Chico Alliance Church
February 3, 2002
Pastor David Welch
“God Wants Your Body and Soul”
Review
I. Receive the gift of righteousness
• Everyone desperately needs the righteousness of God because everyone has utterly failed to conform to God’s standard of righteousness. (1-3)
• The substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ freed God to offer the perfect righteousness of Christ to all who believe (justification). (3-4)
II. Apply the Gift of Righteousness
• As a result of justification, God lovingly extends every spiritual benefit and blessing necessary for victorious kingdom living. (5-8)
III. Place of Israel in the God’s Plan of Salvation
• God is not finished dealing with Israel (9-11)
God did not choose all Jews and all Jews did not choose Christ. (9)
Salvation for both Jews and Gentiles comes by genuine faith and open confession of Christ as Lord. (10)
God rejected Jews who rebelled and disbelieved and received all Gentiles who trusted Christ and will one day will restore all Jews who believe. (11)
Introduction
Do you struggle with doing what God asks you to do? Do God’s commands sometimes seem like a burden and hard to do? Do you find that the things of the world promise more pleasure than God’s ways? How can we learn to embrace God’s will as not only as best practically but also beneficial personally? Paul offers us the keys to embracing God’s will as something personally beneficial, soul satisfying and pleasing, and adequate to address anything I may face in this life.
IV. Live the Gift of Righteousness
• God invites all those justified by faith to live transformed lives. (12-16)
Paul duplicates a common pattern in his writings. Doctrine that motivates Duty Belief that inspires behavior. Teaching that leads to living. Exposition followed by exhortation. Chapters 1-11 have been expositional or doctrinal concerning the work of God for us – justification. The final chapters shift to exhortational concerning the walk of the justified for Him. Paul however does not leave the doctrinal behind but rather continually reminds us of the principles intended to motivate the practice. The righteousness of Christ pored into our regenerated spirit spreads to the renewal of the interactions in our soul, which affect the actions of our body.
Paul takes the final chapters to touch on what a righteous life dedicated to live according the Spirit and put to death the deeds of the flesh might look like.
A. Dedicate your body and soul to God’s service
“Therefore” I would tie this therefore to the immediate context as well as the context of the whole book. The immediate context is the powerful doxology just offered at the end of chapter eleven. Since all things are from Him, through Him and to Him whose is the glory forever, Paul strongly urges an appropriate response. He is the Almighty God, the King of kings, and the all-powerful, all-knowing, all deserving Creator. Everything belongs to Him. Everything came through Him. Everything exists for His glory and pleasure. All credit for whatever is good in the universe rightly goes to God. Because of that, Paul urged an appropriate response to God. Paul also bases his passionate appeal on the fact that this Almighty God has graciously demonstrated marvelous mercy to undeserving sinners.
Mercy is a deep emotional response of pity or compassion triggered by the suffering of others.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." Romans 10:12-13
Paul refers to God as the “Father of mercies” in 2Cor 1:3. Here Paul uses the plural probably to draw our attention to the many demonstrations of mercy already mentioned in his letter. Paul painted two contrasting images of God. He challenged us to carefully observe both the severity and the kindness of God.
For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Romans 11:32
Paul urged the Romans to respond to God on the basis of two great attributes of God. Since we serve a God of majesty… We serve a God who has clearly demonstrated his mercy in a multitude of ways… Therefore I urge you to aptly respond.
Paul urges respond because of what God has done for us but also because of the particular benefic of responding in this way. You will find the desired outcome of our response to Him in the latter part of verse two.
so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
The outcome of these responses is the continual personal validation of the wonder of God’s will.
“Prove” = “To test for the purpose of approving.”
It communicates the idea of approving something as a result of testing it. This word was used in conjunction with testing the validly or reliability of a person or thing. We administer “state board exams” in order to approve a person by testing their competence in the particular. We run a diagnostic test to verify or prove the reliability of a vehicle before a trip. We test the ice to see if it will hold weight.
When we have dedicated our body and soul to God in response to the majesty and mercy of God, we are in a position to discover, discern and desire His will in every part of our life. On the basis of our “test” we discern God’s will really is good for us, come to desire it for our own life and discover that it addresses everything necessary for abundant godly living. God’s will is good, acceptable and perfect or complete.
