Believe then Behave

It is interesting to note that the apostle Paul does not rush into the practical application of a Christian life until a doctrinal framework has been built.

Paul is suggesting that we believe first then we behave; doctrine first then conduct; revelation of God’s will first then comes our responsibility.

Believing and obeying the right doctrine produces right living!

 
(Rom 6:17) “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

What is the doctrine that the apostle Paul preaches, that when obeyed sets you free from sin and makes you a slave to righteousness?

The apostle Paul testified that the Lord Jesus gave him the task of preaching the

“Gospel of God’s Grace”. 

(Act 20:24) “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's Grace.”

The Gospel of God’s Grace that the apostle Paul preaches was revealed to him by the exalted Christ.
(Gal 1:11-12) “I want you to know brothers that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”

In another occasion the apostle Paul referred to it as the “Word of His Grace”

(Acts 20:32) “Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His Grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

It is therefore safe to conclude that the “Gospel of God’s Grace” or the “Word of His Grace” is the Doctrine of the New Covenant that Christ mediated.

(Rom 12:1) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Every admonition we are asked to practice as Christians, proceeds out of God’s mercy.

(Rom 12:1a) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy”

Remember, we do not work for our salvation, but we work from our salvation.

We come to God not to earn our salvation, but to express thanksgiving to him for what he has done.

All our life is a hymn of praise to God and an attempt to say thanks for what he has done for us.

What must be presented or offered?

(Rom 12:1b) “Present (offer) our bodies”

Anything related to physical exercises will be of no good unless we make our bodies available. It is also true in our spiritual life; we have to make our body available.

You can’t send your spirit to school or to work; you have to use your body.
If I am going to serve the Lord, it must involve my body.
You don’t send your spirit to evangelize or to witness, to preach or attend bible study. 
We need to present our bodies.

How do we present our bodies?
(Rom. 12:1c) “As a living sacrifices”

In the Old Testament there were basically two spheres of sacrifices.
The Sin and Trespass Offerings and Consecration and Thanksgiving to God Offering.

“Sin and Trespass Offerings” had already been fulfilled by Jesus.

 Therefore, the only sacrifice that is open for us is the Consecration and Thanksgiving to God Offering.

We offer our bodies in sacrifice, in an effort to say thanks to the Lord and this sacrifice is to be a living sacrifice.

Sacrifice in essence, is life being released to God, but in our case when we offer our bodies to the Lord we live.

How do you present your body?
(Rom 12:d) “Present it holy”

When you present your body holy to the Lord, it means “set apart to God’.

It is no longer your property. It is reserved for God’s usage.

The questions we need to consider are:
To whom does my body go?
Where does my body go?
What does my body do?

To all these things the Lord is asking us to present our bodies holy.

How do you present your body?
(Rom 12:1e) “Pleasing or acceptable to God”

It has something to do with the spirit of the person that is offering the sacrifice; attitude of the heart.

All the presentation of our bodies are actually our “Spiritual act of Worship”

(Rom 12:1) “Which is your spiritual act of worship.”

Worship is serving God.
Worship is going on all the time; wherever we present our bodies, worshipping God is going on.
Worship is not an hour activity, it is an every moment activity, and it is reasonable and logical.

(Rom 12:2) “Do not conform any longer 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.”

Christians are admonished not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world.
(Romans 12:2a) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world”

What is the pattern of the world?

The pattern of the world is: 
“Do good get good, do bad get beat”

Some call it “karma”.

In reality it is “Law-oriented”

God’s way is by Grace through Christ Jesus.

(2 Corinthians 5:21) “God made him (Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”

(Romans 12:2a) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world”

(Romans 12:2b) “But be transformed (metamorphoo) by the renewing of your mind.”

Only with a transformed mind from Law-oriented to Grace-oriented or from I-oriented to Christ-oriented mindset will we be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(Romans 12: 2c) “Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ already gave us a warning concerning the futility of maintaining a Law-oriented mentality in a Grace-oriented dispensation.

(Mark 2:22) “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins”

Remember, Christianity is all about Christ; His love, His gospel, His grace His New Covenant and His finished work on the cross.

accf - Michelle chee