There are a lot of things in our world that transform.
An electrical transformer transforms electricity from one circuit to another.
A Convert-a-bench transforms from a bench into a table.
An Aquamobile transforms from a car into a boat.
Of course, the most famous thing that transforms is a Transformer, which is an alien/robot that transforms into a vehicle.
For something to transform means that it changes from one thing into a different thing.
Well, as we come back to the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul is calling us to be transformed.
Today’s sermon is entitled, “Transformed Living for Transformed People.”
Let’s go to the Lord in prayer and then let’s learn about transformation in the life of a follower of Jesus.
(prayer)
It’s important to realize as we study the book of Romans, that a shift takes place here in chapter 12. Romans 1-11 are primarily theological in nature. Paul wants us to understand who God is and what He has done in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Starting in Romans 12, Paul wants us to understand how we are to live as those who have been changed by Jesus.
In today’s passage, we’re going to learn at least four ways that we can be transformed.
Today, we’re going to do something a little different. We’re going to skip verses 3-8 and come back to those next time. They deal with a specific topic that I want to cover by itself.
So, today, we’ll focus on transformation as seen in Romans 12:1-2, and 9-21.
First, let us learn to . . .
I. Be transformed by being renewed.
Look at what Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Notice right away what Paul says in verse 1.
He says, “Therefore.” Of course, anytime there’s a therefore, we need to pay attention to what it’s there for.
This therefore is there to refer back to all that Paul has described in the first eleven chapters of the book of Romans.
Then, Paul says “ . . . in view of the mercies of God.”
What Paul has described in Romans 1-11 is the wonderful, deep, rich, and amazing mercies of God.
God is full of mercy and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
So, since God is merciful and has shown His mercy to us, Paul urges us to do something. Paul says, “I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”
Because Jesus sacrificed on our behalves, we can be rescued from sin, we can be made new, we are adopted as children of God, we have homes prepared for us in heaven, and we have eternal paradise that awaits us.
So, since God has shown us mercy through the sacrifice of Jesus we are to live as living sacrifices.
We are to live our lives in such a way that our lives are holy and pleasing to God.
By the way, Paul is going to go into some specifics of what a life that is holy and pleasing to God looks like in just a moment.
Notice that Paul concludes verse 1 by pointing out that this act of living as a sacrifice is not an act of obligation.
What is it? What does your Bible say?
“This is your true worship.” When we live as sacrifices, we are worshiping the Lord.
We should desire to glorify and worship God as we live our lives in sacrifice to God.
Next, Paul speaks of the transformation part. He says in verse 2, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed.”
We are not to be like everyone else in this world and in this age. We are instead to be like Jesus and to be all who God created and called us to be.
God has a purpose for our lives and, in Jesus, we can recover and pursue that purpose.
Sin marred us, sin changed us, and sin distorted God’s image in us. However, in Jesus we are healed, in Jesus we have clarity, in Jesus we are transformed. So, let us continue to be transformed by the power of Jesus!
Paul tells us how we are to be transformed. You are, “ . . . transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Christianity is certainly an emotional relationship. I love Jesus. I’m filled with the joy of God. I feel blessed.
However, Christianity is also a mental relationship. We must not only feel, we must also know.
We must know that Jesus is King. We must know that we are dead to sin. We must know that we are alive in Jesus. We must know that nothing can separate us from God. We must know that we are sons and daughters of God.
We must not only know these truths but we must remember these truths and we do so by renewing our minds.
When the world seeks to deceive you, renew your mind. When you forget all that God has done for you in the Gospel, renew your mind. When sin seems more appealing to you than Jesus, renew your mind.
What happens when we renew our mind? I’m glad you asked!
When we renew our minds, then we “ . . . may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
I don’t know about you but I want to fulfill the will of God, which means that I need to know the will of God.
If we renew our minds, then we can know the will of God. What a miracle!
You might ask, “How can I renew my mind?” I’m glad that you asked. Here are four tips to renew your mind:
1. Read the Bible
Psalm 119:11 says, “I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.”
2. Pray
As Jesus taught us how to pray, He said in Luke 11:4 “ . . . And do not bring us into temptation.”
3. Focus on godly thoughts
Listen to what Paul says in Philippians 4:8 “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.”
4. Hang out with godly people
As Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.”
So, there are some ways that we can renew our mind, and when we do, then we will be able to, “ . . . discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
So, first, be transformed by being renewed.
