idea probably how all the organs in your body are even working in this very moment. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:53.759 And yet God is the one in his divine providence who is caring for every last one of us, sustaining us because we belong to him. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:03:03.520 So as we move through this series on stewardship, as I said last week, I think many, when they hear that word stewardship or generosity, they immediately go to finances. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:05.039 We'll get to that at some point. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:11.840 But brothers and sisters, before we get to that, we got to understand what it means to be a steward before the Lord? 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:29.199 What does it mean that my whole life is one of stewardship, my time, my money, my gifts that the Lord has entrusted to me, every fabric of my being, I am to steward as an act of whole life worship to the Jesus who died and resurrected on my behalf. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:35.439 And so that's why we're gonna look at Romans 12, verses 1 through 8 and focus on this. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:40.879 The gospel of God's grace produces total surrender and selfless service. 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:57.280 If you are redeemed by the blood of Jesus this morning, if you are in Christ, a follower of Jesus Christ, well, that same gospel that saved you should produce total surrender and selfless service for a lifetime until the Lord calls you home in glory. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:01.439 And we're gonna look at two things, starting in verses one through two. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.879 And hopefully I'm going to try to cast a vision for you guys. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:13.680 If you're in Christ, what does whole life stewardship and worship look like for a Christian, according to God's word in Romans 12, 1 through 8? 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:18.240 Looking at verses 1 through 2, I want you to see this. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:22.240 Friends, your whole life is an act of worship and service. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:23.839 There's no way around that. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.519 The Bible is explicitly clear. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:31.439 Your whole life should be an act of worship and service. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.199 Look at verses one and two. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:38.480 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, let's just stop there. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:46.240 The mercies of God is just referring to all the rich gospel doctrine Paul has been unpacking from chapters one all the way up to chapter 11. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:05:01.600 He's saying, Hey, after all that beautiful doctrine I have been unpacking, helping you understand your union with Christ, the fact that you were dead in your sins and trespasses and could not save yourself, and Jesus died on your behalf, united him to himself. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:05.439 You were buried with, you died with him, buried with him, were raised with him. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:07.920 You receive all those glorious gifts. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:14.160 So, in light of the mercies of God, therefore, brothers and sisters, live like this. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:23.040 I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:25.920 This is your true worship. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:37.279 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:50.800 So, in light of all of God's saving and sovereign grace and the believers' union with Christ, Paul says, therefore, connecting to what he has said previously, this is how you live as a Christian. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:54.480 Now, there's Old Testament imagery here. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:59.120 When he says, offer yourself as a living sacrifice, Paul was a master teacher. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:00.720 He knew exactly what he was doing. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:10.480 His audience would have been familiar with the Old Testament sacrificial system, the fact that they would sacrifice animals, uh, or you know, and sometimes a sacrificial lamb. 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:18.000 And they were accustomed with when they would sacrifice an animal, it wasn't like, yeah, get the three-legged sheep and sacrifice that one. 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:20.240 Like, give your lease to God. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:22.639 No, they understood, no, you give your best. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:27.120 You find the spotless sheep that had no blemishes. 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:28.959 That is what you offer to the Lord. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:30.560 That is what they were accustomed to. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:33.040 But Paul is now saying, no, no, no, no. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:36.079 Now you offer yourself as a living sacrifice. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:37.040 So here's the distinction. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:41.519 In the Old Testament system, they had to continuously sacrifice animals, right? 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:42.480 Why? 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:46.480 Because the blood of animals never truly atoned for sin. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:48.240 That's that was some of the purpose. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:50.160 God's showing them this isn't enough. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:51.920 You need something greater. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:07:00.560 And that one day will be my son, who will be the ultimate sacrificial lamb and high priest, and will offer himself once and for all on your behalf. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:10.639 So they understand this concept of sacrifices, but Paul is now saying, now you offer yourself as a living sacrifice. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:18.720 Now he obviously doesn't mean you're offering yourself as a sacrifice to God to make atonement as the uh Israelites used to do. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:24.399 We're not offering ourselves to make atonement, we're offering ourselves because atonement has already been made. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:25.759 Does that make sense? 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:31.120 We are offering ourselves as a living sacrifice because God has already made atonement for our sins. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:43.040 And in response to such infinite grace, we offer ourselves as active living sacrifices to the Father for all that he has done on our behalf. