John K. Jenkins Sr - A Walk Through Romans, Chapter 12

Thank you for joining us wherever you are around the world. As a matter of fact, I’m so grateful that we have representatives from 15 different states and five different nations: Malaysia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico. I see you all, and I’m truly thankful that you’ve joined us tonight for our Tuesday night Bible study. Thank you for being part of our gathering. I am so honored and grateful.

Let me welcome those who may be here for the first time. This is our regular Tuesday night Bible study at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. We are currently going through the book of Romans, and we are now at Romans chapter 12. For me, this chapter has impacted my life profoundly, and I’ll share with you shortly why it is so powerful. I hope you find it as impactful and powerful as I have.

Once again, thank you for joining us wherever you might be. I appreciate your presence and thank you for being with us tonight. Let us pray.

Father, we thank You for Your loving kindness and the tender mercies You have extended to us. We recognize that we do not deserve this level of mercy and compassion, and we thank You, Father, for both. We pray that You would speak to us through Your word. I pray, Lord, that in the same way You have used this chapter to impact my personal life, others who are joining us for this study will also be encouraged, challenged, motivated, and inspired. Lord, let the truth of Your word resonate in their hearts, allowing them to hear the truth of Your message and apply it to their lives.

Now, Father, for those who are unsaved, backslidden, unsure, or uncommitted, I simply pray that You speak to them and challenge them to say yes to Your will. In the name of the Lord, let us be instruments for You tonight. Lord, I pray that we can be Your mouthpiece and that Your truth will prevail. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.

Alright, so we are in chapter 12, and again, the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome. Let me reiterate that he is writing to a church where both Gentiles and Jews are combined. Much of Paul’s teaching resonates with the people in Rome, emphasizing the importance of understanding that we are saved by faith- by putting our faith in the Lord Jesus and believing in His death, burial, and resurrection. It is not by works, acts, or human efforts that we are saved.

Most of what we have discussed leading up to chapter 12 deals with recognizing that we are saved solely by faith and not by any actions or works from anyone else. This is an important message and lesson for us to learn.

Now, let’s dive into Romans chapter 12. I will read the first two verses, which discuss being living sacrifices to God. This chapter begins by challenging us; it calls us to dedicate ourselves and be living sacrifices to the Lord.

Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 2: " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.»

Oh my goodness, that’s powerful! I hope you all understand what He is saying. He starts by appealing to believers to present themselves as sacrifices to God, describing it as a «living sacrifice.» The issue with a living sacrifice is that it keeps getting off the altar; it keeps moving. A dead sacrifice remains still because it is dead, but He calls us to be living sacrifices. We are alive, yet He urges us to sacrifice our lives to the living God.

He also tells us to do this by the mercies of God, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices. Let 's take a closer look at this. He uses the word " present,» which is significant. This word implies that not only are we dedicating ourselves to God but everything connected to us. Write that down; it carries a deep meaning. God calls us to sacrifice not just ourselves but everything associated with us -our relationships, our conversations, and our possessions. He urges us not to hold back in this sacrifice; we are to dedicate everything we have to Him.