07 The Book of Romans-The Gospel Manifesto-Less of Me

The Gospel Manifesto in the Book of Romans

Pt. 7: More of Jesus

By Louie Marsh, 6-8-2025

 

Intro – 5 church sign pics – Holy Spirit entrance last one.

 

1) My response to the Gospel –MAKE a spiritual sacrifice.

 

¹  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 (ESV)

 

· Why should I do this?

 

Therefore – everything from this point forward in Romans is derived from what has come before.

 

Appeal = from (para) and (kaleo); to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation) :- beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), entreat, pray.

 Basically means you are aiming at both the heart and the will.

 

Mercies of God = our motivation.

 

· How do I do this?

 

Present = a technical term for offering a sacrifice, though not in the O.T. Used of…

 

· Presenting the child Jesus in the temple: “²²And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22, ESV)

 

· Of the Christian presenting himself: “¹³Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (Romans 6:13, ESV)

 

· Of God presenting the saved: “²⁷so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27, ESV)

 

· Of Paul presenting mature believers: “²⁸Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28, ESV)

 

Bodies – containers of our soul

 

Living Sacrifices - Not a propitiatory sacrifice, but one of praise.

 

Spiritual Worship = "Your rational (spiritual) service (worship).". Logikos is from logos, reason. The phrase means here "worship rendered by the reason (or soul)." Old word, in N.T. only here and…

 

“²Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—” (1 Peter 2:2, ESV)

 

 

to logikon gala (not logical milk, but the milk nourishing the soul

 

2) The result of my sacrifice – TRANSFORMATION.

 

²  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV)

 

Transformed – metamorphosis

 

¹⁸  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

 

Renewal – It means to make new.

 

Mind – not emotions

 

Test – test & approve,  Only the transformed can really know God’s will. It does not and cannot make sense to the world.

 

²²  And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 2 Corinthians 8:22 (ESV)

 

When I’m being transformed…

 

· I have a BIBLICAL & FACTUAL view of myself

 

³  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:3 (ESV)

 

· I WELCOME the differences in the Body of Christ.

 

⁴  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)

 

· I SERVE God with the gifts he’s given me.

 

⁶  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)

 

· I love HONESTLY & I HATE evil.

 

⁹  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰  Love one another with brotherly affection... Romans 12:9-10a (ESV)

 

· I serve the Lord with EVERYTHING I’ve got!

 

⁹  …Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹²  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.¹³  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 12:10b - 13 (ESV)