Bill Acton :: Romans 12:1-2 - The Only Reasonable Way to Live

Sermon Outline for Romans 12:1-2

“The Only Reasonable Way to Live”
The Practical Section Based on Doctrine

1. The Only Way to Live in Relationship to God
   1. The surrender of the life – the body
      1. The urgent request
      2. Paul wants action
      3. The basis of this appeal – “Therefore”
      4. All that has been written before
         1. Because you are forgiven
         2. Because you are in Christ free from condemnation
         3. Because you are indwelt
         4. Because you are eternally united with Christ
         5. Because you are the elect of God
         6. Because there is no separation from love…
      5. Love so amazing, so divine demands my…
         1. Furthermore I beseech you…
   2. The nature of true surrender to God
      1. A voluntary act “Ye present”
         1. Complete resignation
      2. A personal and specific act
         1. “Your bodies” a symbol that our whole life is to be consumed in the fire of God’s sovereign
         2. The sacred obligation of the Christian
         3. We are the priests
         4. We are an offering that lives
   3. This is a useful act “Living”
      1. God has no need for dead bodies
   4. It is a reasonable act – “Your reasonable service”
      1. An act of reason – done intelligently
      2. This is the only reasonable relationship to God
      3. Surrender now – don’t live in rebellion
      4. This is peace, joy, relief from tension
   5. Second appeal, based on the first – “Be not conformed to the world”
      1. Don’t live by the standard of the world
      2. Be subject to the Spirit of God
   6. Be ye transformed
      1. By the renewing of your mind
      2. The constant exercise of the mind on spiritual themes
      3. Transformation – inner change
      4. As our mind is occupied with Christ we become like Him
   7. The purpose of transformation
      1. “That ye may prove”
      2. To discover personally the fact and the excellent character of the will of God
   8. God’s will for the believer is good
      1. It will not always be easy
      2. Character building requires discipline and testing
   9. God’s will is acceptable
   10. God’s will is perfect – regardless of circumstance
       1. There was a cross in the life of Christ
       2. There will be crosses in our lives
       3. But it will be God’s perfect will for us
2. The Only Reasonable Attitude in the Church – Rom 12:3-5
   1. Humility, not self-depreciation
   2. Guard against conceit and boasting
   3. Soberly – evaluate your life properly
      1. Face reality
   4. Appreciation – God hath dealt to every man
      1. No one person is gifted alone
      2. Just a small part
      3. We are not the big wheel, but a spoke
      4. There are responsibilities in the church
   5. How to get along – Rom 12:9-13
      1. Sincere love – “without hypocrisy”
         1. No ulterior motive
            1. Only for the sake of Christ
            2. Only for the sake of others
      2. Diligence in service – not slothful
      3. Zeal – fervent in spirit – divine energy
      4. Optimism – rejoicing in hope
         1. Christians need this – don’t mope around
         2. Don’t look on the gloomy side
      5. Patience in tribulation
         1. Steady thru every experience
         2. Prayer
         3. Generosity
3. In Relationship to the World – Rom 12:17-21
   1. Peaceful
   2. Unavenging
      1. Belongs to God
      2. In so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire
      3. The person shall be turned one way or the other
      4. Either melted to repentance or, hardened to be placed under the certain judgment of God