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:49.199 Now, when he says offer your bodies, some think he's referring primarily just to our physical bodies. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:55.279 But I think he's he's certainly not saying less than that, but he's saying a whole lot more. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:00.639 So, yes, offer your physical selves to Jesus as a living sacrifice. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:07.040 But I believe what Paul and the Lord through Paul is trying to capture is offer your whole being to God. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:21.360 Just how in the scriptures, whenever it refers to the term the heart, it's not referring to the organ in your ribcage, it's referring to every aspect of your being, your will, your beliefs, everything offered to the Lord. 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:27.600 So this offering your bodies as a living sacrifice is Paul saying your whole being. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:31.040 Remember when Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment? 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:32.480 What was Jesus' response? 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:36.159 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, your mind, and your strength. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:37.039 What was he saying? 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:39.200 Love God with all of you. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:42.240 With your whole being, love the Father. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:09:00.159 So what Paul is getting at, friends, is if you are in Christ, if you understand all this rich gospel doctrine he's been unpacking for the first 11 chapters, he's saying the only logical response to such grace is to offer your whole self back to God as a living sacrifice. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:02.320 That is what he is saying. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:06.639 Paul uses sacrificial language deliberately. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:13.440 Because think about it, in the Old Testament, once an animal was placed on the altar as a sacrifice, it stayed there. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:14.639 It dies. 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:17.600 You got to go get another animal to do it again. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:19.840 You can't repeat with the same animal. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:27.519 Paul calls us living sacrifices, which creates a unique problem for some of us if we're honest, if we really examine our hearts. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:32.159 Because as a living sacrifice, maybe sometimes we put ourselves on the altar but then jump right off. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:40.879 We keep climbing back off the altar instead of continuously offering ourselves as a living sacrifice. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:45.600 So Paul's saying in the Old Testament system, you offer one animal one time, then you have to get another one. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:50.000 But now, for you new covenant Christians, you're a living sacrifice. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:51.840 This is an ongoing thing. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:59.279 You are daily, hourly offering yourself to God because you recognize the only reason why I'm even here is because of his grace. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:01.759 So we have to ask ourselves an honest question. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:18.639 When we look at what Paul is saying, so the conclusion for him, therefore, brothers and sisters, in view, this is the backdrop, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.039 This is your true worship. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:23.200 I even love that language, present. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:29.039 Just like in the Old Testament, you present your sacrifice to God, and if it's acceptable, God is pleased by it. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.320 Same goes for us. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:39.679 We present ourselves as living sacrifices, pleasing to the Lord, holy, meaning set apart for his service, and that is our true worship. 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:42.720 Now, here's an honest question for all of us to ask ourselves. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:45.679 Because we will read text like this and say, yes, amen. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.200 I agree with that. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:53.600 But is your to is your devotion to God conditional, unconditional, or conditional? 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:55.200 Think about that. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:03.759 Because there's a difference between someone who is devoted to God and someone who offers themselves as a living sacrifice when it's convenient to them. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:08.159 A convenient, conditional sacrifice looks like this. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:15.519 I'll offer myself to the Lord and serve the Lord as long as I don't have to make myself uncomfortable. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:20.799 I'll serve the Lord as long as I don't have to open my home to other people. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:24.799 I'll attend church as long as it's convenient. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:29.360 As long as I got enough sleep and you know, I feel good and I have my coffee. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:35.840 I'll serve the Lord as long as it fits my schedule because I don't want to inconvenience what I got going on this week. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:42.960 I'll give to the church as long as I still have plenty left over to do all the stuff I want to do. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:48.480 None of the people who talk like that would ever say I'm not devoted to God. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:52.240 None of those people would ever say, I don't love the Lord. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.399 But love that only shows up when it's easy is not love at all. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:58.720 That's a customized Christianity. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:07.919 I'm devoted to Jesus, I offer him at myself as a living sacrifice only if Jesus asked me to do stuff I already want to do in the first place. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.519 That is not worshiping Jesus, that is worshiping yourself. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:16.399 Imagine if Jesus offered himself like that on your behalf. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:21.440 Like, Father, I mean, I guess I'll die for him as long as like if I'm free Wednesday. