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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (2-4-1978
Strandtown Baptist Church)
Commencing last of four major sections of Romans. Deals
with practical aspects of Christian life. Romans contains fullest statement of
Christian doctrine, but not left there. Doctrine is no use unless it affects the
way a man behaves and lives life. This was always the way Paul wrote his
letters. Sweep of mind at first, often through the infinities. But never gets
lost in them. Always ends with feet firmly planted on the ground. Doctrine must
always lead to discipleship. Belief and behaviour are always firmly married
together in the New Testament.
So in light of mercies of God I beseech (not command) you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies …. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. With this statement Paul bridges the first eleven chapters of Romans with the remaining five. “Therefore” is the connecting link, which unites doctrine and life. So with these two memorable verses he lays basis for all that follows. Say much in remaining chapters about Christian living. But all begins with consecration of selves to God.
Body to be presented as a living
sacrifice – unlike Old Testament sacrifices – alive, consecrated, acceptable
to God – which in the light of all He has done for us in Christ is our logical
service. The Living Bible asks When you think of what he has done for you, is
this too much too ask? Another way it could be translated is to present your
bodies as an act of spiritual worship. Part of worship is the way we are to use
our bodies. Every part of physical life and everything we do with our bodies is
to be handed over to the Lord. All to be turned over to Him. We have no right to
do what we like with our bodies since they are the Lord’s.
Our bodies are made by God,
redeemed by Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and share in the blessings of
salvation. In eternity with the Lord we will not have spirits only but
resurrection bodies like His. Not just immortality of soul, but resurrection
body (here Christians differ from Greeks).
How easy it is to be vague and
woolly rather than be specific. This involves our hands, feet, tongue, voice,
eyes, ears, all bodily activities and functions, talents, faculties and gifts,
time, work and money. The difference is seen when temptation comes along –
things we should not listen to, things we should not say, things we should not
do, places we should not go. How much our lives would be used for the Lord if we
had such consecration. What work would be done for Him, which is not being done
now. We are all familiar with F.R.Havergal’s hymn of consecration, “Take my
life”. Here is another less familiar:
“Christ
has no hands but our hands to do His work today;
He
has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way;
He
has no tongue but our tongue to tell one how He died;
He
has no help but our help to bring them to His side.
What
if our hands are busy with other work than His?
What
if our feet are walking where sin’s allurement is?
What
if our tongues are speaking the things that He would spurn?
How
can we hope to help Him and hasten His return?”
Practical matter of Christian discipleship. Presenting
bodies is not about having pious thoughts about God in airy fairy way as we
drift through life. It is living for Him, speaking for Him, acting for Him in
the brass tacks of daily life as the occasion arises.
Question – have we ever given
bodies to Christ? parasthsai ta
swmata umwn
Once for all definite act of consecration. Ideally begins at conversion. In many
cases this is not realized fully. If never made a definite and deliberate
consecration of bodies to the Lord, it is time to do it now. It needs to be
reaffirmed daily by renewal of consecration and in bowing to Christ’s lordship
in all details of daily life. Compare marriage vows, which are only made once,
but are to be reaffirmed and maintained by constant attitude and devotion to
married one.
“High heaven that heard that solemn vow,
That
vow renewed shall daily hear”
Consistent spiritual life has its secret in the renewal and reaffirmation of this surrender.
Be not conformed to this
world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Firstly negative
statement “Be not conformed”, which J.B.Philips translates as “Don’t let
the world squeeze you into its mould”. Do not take on the standards of a world
which has rejected God. Do not see and value things, and act as people in the
world do. Not much spiritual progress if we copy the world. Be “spiritual
non-conformists”. Not to be influenced, but rather to be influencing. We
should not become different because we are in the world, but the world should
become different because we are in the world.
Then the positive command – we
are to be transformed. Progressively and continuously transformed metamorfousqe
by renewing of mind. Open mind and therefore all of inner being, emotions, will,
etc to be changed and transfigured by working of the Holy Spirit. We are at the
heart of things here For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs
22:7). Troubles begin with imagination running riot. Some are tortured because
they allow their minds to be harassed by memories of things which God has
forgiven long ago – but for which they will not forgive themselves. The will
is unconsecrated, man is unwilling to take hands off controls. The mind is
unsubjected to the leading of the Spirit. Allow thoughts about others which are
entirely without foundation, and which we would not dare to speak with our lips.
John Newton said, “If we were obliged to declare out
loud in full company every thought and wish and desire in our minds without any
reserve and deception, we would rather die than comply with such an order. The
Lord has mercifully kept us from knowing each other’s heart otherwise we could
not live with one another any more than we could live with tigers or bears.”
Be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, translated in N.E.B as Let your minds be remade. Compare
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians
2:5). Expose minds and wills etc to power of the Holy Spirit that His fruit may
appear in your lives.
Practical steps need to be taken, for this will not happen overnight. Involves constant process to open mind to transforming power of the Lord. Whatsoever things are true… honest… just… pure… lovely…. of good report… think on these things (Philippians 4:8). Prayer, bible reading, fellowship with other Christians, meeting around the Lord’s Table, are all things which help to bring the mind to places where His renewing power can operate. So our mind becomes a Christian mind.
This consecration and renewal
must inevitably lead to good and wholesome effects in life. Brings us into
deeper touch with God and richer experience of His grace in life. Then we have
an appreciation of God’s will. No short cuts here. Cannot bypass dedication of
life.
Nelson receiving surrender of
French fleet from French Admiral. He boarded Nelson’s flagship, came across
quarter-deck with outstretched hand to Nelson. Nelson said “Your sword first,
and then your hand”. Surrender first, and then fellowship with all its
blessings. God not concerned to rule us as much as to enrich us beyond measure.
He wants to give to us, not take from us. Leads us to prove and experience His
will, that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual discernment to know God’s will for our lives, as opposed to the will of self or the world. We are to know the very best that God can give. His way is better than ours. He has power to guide and keep us on His way.
Paul’s call is basis of all genuine Christian living,
not just for the spiritual elite. It is God’s norm for all His children. Need
to be reminded that at Calvary He not only bought our pardon, but bought our
person.
Scottish Covenanter’s prayer: “I consent, Lord Jesus, to thy coming in and taking possession of my soul, and thy casting out of everything there that stands in opposition to thee. I desire to take thee for my ALL, to be ruled and governed by thee, acquiescing to whatsoever shall be thy ways of dealing with me. Give me thyself and this shall be all my desire.”
