[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”“The Transformed Mind Thinks Gods Thoughts” Romans 12 :1-2 Sermon Notes 1-27-19″ _builder_version=”3.19.9″]
(1) Walk Thru The Word:
Romans 12: 1 (ESV) We Present Our Bodies As Living Sacrifices Spiritual Worship Is A Living Sacrifice
1I 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.
(2) Walk Thru The Word:
Romans 12: 2 (ESV) What Is Acceptable To God Is The Transformed Non-Conformed Mind
2Do 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.
(3) Message map — Rom. 12: 1 – 8
The Book of Romans: Session 18 ”The Renewed Mind Is Rightly Related To Body of Christ” Rom 12: 1 The Multiple Mercies of God Sets Us Apart For Spiritual Worship As Living Sacrifices
- Rom 12: 1 Spiritual Worship Is Presenting Our a) Souls, b) Bodies, and c) Minds, As A Living Sacrifice
- Rom 12: 2 The World Whips/Defeats Us By Making Mincemeat of Our Minds
- Set Our Minds On Things Above Col 3: 2-3 above = heavenly and earth pertains to where we currently live and operate in this space and time realm in which God uses to prepare us for eternity.
- Rom 12: 2 The Mercifully transformed Mind Thinks God’s Thoughts & Teams Together with God’s Will.
- Galatians 5: 22-24 Think God’s Thoughts, We Get God’s Feelings, which are Emotions consistent with the Fruit of Spirit) \
- 1 John 4:5 Our victorious faith (faithful thoughts) overcomes the world
(4) Rom 12: 1 By The Multiple Mercies of God Sets Us Apart For Spiritual Worship As Living Sacrifices (In Exodus 3:2 God was burning in the bush, and the bush was not consumed, just as God can be burning in us, and we not be consumed. We’ll be changed, but not destroyed.)
Rom 12: 11I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,(by the deep compassion God has for all of us, and powerfully shows and shares in those who follow Him). Romans chapters 1-16 explain these multiplied mercies include God graciously provides us the capacity …
- Rom 1:1 & 17 – to walk by faith to fulfill our callings
- Rom 2: 13-15 to have the law written on our hearts that have been circumcised by God to receive it.
- Rom 3: 21-26 Jew & Gentile are imputed Christ’s righteousness
- Rom 4: 1-25 God’s Promises are realized through faith.
- Rom 5: 1 We are justified by Faith = God treats us “Just-as-if-I-never sinned!”
- Rom 6:1-4 God baptized us into Christ’s death, burial & resurrection, Rom 6: 21-23 liberates us to sanctification & eternal life! (God does it – not man. No human ritual accomplishes what God does spiritually when we receive Christ. Yet we are encouraged by Scripture to be Baptized as a reflection of what God does spiritually upon our salvation.
(5) Rom 12: 1 The Multiple Mercies of God continued … God’s mercies include how He graciously provides us with the capacity …
Romans chapt’s 7-12 explain that these mercies include God graciously provides us the capacity
- Rom 7 1-25 to be released from the law of sin and death
- Rom 8: 1- to be released from condemnation as adopted heirs with Christ, who are more than conquerers.
- Rom 9: 1-33 The Gospel’s elected Hebrew root supports the elected gentile grafted in fruit!
- Rom 10: 9 to be whosoever’s who confess our belief and thus are saved. All will be saved, who do two things: 1) confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and 2) believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead!
- Rom 11: 29-33 The 33depth of the riches, wisdom and knowledge of God are manifested in how 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (without repentance).
- Rom 12: 3-8 God graciously renews and transforms us to use the gifts He gives us
(6) Rom 12: 1 The Multiple Mercies of God continued … God’s mercies include how He graciously provides us with the capacity …
Romans chapt’s 13-16 explain that these mercies include God graciously provides us the capacity
- Rom 13: 1-14 to have a crucified conscience (God-given capacity to know right from wrong because each is a free moral agent (cf. Jn 1:4,7,9 (with 4= The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.); Gen 1:26,27).) that is conformed to Christ, so we can prove/judge when government is doing good as defined by God. (Eph 5:11)
- Rom 14: 1-12 to be free from being bound by “opinions” (self-based and confused reinforcement of initial prejudice) over whether or not to be a vegetarian or to eat meat; what day to esteem and observe as a sabbath, etc…
- Rom 15: 1-5 to be strong to bear with the failings of the weak, and have the Holy Spirit’s endurance and encouragement to live in harmony together so with one voice we glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Rom 16: 1-27 to welcome each other in the Lord as fellow workers in Christ Jesus who cooperate with God to bring about the obedience of faith.
(7) Rom 12: 1 Presenting Our Bodies As Living Sacrifices
[bctt tweet=”If we think God’s thoughts we get feelings that are consistent with Gal. 5:22-24 the Fruit of The spirit, each of which is manifested through our emotions. ” username=”LibertyCF3″]
Is Spiritual Worship
Spiritual Worship Is Presenting Our Bodies As A Living Sacrifice
1I 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
- to present = offer; come up to and stand close beside God
- to offer your bodies = our personal physical body & our representation within the mystical Body of Christ (= the Church, the one people of God)
- 1 Cor 6:19 “… your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
- The ministry of Christ should be magnified in our bodies, just as Mary declared in Luke 1:46, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”
- In Romans 11:13 Paul magnifies his ministry. “… Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry.”