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:33.360 I mean, I'll succumb to the slander and the abuse and the ultimate murder that I'm gonna endure as long as you know I'm gonna get something in return that is worth my time. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:39.600 If our savior related to us like that, friends, none of us would be in this room worshiping Jesus this morning, would we? 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:47.279 Positive examples of offering ourselves, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices is when Christians talk like this. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:50.799 It's the member who keeps showing up to serve in obscurity. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:13:00.159 No applause, no formal title, because they're not doing it for the audience, they're doing it out of gratitude for what Jesus has done for them over 2,000 years ago. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:09.039 Or the family that opens their home repeatedly knowing this is increasing my grocery budget, kids are running around, they're breaking stuff in my house. 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:13.600 But I do it because hospitality is an act of worship. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:21.039 Or the family who makes Sundays like what we're doing this morning, a non-negotiable. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:25.519 Because they recognize the beauty of gathering with their faith family. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:30.639 This is why when I stand up every morning I say, Welcome to this gathering of Redeemer Church. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:34.240 A gathering is what a church fundamentally is. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:42.240 So the person who treats Sunday as optional, I would suggest lovingly, has misunderstood what a church fundamentally is. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:57.600 So whenever we as Christians maybe say, I'm devoted to Jesus, I offer myself as a living sacrifice, but you're not committed to gathering with Jesus' people, I think Jesus and the apostles are just confused what you mean when you say you're devoted to Jesus. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:02.480 Let me just give some practical examples just to encourage you guys as you lead your lives. 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:07.440 Your career decisions should show that you offer yourself as a living sacrifice. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:16.559 So if we willfully as Christians take jobs that we know are gonna take us away from the gathered congregation on Sunday mornings, that's not a wise, God-honoring decision. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:21.840 You are voluntarily saying, I will not gather with the saints. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:28.000 Where you choose to live, make sure it's based on how you're gonna offer yourself as a living sacrifice to the Lord. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:36.720 If we choose to live in places that will hinder us worshiping and gathering and ministering to the local flock we've covenanted with, that's a problem. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:40.320 Or the family activities we pursue. 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:55.840 If you pursue activities that you know, well, that's gonna make us super tired on a Saturday, we're gonna be burnt down, we're probably just gonna sleep in, not go to church, or do we'll just watch church online, well, then that's not really being devoted to offering yourself as a living sacrifice. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.759 It's getting quieter and quieter. 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.399 I don't know why. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.759 These things are important. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:14.559 They are important because it shows here's the thing as Christians, we can be guilty of two things saying right things about the Bible and God, but in practice contradicting what we say. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:24.080 We can say we love God, but then when God clearly in his divine providence places ministry opportunities in front of us and we just turn the other direction, that shows what we truly believe. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:33.679 If we say, I really love God, but I'm willing to pursue sin, knowing it's sinful, I'm gonna live with my significant other, and we're gonna live in sexual sin. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:37.679 Or I'm gonna say I'm a God-on Christian, I'm gonna lie on my taxes. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:43.039 Friends, that shows what you really believe, not what you say you believe. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:50.799 The gathered body of Christ is not optional because it's where the body functions as a body. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:59.200 So missing the Sunday gathering with your family isn't just missing a service, it's it's the body missing a member, so to speak. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:06.320 So the person who treats Sunday as optional, I would say lovingly, has misunderstood what a church actually is. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:10.879 Oh, you're just a pastor, you're biased, you're just trying to get everyone to show up on Sunday. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:14.320 Yes, because the Bible mandates it. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:34.799 Not because God is just trying to get you to check boxes and we're trying to be legalistic, because God says, I love my children so much that I created this beautiful institution called the local church where you can live as an offering to me using your gifts for the edification of the saints you have covenanted with. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:38.879 So the church is God's best for his people. 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:45.120 Turn over, a lot of people love to quote this verse, but turn over to Hebrews chapter 10 real quick, to the right of Romans. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.559 Hebrews chapter 10, 23 through 25. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:54.159 A lot of people like to use this verse to hit people over the head and say, This is why you shouldn't skip Sunday service. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:17:00.799 But I want to give the context here so you see why this is significant to God and the author of Hebrews. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:07.440 Hebrews chapter 10, beginning in verse 22. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:19.359 And as I read this, keep in mind that the author of Hebrews is giving this exhortation to a local church family, not to the universal church just broadly primarily, but primarily to a local church. 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:22.160 Hebrews chapter 10, verse 22. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:30.799 Let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:58.559 Let us, corporate exhortation, let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful, and let us corporate language consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other and all the more as you see the day approaching. