My friend Cheryl has chosen Romans 12:2 as her favorite verse. This is one of the most well-known and quoted verse in the book of Romans for good reason. Here are verses 1-2:   Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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Starting with Therefore, Paul is saying because of all I have said in the previous 11 Chapters this is how God's wants you to live. Paul has told us in Romans 1:16-17 of the power of the gospel leading to God's righteousness.  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” In Romans 3:22-23 that faith comes through Jesus and no one is righteous on their own "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." In Romans 5:1 Paul concludes that we are justified by faith. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," I particularly love Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." In Romans 7 we hear of Paul's own smuggles with his sin nature but he reaches another conclusion in Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, In Chapter 8 Paul tells us we are son's of the Father (14), coheirs with Christ (17), all things in our lives God can work for good (28), and nothing can separate us from the love of God (37-38). Paul tells us in Romans 10: 9-10 that confession of Jesus as Lord will bring about salvation. " If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Given all these facts about God and what He has done for us Paul reaches the conclusion stated in Romans 12:1. Think about God's mercy towards us and commit yourself to a life of loving Him sacrificially. It will be pleasing to God.

In verse 2, Paul goes on to tell us that we need to let God transform our body and minds so that we will not be led astray and seduced by the world's motives and standards. When your mind is renewed through faith in Jesus you will be able to discern what is worldly and stay away from it. You will be able to test things against His Word of truth, pray for discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit and call upon the name of Jesus for help. Then you will be able to walk with Jesus doing what is pleasing to God and aligned with His will. Faith in Jesus is the key to this transformation.

Thanks Cheryl for pointing me to this verse. I can see how you use this verse to give you strength to reject world culture and seek alignment with God's Word. Leaning on God's mercy, clinging to Jesus and using His Word to lead us in life will lead us to pleasing God.
Linda

October 5, 2022 following Alex Hardt’s sermon of October 2.
 
Pastor Alex spoke on a subject that is near and dear to my heart this last Sunday, God’s Word. He lead us to see that God’s Word is the greatest love story ever written as it speaks of God’s love for us and His immeasurable sacrifice of sending His one and only Son to die in our place to redeem us from sin.
My thoughts have drifted into Why did God provide us with His Word? There are a few reasons I came up with (I know there are more): guidance “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105, hope “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word”. Psalm 119:114,  joy “Your statutes are my heritage forever;  they are the joy of my heart.”  Psalm 119:111, peace “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165,  love “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:107 

• Without God’s Word, we would not be confronted with our sinful nature, Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. 
• Without God’s Word, we would not know of our need for a savior and the penalty of our sin and God’s offer of redemption, Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Without God’s Word, we would not know of God’s provision of a Savior in Jesus. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  
• Without God’s Word, we would not know the way to Jesus and faith in Him.  Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• Without God’s Word, we would not know how God wants us to act towards Him and how to treat others, Matthew 22:37-39   Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

This list could go on and on as to the many things we know because of His Word to us.  We know about God and His character, the future He has planned for us, our home in heaven, our empowerment through His Holy Spirit in our lives, the power of His Word plain and simple to transform us. 

I remember when one particular individual gave their ‘story’. They said that they came to faith
by reading the Word of God. I believe it was their encounter in the book of John that brought them to salvation. 

God’s Word has power as it is God’s Word written which we can liken to God’s spoken Word when He spoke the
world into existence by His Word. He has the power to create in us a new character in Him.

• Take care to love and revere God’s Word
• Read His Word
• Pray His Word to align your heart to His will
• Memorize and meditate upon His Word  

So that you will be complete and equipped for every good work!
Linda

SERMON LINK
Why? God... | Can I Trust the Bible?
Click Here to View the Sermon
Sermon series, "Can I Trust the Bible." Today Alex Hardt teaches from 2 Timothy 3:15-17

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