The Demands of Doctrine

The Demands of Doctrine

A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr.

TEXT: Romans 12:2

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

1. BESEECH

"parakaleo" [GREEK] — call near ("I beg of you")

2. THEREFORE

Reaches back into the previous chapters. In Chapters 1 through 8, CONDEMNATION – JUSTIFICATION – SANCTIFICATION – GLORIFICATION (the Believers's exalted position). In Chapters 12-16, Paul exhorts the Believer to a life conformed to the exalted position.

• Doctrine shows the exalted position.
• Exhortation urges to live in this exalted position.

Doctrine also informs of the resources of grace that enables the Believer to obey the exhortation.

3. BRETHREN

Believer.

4. MERCIES

"by the mercies of God" — by God's grace

5. PRESENT

"paristemi" [GREEK] — to place beside; like presenting the Levitical victim.

6. BODIES

7. LIVING

"zao" [GREEK] —life

8. SACRIFICE

Your eyes, your hands, your ears, your mind, etc.

9. HOLY

"hagios" [GREEK] — set apart for God

PURITY — freedom from sinful practices.

10. ACCEPTABLE

"euarestos" [GREEK] —well-pleasing

• approved
• passed the test

11. REASONABLE

rational; agreeable to reason

12. SERVICE

"latreia" [GREEK] — to worship; to serve

13. CONFORMED

"suschematizo" [GREEK] — to fashion or shape one thing like another; assuming an outward expression that does not come from within.

• Stop assuming an outward expression which is patterned after the world.
• Stop masquerading or acting like the world.
• Stop looking like the world.

14. TRANSFORMED

"metamorphoo" [GREEK] — to change into another form