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:07.119 According to God's word, the Sunday gathering is like training ground to help protect you from sin. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:19.680 But the way God designed church family is we help sharpen each other to resist temptation and sin and to spur one another on towards love and good deeds. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.640 Why am I camping out on this right now? 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:31.839 Because I want to encourage you guys to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice means we have to ask the question, okay, what does that look like? 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:44.240 Because the exhortations we're looking at in Romans 12, 1 through 8 are all uh exhortations Paul is giving to a local church congregation and how they are to live out their Christian lives in community with one another. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:49.519 So, brothers, if you ever see a member who is going astray, go after them. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:57.279 If you ever talk with a member who you love and you hear they're considering a job that you know is gonna take them away from the Sunday gathering, talk to them. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:00.400 Brother or sister, that is not a wise decision. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:11.759 If you know someone making decisions that is going to do that, that's gonna bring spiritual harm to their sanctification, love them enough to pursue them, to counsel them and exhort them, no matter what it may be. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.079 All right, I'm off that soapbox. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:16.079 But Paul goes on. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:22.079 He says, so yes, offer your present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.920 This is your true worship. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:27.359 Verse 2, do not be conform to this age. 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:29.599 Do you notice that that is a command? 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:33.200 Do not be conform to this age. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:35.279 But then there's a positive command. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:43.759 But be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:52.880 That word conform carries the idea of being fashioned after or molded after something externally, shaped from the outside in. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.759 Paul says, Christian, don't let that happen to you. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:00.960 Don't let that happen to you, which implies the world is trying to do that to you, Christian. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:04.480 No one in this room is neutral from the effects of the world. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.599 Let's just be honest. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.200 We still have a sin nature. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:11.440 We are inclined at times to be enticed by the things of the world. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:14.000 None of us is exempt from that temptation. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:19.359 We have to put up an ongoing battle against the conditioning of the world. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.720 And let's just be honest. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.559 I mean, we all have different testimonies in here. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:26.240 So I got saved when I was an adult, I can vividly still remember my life before Christ. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:30.000 There are things with God's help I have to keep unlearning. 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:32.480 And the same is true for everybody in this room. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.519 So think about it. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:48.559 If you lived as the devil for 21 years and God saved you, that is 21 years of you building ungodly ways of thinking, behaving, reacting, and so on and so forth. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:54.720 And now that you are in Christ, you have to renew your mind through God's word. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.160 Now, praise be to God. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:01.119 When we were living in sin, being heathens, God was opposed to our life. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:14.160 But now that you're in Christ and you're seeking your mind being renewed through God's word, God is for you in that process and helping you bless your efforts as you pursue sanctification, and he is maturing you into the image of Christ. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:19.680 So, BC, you, you had Satan helping you do what you were doing. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:32.240 Now that you're in Christ, you have the Father helping you renew your mind and build a godly worldview, so to speak, so that you think how God thinks about the world and how you think about yourself. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:38.319 So if you have been redeemed, then a process at your regeneration of sanctification has begun. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.480 And it is going to continue. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:47.839 And that renewing of your mind implies an ongoing progressive activity in which you, Christian, play a role. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.839 You are to pursue this. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:54.559 Notice Paul does not say sit on your hands and wait for God to renew your mind. 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:58.400 He is part act, he is calling us to participate. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.839 He says actively to thank you. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.480 Things do not be conformed to this age. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:04.240 That is rather general, isn't it? 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:08.240 It's a clear assignment, but we are all called to figure out what does that mean for me? 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:11.759 How do I guard my heart and mind to not be conformed by this age? 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:17.119 But then positively, how do I pursue being transformed by the renewing of my mind? 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:19.440 And look, notice the attachment to that. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:24.880 So that you may discern what the what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God is. 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:28.960 So if you want to know God's will, brothers and sisters, know your Bibles really well. