Last Sunday we began the twelfth chapter of Romans: We gave the reason why chapter 1 to 1l were necessary and then we gave reasons why chapters 12=16 are necessary
There there is justification there will be sanctification in our lives. But so often it seems there is so little sanctification been practice in the lives of many Christians. So many people seem to be living at the low end of the Christians life, so little victory over sin, the flesh and the world! Many it seems live in a defeated state of mind, and life.
Romans 12 is going to help us learn what we need to do to have a victory over sin, the flesh, the world and have a life that is pleasing to the Lord.
After 200 sermons on Romans chapters 1 to 11, a lot has been said, and I hope a lot has been learned about the work of God. We have covered so much about the doctrine of salvation, justification and adoption and election and many other doctrines, teachings of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Now its time to apply what we have learned. Its time now to give back what we have learned, we now need to render to God the service that is due to God and bring Him glory. "the giving of oneself totally to the Lord.
And with that said I will say in my own experience, that is not easy. But I must say that is absolutely necessary if we are ever to know the fullness of the blessings of God and be able to render to God the service that is due to Him and bring Him glory.
Most Christians never really come to that place fully.
They flirt with the world, they flirt with the flesh. They flirt with their own personal indulgences and desires. They become victims of the philosophy and psychology of the world around them. They buy into the world's bag. They entertain themselves with the world's mode of entertainment. They think along the lines the world thinks. And so they never really come to the place of total commitment that is discussed in these two verses and therefore they forfeit the fullness of the blessing that God would have for them.
So we are going to talk this next several months that Paul is telling us how we should give ourselves to the service of the Lord.