Second, . . .
II. Be transformed by being loving.
For the next three points were going to journey through verses 9-21 and identify three key themes. The first being loving.
So, let’s look at verses 9-21:
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Remember, in verse 1, Paul urged us to live lives that are holy and pleasing to God. Now, Paul is giving us specifics on how to live holy and pleasing lives.
First, we are to be transformed into those who are holy and pleasing to God by being people of love.
Paul says in verse 9 to love without hypocrisy.
You may recall that being a hypocrite means to claim to be one thing but then act like another thing.
In other words, what Paul is telling us to do here is to really be people of love, not just claim to be people of love.
We should really love God, we should really love the church, we should really love others.
If you want more details about what it means to really love, check out 1 Corinthians 13.
In verse 10, Paul gives us a picture of what it looks like to love each other. He says to, “ . . . love one another deeply” and to love each other, “ . . . as brothers and sisters.”
Now, sometimes brothers and sisters don’t get along all the time but when they truly love each other deeply they reconcile, come together, and are made strong together in love.
Also, we are to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” We are to feel what our fellow believers feel because we love each other as family.
Next, we are to . . .
III. Be transformed by being humble.
Verse 16 makes this pretty clear, doesn’t it? It says, “Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble.”
Not only are we not to be proud, we shouldn’t even hang out with those who are proud. Rather, we should hang out (or associate) with the humble.
If you want to be more like Jesus, surround yourself with people who are more like Jesus.
When it comes to humility, Paul also says . . .
“Share with the saints in their needs . . .” (verse 13)
“ . . . pursue hospitality.” (verse 13)
“Do not be wise in your own estimation.” (verse 16)
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” (verse 17)
“Give careful thought to do what is honorable . . .” (verse 17)
Paul is very concerned with us understanding that the person who is transformed by Jesus is a person of humility.
Sinners are selfish, sinners seek to prove themselves right, sinners try to get their way, sinners are concerned primarily with themselves.
Not so with followers of Jesus . . . they are transformed! They are selfless, they are humble, they seek the good of others.
Church, be transformed by being humble.
Finally, . . .
IV. Be transformed by being peaceful.
The New Testament has a lot to say about followers of Jesus being people of peace. Indeed, Paul has a lot to say about it just in this passage.
Listen to what Paul says regarding us being transformed by being people of peace.
We are to, “ . . . be patient in affliction.” (verse 12)
We are to, “Bless those who persecute [us].” (verse 14)
We are to “ . . . bless and do not curse.” (verse 14)
We are to “Live in harmony with one another.” (verse 16)
Paul says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” (verse 17)
Paul says, “Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.” (verse 17)
Paul says very plainly in verse 18, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
In verse 19, he says, “ . . . do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath.”
I mean, could it be any plainer that Paul is calling us to be transformed by being people of peace?
Have you ever met someone who lives as if they are just looking for a fight?
Those are not people of peace and those are not people who are transformed by the power of Jesus.
Paul then includes verse 20, which is a bit odd to many of us. Look at verses 19 and 20:
“19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.”
So, what’s this going on about the coals on the head?
Well, some say that this means you will basically set your enemy’s head on fire. However, that doesn’t really seem to fit the context of being people of love, humility, and peace, does it?
Others point to an Egyptian practice where a person would show their repentance by carrying a pan of burning coals on their head. So, the idea here is that our enemies will be ashamed of how they treat us if we in turn treat them with respect and kindness.
Of course, that interpretation agrees with the words of Peter in 1 Peter 3:15-16, which says “15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.”
So, here’s what we can conclude:
We are to be people of peace.
We are to let God deal with those who do wrong.
We are to love our enemies so much that they are ashamed when they treat us poorly.
Of course, this type of behavior does not come naturally. This is how someone lives when they are transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are to be transformed by being peaceful.
We are transformed by being renewed, we are transformed by being loving, we are transformed by being humble, and we are transformed by being peaceful.
Here’s our bottom line:
Bottom Line: Live as a transformed person.
Don’t be like you once were, be transformed by the power of God, demonstrated by the work of Jesus and manifested through the blessings of God’s Holy Spirit.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge #1 – Pick one verse from Romans 12 to live out this week.
There’s a lot to choose from in this passage, some of which we didn’t even cover in totality.
Pick one godly transformative act, commit to do it this week, and then build upon it.
Have you been transformed by Jesus? If so, live a transformed life. If not, come be transformed today!
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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