Discern its value
God’s will is “good” or pleasant, agreeable, beneficial, joyful, excellent God communicated His will, which flows from His character, for our “good.”
Desire its influence in our life
God’s will is “acceptable” or “well-pleasing” God’s will truly satisfies the soul.
Listen to David’s heart concerning God’s will.
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8
I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Psalm 119:16
Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors. Psalm 119:24
May Your compassion come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight. Psalm 119:77
If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction. Psalm 119:92
Trouble and anguish have come upon me, Yet Your commandments are my delight. Psalm 119:143
I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight. Psalm 119:174
Discover its depths
God’s will is “complete” There is completeness to God’s will. He has communicated all that is necessary for life and godliness and peace and contentment. His will addresses all that is necessary to live a godly life. When we respond properly to God’ majesty and mercies, we will enthusiastically attest the benefits of doing things God’s way and the wonder of His will.
“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. John 7:17
Why don’t we always feel that way concerning God’s will? Probably because we have not fully dedicated our body and soul to Him.
What does Paul urgently beg us to do in response to God’s majesty and mercy that proves the wonder of the will of God? I see two basic responses. We embrace the wonder of God’s will when we…
1. Dedicate our bodies completely to God
to present your bodies a sacrifice to God living, holy, and acceptable, which is your spiritual service of worship.
The imperative or command here deals with a decision to dedicate our bodies completely to God’s service. Paul calls this a “reasonable” response in light of God’s majesty and mercy.
“which is your spiritual (logical or reasonable) service of worship”
It is a logical, reasoned response on the basis of who God is and what He has done. True worship is a reasoned service to God. We tend to think of worship as primarily internal.
Scripture pictures worship more as an external service based on an internal response. Since all things are from Him, for Him, and to Him and He has clearly demonstrate his mercy again and again, dedicating ourselves and our bodies for His complete use is clearly the only reasonable response. What does Paul plead for us to do?
“to present your bodies a sacrifice to God”
“present” = to stand or place near, to place or set before someone, to place at the disposal of someone. Present what? Present your bodies! Paul used this word earlier in chapter 6 urging them to stop “presenting” their members to sin as instruments (weapons) of sin but “present” yourselves to God and your members to God as instruments (weapons) of righteousness. Paul reminds them again of this most important response. This call or exhortation to dedicate our bodies to God and offer them for His absolute use is a point-time action verb. It is a decision to turn over your body to another. You enter into a covenant or a promise with God that your body belongs to Him. Like a marriage. Once time vow and commitment but continual reminders are needed. The word was used in conjunction with the offering of a sacrifice to the gods. Both Jews and Romans would have identified with the level of dedication inferred by this image. Decide once and for all to give your lives to God as well as your members or physical body. He urged them to present their bodies as a sacrifice to God. Surrendering all rights to its independent use. Releasing all ownership. We are to present our bodies to God’s service and use whatever He may ask of it.
Generally something presented as sacrifice to God meant death. Sacrifice became synonymous with death. In this case, Paul called for them to present their bodies to God not for the purpose of death but life. He includes three modifiers connected to further describe this sacrifice of our bodies.
“a living sacrifice”
The word used here has to do with something that is vital, active, lively, fresh, powerful. We are asked to take what God has made alive and present it completely to Him.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25
Such a dedication results in God energizing our bodies as a living testimony of His magnificent majesty and marvelous mercy.
“a holy sacrifice”
Paul further describes such a dedication of our bodies as “holy”. This word indicates something special, something set aside for a distinctive purpose, something consecrated or dedicate for a particular use. Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration and devotion to the service of Deity, sharing in God’s purity and abstaining from earth’s defilement. God wants our bodies completely dedicated and offered to Him that He might use them for something special. Our very bodies become a place where the Holy Spirit resides.
Our bodies become a place where God manifests His glory. Our bodies become a vehicle to manifest God’s presence to those around us. Paul urged the Corinthians to abstain from sexual immorality on the basis of the body being a special instrument.
