MONDAY September 28, 2020
Living Sacrifices
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God…
Romans 12:1
In Romans, 9-11, Paul taught about Israel’s past, present and future. In Romans 8, Paul dealt with the nature of sin, and with not being condemned. Paul knew it was needful for believers to be free from condemnation before he taught Romans12. So long as a believer lived in obedience to God’s Word, they were secure in Jesus Christ.
Now, as we approach the conclusion of the book, Paul, in Romans 12 turned his attention to practical Christian living. Paul gave a great deal of exhortations to believers as they needed to learn about right relationships, and right living. He concluded that a Christian’s life must be based on doctrines that needed to be discussed, and practiced.
For a Christian, doctrine and duty always belong together––hand in hand. They are not separated one from another. What a Christian believes helps them to determine how to behave biblically, according to the Word of God. It is not enough for us just to understand Paul’s doctrinal explanations, but we must translate them into our learning and living. In our daily lives, we must show how we love and obey our Lord Jesus Christ.
A person may share their faith with others that they have become a Christian, but if all people see is their inconstancies and compromises, then it will confuse them. They do not see evidence of a Christian living according to their faith-––according to the Word of God. I believe some people who profess Christianity, do not really have a personal relationship with Christ. They need to take an examination of their lives in the light of the Scriptures––fully and completely.
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified.
~2 Corinthians 13:5~
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