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:34.559 Don't do all the weird navel gazing, like I'm waiting for God to just speak to me and tell me what his will is. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.920 Know your Bible. 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:40.160 He inspired an entire book revealing his heart to his people. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:48.079 Seek to comprehensively understand scripture so that you will know the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:54.559 God loves you so much, friends, that he has not decided to send Christians on a spiritual scavenger hunt to figure out his will. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:59.359 He gave you his spirit, his church, and a book so you can know it. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:03.599 But we are all jacked up because we are all sinners. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:08.240 We live in a sinful, broken world, and we have to unlearn stuff. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:14.480 So as a loving caution to all of us, myself included, we must be careful what we take in. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:17.599 Because what you take in is shaping you. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:25.599 What you take in is either helping you renew your mind or it's helping you go back to a debased mind when you were outside of Christ. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:35.359 So I'm not one of those legalists who's gonna say, well, you know, we all got to just live under a rock and never watch TV, read a book, or speak to anyone who's not a Christian, right? 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.880 But you need to be wise. 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:42.319 You need to be good stewards of your minds, of your heart, recognizing what I take in is shaping me. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:55.839 It's shaping my understanding of God, it's shaping my understanding of suffering, of holiness, of the church, of my marriage, of parenting, you name it, whatever you're bringing in is shaping you, and you are what you think. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:03.759 And connecting this to this topic of stewardship, the world has and is actively discipling us. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:07.599 And so sometimes we gotta ask ourselves, what is discipling me the most? 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:10.079 Is it the news networks I watch? 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.920 Is it the books I read? 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:15.920 The music I listen to, or is it Christ and his word? 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:22.400 Now, a lot of Christians will amen what I just said, but man, I this is where I have a love-hate relationship with social media. 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:25.039 I love it because it lets me just spy on Christianity. 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:36.799 Like I just love seeing Christians, especially some Christian leaders who are famous authors and stuff, where they preach really godly stuff, but how they carry themselves online, I'm just like, mm, I'm concerned. 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:41.599 We don't recognize that we are being conditioned and shaped. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:43.680 The world is discipling us. 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:47.359 Some people are more discipled by their political party than they are God's word. 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:52.240 Some people are more committed to a donkey or a goat, or what's the other one? 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.519 Yeah, a donkey, whatever. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:57.200 A donkey and an elephant rather than the lion and the lamb. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.400 Get that one right. 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.880 But they'll never say that. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:10.160 They say, no, I love the Bible, I love God's word, and then a certain political position comes up, and you're like, hey man, it sounds like you are more passionate about that stance than what God's word says. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:13.039 I think that shows what you're really devoted to. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.599 We have to guard our hearts. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:21.279 The world, it has conditioned us to view everything in our lives as ours. 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:24.079 That is definitely one way we are conditioned by the world. 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:27.279 Everything you own is yours, and you can do whatever you want with it. 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:29.119 Your body, it's yours. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.240 Your body, your choice. 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.680 You can do whatever you want with it. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:37.839 Your money, your time, your home, you do what you want to do. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:40.720 Live your best life now, live it up. 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:42.000 YOLO. 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.759 We can go on and on, right? 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:46.559 You only live once. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:48.559 Yes, but you can die twice. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:57.119 The gospels, or rather, our culture also says the primary aim of your life should be to pursue your personal happiness. 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:03.200 Whatever that equals for you, pursue it with zero restraints until the day you die. 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:08.079 But as we see in Romans 12, 1 through 8, the gospel says the opposite, doesn't it? 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:10.640 The gospel tells us you are not your own. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:13.200 You've been purchased by Jesus Christ. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.039 Nothing is yours. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:17.119 Everything you have has been entrusted to you. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:20.640 Your very health has been entrusted to you by the Lord. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:29.759 The culture tells us to be consumeristic, self-centered, and to treat personal happiness as the highest achievement of life. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:37.039 But the gospel says you were not your own, you were bought with a price, therefore, live like it, and that actually brings glory to God. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:44.559 Now, here's the thing: even if you disagree with me this morning and you're in Christ, man, good luck with your sanctification. