A MAN’S CONDUCT
ROMANS 12:1-2
Introduction:
“A man’s conduct is the fruit of what he believes. The flower of a godly life has its roots deep in the soil of experienced grace.” —C. D. Cole
I. THE APOSTLE PAUL’S GREAT APPEAL
A. Paul beseeches…
1. He does NOT command as Moses did, Leviticus 6:8-9, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 9Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.”
2. He INSTRUCTS or teaches the brethren, 1 Corinthians 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”
3. He ADMONISHES and exhorts, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
B. He beseeches by the MERCIES of God, v. 1.
1. The “mercies of God,” is the GREATEST ARGUMENT for consecration:
a. It leads us to REPENTANCE, Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
b. It brought us to know the RICHES of His glory, Romans 9:23, “And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”
2. It creates a GOOD QUESTION in our hearts, Psalm 116:12, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”
a. It causes us to bless the Lord, Psalm 103:2-5, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3-Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
b. It reminds us that we are bought with a price, 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
C. He beseeches the BRETHREN, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”
“Exhortation is a ministry to the saints. He is not appealing to the sinner, but to those who have an experience of grace and mercy.” —C. D. Cole
1. “Suffer” a word of exhortation, Hebrews 13:22, “And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.”
2. The “brethren” are “urged” to serve the Lord out of love for Him, Philemon 8-9, “Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.”
D. He beseeches them to present their BODIES to God, Philippians 1:20, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”
1. This is to acknowledge the blessing of salvation, 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
2. It is a sacrifice of praise, Hebrews 13:15-16, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
a. Pleasing to God, 2 Timothy 2:21, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
b. Everything must be done as unto the Lord, 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
3. It is our reasonable service, Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
God does not impose upon us any thing hard or unreasonable, but that which is altogether agreeable to the principles of right reason. —Matthew Henry
a. Our service MUST be according to the Word, Philippians 2:16, “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.”
b. God’s Word MUST live in us, Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
1) Our spiritual life prospers when the word of God dwells in us richly.
2) We sharpen ourselves and improve our knowledge by communicating the Gospel.
CONCLUSION
The motivation for the believer is “the mercies of God” in our life. The Lord moves us to greater service because he has made us “new creatures.”
We have been instructed in the Word of God for years and we have received God’s blessing when our lives have been “a living sacrifice” for Him.
Those who will not serve the Lord are like lap dogs to Satan. They are under his complete control and don’t even know it.