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
1 Cor. 6:18-20
“An acceptable sacrifice”
This word combines the word “to please” and “well” resulting in the idea of well-pleasing. The dedication of our bodies to God is a “well-pleasing” response. These bodies are a marvelous testimony to the greatness of God. We can please God by dedicating them for His use or grieve him by our misuse. Just as God’s will is well pleasing, the dedication of our bodies to His use is a well-pleasing sacrifice. Not only well pleasing to God but can be to us as well. What we do with our body matters to God. These bodies are so important that God will resurrect, glorify and reunite forever these bodies with the immaterial part of us. We will be evaluated according to the deed done in the body. 2 Cor 5:10
Scripture makes ample reference to body function. Paul talked about sinful deed and utter depravity in terms of body parts.
"Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,"
"The poison of asps is under their lips"; "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness";
"Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths,
And the path of peace they have not known (brain)." There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans 3:13-18
So what does God want with these bodies? He wants them as vibrant, alive vehicles, energized for a special eternal function ultimately pleasing to God. Have you dedicated your body for God’s purpose or is your body the vehicle for self-centered pursuit and pleasure? Are you even aware of God’s desire to use your body? Are the things you do with your body to please you or God? God intends that we use our bodies and its members as weapons in the battle to display the righteousness of God on earth. We are the light of the world. That light so often manifests through our physical bodies. Paul indicated such a purpose in chapter six.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:12-13
The word for instrument is actually a reference to a military weapon. A war is waging for the mind, and the body is the prime tool for accessing the mind but communicating God’s truth to others. The body is a tool for collecting and communicating information. Our body senses pick up both verbal and non-verbal signals from the world around us and transfers it to the soul for processing and assimilation. If that collected data is good or godly, it results in renewal of the mind and transformation of the soul. If that data is evil, it results in the darkening of the mind and blockage to transformation. Once data is processed, our body then becomes a channel of communication to others both verbally and non-verbally to their senses. Whenever we present our members to sin rather than to God, we assimilate and communicate soul-damaging information and images.
To allow our eyes to collect pornographic images or images that expose the soul to evil, damages the soul. To allow our ears to hear ungodly words and sounds damages the soul.
To allow our taste buds to be exposed to addicting substances results not only in physical bondage but leads to further soul damage. Failure to keep our sense of touch within Biblical limits damages not only the soul but the body as well.
With a damaged soul we in continue to transmit corrupt signals to others that continues the cycle of soul-damaging effects on the human race.
God wants to enlist our bodies as an effective weapon to expose unrighteousness and establish righteousness on earth. That can only happen when we completely dedicate our bodies to Him and commit them to be used only as an instrument of righteousness. God also wants our bodies as a dwelling place; a place to commune with us and to display his presence and glory.
Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
"For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD.
"But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
God Himself touches the body senses.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
God also wants to use your body to display His presence and touch others. Look through your eyes. Speak with your mouth. Hear with your ears. Touch with your hands. Travel with your feet. Hug with your arms. Only when we have wrestled with God over who owns our body and finally, once and for all time, chosen to dedicate our bodies as a vibrant, special, well pleasing sacrifice will we begin to discern, desire and discover the wonder of God’s will for our lives. Paul does not stop with a call to dedicate our body but also calls for the continual transformation of the soul. The body and soul are vitally linked. What happens to one affects the other and visa versa. The deeds of the body affect the condition of the soul and the transformation of the soul manifests in the body. Therefore until we have obeyed both of Paul’s admonitions, we will not attain the result indicated in this passage,
“so that you may be convinced of the wonder of God’s will for you.”
We will embrace the wonder of God’s will when we give him full reign over our bodies but also when we allow ourselves to…
2. Dedicate your soul to continual transformation by continual renewed thinking
Not only are we to present our bodies completely to God’s use but also our souls are to be continually transformed by the renewing of our thinking in conformity with God’s truth.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Paul urges this response both in a negative and positive sense. He presses us to stop something doing something and to continually experience something.
a) Resist the world’s attempts to cram you into its mold
Stop allowing your soul to be crammed into the world’s way of thinking and living. This admonition to stop an action currently in progress relates to being influenced by outside pressure. In this case, it is the pressure of the devil-designed and directed world system to conform to its thinking and acting. Paul urged the Romans to stop being conformed to the world system in which they lived. God intends His children to be distinct not disguised in the world.
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1
Jesus reminded his disciples that even though they lived in this world, their essential nature was not based in this world. Wuest explained the intended meaning here.