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:49.680 Because at the end of the day, I believe God is absolutely sovereign over every affairs of the universe. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:56.000 His divine providence is orchestrating everything in accordance to his divine decree that he made before the foundations of the earth. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:59.119 So even if you disagree with me, you will be sanctified. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:09.920 You can either submit to God's will for your life and actually enjoy living out your Christian life in accordance with his word, or you can go the rough route where he's still gonna get his way with you. 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:13.759 You just might extend your class a little bit longer than the rest of us. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:18.559 But hey, some people get held back in the Christian life, and that's okay. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.720 As long as you make it to glory. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:26.319 But in verses three through eight, he goes on to get into the spiritual gifts. 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:28.079 And I want us to see this. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:31.599 Friends, your gifts are someone else's need. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.640 Your gifts are someone else's need. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.559 Look down at verse three. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:48.559 He says, For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think, instead think sensibly as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:28:00.799 Now, as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:02.240 Let's let's stop there. 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:14.480 So after laying a foundation, Paul gives this clear exhortation in the remaining verses on how these Christians in Rome are to serve God and build each other up as a local church family. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:22.559 But notice this according to God's word here, the gospel should always lead to humility in the heart of a Christian. 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:25.279 To be honest with you, I don't understand how it could not. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.319 Like, think about it. 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:29.119 Like the gospel is the most offensive message in the entire universe. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:31.039 It says, you were not a good person. 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:39.200 I don't care what your mom told you, you're not a good person, you're a sinner, the wrath of God is hanging over you, and you can't do nothing to save yourself. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:48.559 You have to throw yourself at the feet of Jesus and plead for his forgiveness, confess your sins, and he will forgive you and justify you through the work of Jesus Christ. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:52.079 How on earth can that message make any Christian prideful? 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:54.880 Like, I'm just curious, how does that even happen in us? 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.400 Because we're all guilty of it. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:02.400 It's almost like we're going back and saying, Yes, Jesus, you saved me, but don't forget, like, I helped out just a little bit. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.640 So Jesus like just laughs at us. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:06.160 Like, are you serious, bro? 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:08.799 You wouldn't even know which way is up. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:19.039 Right now I'm watching with our kids, the chosen, and we were just laughing last night, just like, you know, just seeing, obviously in the gospels, but in the show, just how they captured the disciples, they just did not get it. 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:27.839 Like constantly, Jesus is teaching, he's giving parables, he's performing miracles, and sometimes they say the right things, but then they show they don't they don't really get it. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:30.559 That can be us quite often. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:34.640 But according to Paul, the gospel leads to humility. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:38.880 Rather, it should, if you truly comprehend the gospel. 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:44.240 Uh, Augustine of Hippo once said, it was pride that changed angels into devils. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:47.359 It is humility that makes men as angels. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.480 I love that. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:53.279 It was pride that changed angels into devils. 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:56.160 Satan wasn't always Satan. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:59.920 He was a glorious angel serving God just like the rest of the angels. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:02.240 Pride made him what he is. 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:10.960 I would even go as far as to say, I don't know if I would say, as some do, like pride is the main root of every sin, but it certainly is in the DNA of every sin. 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:18.400 Because fundamentally, behind every sin that we voluntarily choose, friends, we're saying, God, you're, you're, you don't know what's best. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:23.839 Like I know you say that this is sinful and it's bad for me, but I I disagree. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.799 I think I know better. 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:27.519 So I'm gonna go ahead and do this thing. 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:30.640 That is fundamentally what pride does in our sin. 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:34.559 It teaches us to say, I know better than God. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:40.240 And if the enemy in your flesh gets you to think that, you're also saying subtly, I am God. 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.839 I am God. 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:45.440 If you think you know better than God, that means you are greater than God. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:48.640 This is why the Bible takes pride very seriously, doesn't it? 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:54.480 Proverbs 11, verse 2 says, When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. 00:30:54.799 --> 00:31:01.359 Or Jesus himself said, Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:05.599 Pride is a disgusting thing in the heart of a professing Christian. 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:10.960 Humility should be a mark of every disciple of Christ. 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:14.079 I love how Paul uses this body metaphor. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:19.119 Now, Paul and the other writers often use various metaphors to describe the body of Christ. 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:24.799 So there's the body language, there's uh the bride of Christ, the household of God, and so on and so forth. 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:30.079 But notice how Paul talks about the church being a body in verse four. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:43.039 Now, as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way, we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:45.200 He's using a striking metaphor here. 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:54.720 He's saying the church is a body, not a collection of individuals who happen to just show up on the same and in the same place in the same time on a Sunday morning. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.000 He says we're a body. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:58.240 We are literally members of one another. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:02.160 Now, I don't believe Paul is referring primarily to the universal church. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:04.480 He's talking about local churches. 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:10.000 So if you're a member of Redeemer Church this morning, we are all members of one organism. 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:12.160 We are all members of one body. 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:15.920 And like anybody, every member is necessary. 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.519 Don't believe me? 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.000 Okay. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:21.279 Which members of your body would you be willing to give up this morning? 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:24.319 Uh, Colin's a physician, he can probably help you find a surgeon. 00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:28.960 If you want to get rid of any organ, if you had a choice, which one you want to get rid of? 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.759 Right? 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:34.559 None of us is gonna volunteer to give up anything because you cherish your body, don't you? 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:43.359 There's a reason why we have terminology that describes someone who maybe is disabled or has a handicap because that's not the normative pattern. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:46.400 We are members of one another. 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:50.559 And like anybody, every member is necessary. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:52.400 Have you thought about that? 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:55.599 If you're a member of Redeemer Church, you are necessary. 00:32:56.079 --> 00:33:02.400 You are necessary for this church body to be healthy, to glorify God, to advance the gospel. 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:08.480 Every single one of you is necessary in God's design. 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:11.279 Lose a finger, you'll feel it. 00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:14.240 Lose a kidney, you'll really feel it. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:18.000 No part exists for itself. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:20.799 It exists as a part of a whole. 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:24.799 This is the beauty and the benefit of church membership. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:45.680 Paul isn't describing the universal church in the abstract, he's talking about a local body of people who know each other, who serve each other, who need each other, who carry one another's burdens, who walk with each other through the joys of life, who walk alongside, brothers and sisters, to deep suffering in life. 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:48.319 This is what it means to be one body. 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.359 Think about it. 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:54.319 If you got something going on with one of your organs, it affects your whole body. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:34:00.880 And you are going to take grave concern for that organ getting healthy again because it affects the whole body. 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:03.119 That's how we should think about church life. 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:16.159 If one saint, I don't care if this is a church of a thousand members, if one saint is suffering and struggling with sin or brokenness or in an extended season of unwanted suffering, that is all of our business. 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:25.199 And it is all of our joy and privilege to hold their arms up, so to speak, until the Lord does what he's going to do to help them in their sanctification. 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:27.039 That is the beauty of God's design. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.840 Think about that. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:31.440 This is why I understand why Paul would say, do not be conformed to this world. 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:36.719 Because the world would say, hold up, man, like don't trouble yourself with problematic people, quote unquote. 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:39.280 The Bible says all y'all are problematic. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:44.719 All of you got issues, all of you are works in progress, and that's why Jesus died for you. 00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:49.920 So love each other because that person who is problematic is probably thinking the same thing about you. 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.760 Love one another. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.719 Think about this. 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:57.119 If you join a local church, every single member is your gospel inheritance. 00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:01.760 They are your brothers and sisters in Christ that you literally are going to spend an eternity with. 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:06.239 So you might as well get to know them and serve them now on this side of heaven. 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:08.719 This is the beauty of church membership. 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:14.239 He's talking about a local body of people who know each other, serve each other, and who need each other. 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:16.639 Who would want to be on the outside of that? 00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:32.320 Now I'm not talking about those who maybe you're in between churches or looking to transfer their membership, but I say this in love, but for those who regularly worship with us or any church and they just choose not to join a local church, I think number one, you could be in sin because you're just disregarding God's clear command in scripture. 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:38.880