“Stop assuming an outward expression which is patterned after this world, an expression which does not come from, nor is it representative of what you are in your inner being as a regenerated child of God.” One could translate, “Stop masquerading in the clothes of this world, its mannerisms, speech expressions, styles, habits.”
John warned about the futility of continuing to love the world.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
How does the world accomplish its mission to cram even Christians into its mold? It uses the soul’s information gathering tool, the body, to infiltrate the soul and corrupt our thinking. Images, words, people pressure, pleasures, promises, lies, stories, appeals to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life all effect how the soul functions and processes information. The more our soul is exposed to the lies of the devil through a multitude of means and ways, the more we will think, feel and act like the world. But it is not enough to avoid exposure to the world system. In fact it is impossible to do so. Resisting the pressure of the world from influencing your thinking and living is only half the equation.
Paul also urged the Romans to…
b) Submit to continual soul transformation by the continual renewal of your thinking
Paul’s use of a different word in this passage was for more than stylistic reasons. We might expect to read, “Stop being conformed to this world but be conformed to the kingdom of God.” He changes words. Remember the word “conformed” has to do with influence due to outside pressure. The word “transformed” indicates a change on the basis of an internal nature or source. Paul urged the Romans to stop letting the world influence their behavior by a darkening of the mind from outside pressure but submit to the supernatural working of the indwelling Holy Spirit now operating from the regenerated spirit. The Holy Spirit functioning from our regenerated spirit wars against the flesh for the control of the soul. Paul uses the Greek word “metamorphoo”. Sound familiar? Our English word metamorphous originates from this word. It is the same word used to describe what transpired with Jesus on the mountain. The Mount of Metamorphosis He was “transfigured” or “metamorphosed” before them. For a moment in time His true internal nature manifested clean through to the physical body and it was glorious. So glorious, that the disciples could barely describe the effect on their senses.
God desires to manifest his glory to the world though our lives.
To do that, He requires more than our bodies. When we dedicate our bodies to Him and allow Him to transform our souls, we more accurately manifest His nature to those around us. This is a present tense passive verb. We continually submit ourselves to His work in our life. Stop submitting to the world’s attempts to cram your soul into its mold. Stop resisting the work of the Holy Spirit to transform your soul. Continually resist the world’s pressure to conform you to its thinking. Continually submit to the Holy Spirit’s work of transformation. God wants us to experience a transformation on the basis of who He created us to be.
How does this transformation take place? It happens through the renewing of our thinking according to the truth of God. The Holy Spirit renewed our spirit Tit 3:5 The Holy Spirit also continues to renew our thinking resulting in a transformation in the soul regarding our emotions, thoughts and choices. As we allow God to renew how we think, our behavior changes. Belief determines behavior. You see it is a battle for the mind. Satan seeks to send signals from the outside to influence our thinking that in turn dictates our behavior. The Spirit generates signals from the inside, from our spirit, renewing our thinking that in turn transforms our behavior. The Spirit may renew our thinking through others who live and speak the truth. The Spirit may renew our thinking through our interaction with the Scripture. The Spirit may renew our thinking by speaking directly to our spirit. Life-transformation comes only through the Spirit-directed renewal of our thinking.
Jesus told His disciples…
"If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32
Transformation also happens as we study the glory of God wherever it appears.
“But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image form glory to glory just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Where do we go to see this glory? It is recorded in Scripture. It is present in your very own heart. It is displayed in the heavens It is manifested in God’s servants. Seek God’s truth. Study God’s glory. When we turn our body over to God for His service and allow our soul to be continually transformed through the renewal of our thinking and the study of His glory, then we will begin to see just how wonderful God’s will really is.
We will stop resisting his will. We will find it easier to deny the flesh its way in our life. We will discern that His will truly is good and beneficial. We will desire to do things His way. We will discover that His will is complete and relates to everything we do in life.
Because we finally get our thinking right, behaving right will not be far behind. We will long to live according to his will. As we are transformed by the renewing of the mind, our very bodies will begin to manifest the glory of indwelling Spirit of God.
The glory of love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, longsuffering, self-control
APPLICATION
Make that commitment. Every morning when you wake up remind yourself of that commitment. Remember that the world seeks to infiltrate and control your soul to resist God. Submit yourself to renewal by asking God to renew your thinking.