- 2 Cor. 4:10 “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
- The context of 2 Cor 4:10 is 2 Cor. 2-15 (Treasure in Jars of Clay)
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Our Living Sacrifice is in Jars of Clay!
- as a living = as one who is experiencing God’s gift of life.
- sacrifice, = offering official sacrifice prescribed by God; hence an offering the Lord accepts because it is offered on His terms.
- Not my-will for God, but my will is co-aligned with God’s Will
- We should not ask “What Would Jesus Do,” because out role is not to be so arrogant that we think we can even know what Christ would do from His omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent perspective in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God. Instead, we should ask, “What would Jesus have me do?”
- The first question, WWJD, is a boldly misdirected assumption that places us on par with Christ which is highly presumptuous on our part.
(8) Rom 12: 1 Presenting Our Bodies As Living Sacrifices
Is Spiritual Worship
Spiritual Worship Is Presenting Our Bodies As A Living Sacrifice
1I 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
- holy = set apart by (or for) God, and acceptable = well-pleasing & fully agreeable to God.
- which is your spiritual = divinely reasonable, (Well cover this in a bit more detail at the end of today’s message.
- WORSHIP — rational service = service rendered to God, perhaps simply (occurs five times in the NT: Jn 16:2; Ro 9:4, 12:1; Heb 9:1,6).
Holy, spiritual worship is accompanied by obedience explained in 1 Pet 1:22-23 22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
(9) Rom 12: 2 The World Whips/Defeats Us By Making Mincemeat of Our Minds
Rom 12: 2 2Do not be conformed to (follow the same pattern, model or mold, nor assume a similar outward form of mind and character that effects our outer expression to match that of) this world (the present age, and its way of operation – 1 John 2: 15-17)
The World = Kosmos, and what is cosmic is what is worldly, which is a system — “worldly affairs; the aggregate of things earthly; the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which, although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ”: Galatians 6:14; 1 John 2: 16;
1 John 2:15 – 17, says: “15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life (c=Or pride in possessions)—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
According to 1 John 2:15 – 17 the characteristics of the world are:
- Wesley says of vs. 15 If any man love the world – meaning Seeks happiness in visible things, he does not love God.
- “15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Wesley says of vs. 16 The desire of the flesh is “Of the pleasure of the outward senses, whether of the taste, smell, or touch. The desire of the eye – Of the pleasures of imagination, to which the eye chiefly is subservient; of that internal sense whereby we relish whatever is grand, new, or beautiful.
- The pride of life = All that pomp (vain and ostentatious display) in clothes, houses, furniture, equipage, manner of living, which generally procure honour from the bulk of mankind, and so gratify pride and vanity. It therefore directly includes the desire of praise, and, remotely, covetousness. All these desires are not from God, but from the prince of this world.
- Wesley says of 1 John 2:17 that “The world passeth away, and the desire thereof – That is, all that can gratify those desires passeth away with it. But he that doeth the will of God – That loves God, not the world. Abideth – In the enjoyment of what he loves, forever.”
- 17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
- Gal 6:14 14But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
- Eph 2: 1-3 says 1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of
Since we are born naturally in the world, we must be renewed by the Holy Spirit to break the carnal connection to it.
Col 3: 2-3 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. above = heavenly and earth pertains to where we currently live and operate in this space and time realm in which God uses to prepare us for eternity.
(10) Eph 2: 1-3 Walking In/After The Course/Pattern of this World, Places Us As Children of Wrath Who Are Dead In Trespasses & Sins,
Eph 2: 1-3 says 1And you were dead (3498 nekrós = spiritually necrotic; corpses lacking life”; dead; not able to respond to impulses, or perform Godly, Spiritual functions; “unable, ineffective, powerless,” and unresponsive to the life-giving influences & opportunities of God) in the trespasses (false steps, errors, “slip ups”; wrong doings that can be (relatively) unconscious, “non-deliberate.”) and sins (self-originated moral faults & failures) 2in which you once walked, following the course (path pattern) of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— (willful unbelief, obstinacy & refusal to be convinced by God’s voice; refusal to be persuaded in their heart concerning obeying His will (Word)) 3among whom we all once lived in the passions (strong urges, which can be positive or negative, depending on whether the desire is inspired by faith of God’s in birthed persuasion) of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
(11) (Yellow – NIN) The Word vs. The World — The Bible Says The World …
John 15:19 — does not love Christ’s disciples. “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
1 John. 4:5 — has an anti-Biblical viewpoint. “They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them”
1 John 2:15 — can’t be loved if God is loved. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
1 John 2:16 — provides motivations that are not from God. “For everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.”
John 17:14 — hates us. “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
John 3:10 — doesn’t recognize Christ. “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.”
James 4:4 — friendship with the world is enmity toward God. “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
(12) (Yellow – NIN) The Word vs. The World — The Bible Says The World …
John 3:17 — needs to be saved by Christ. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 16:33 — provides tribulation that Christ has overcome. ” I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 15:19 — is what Christ chose us out of. “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.”
Colossians 2:20-23 — consists of spiritual forces. “20If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22(referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
Galatians 4:3&9 — it’s operating principles are weak and worthless. “3… when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. 9But now that you …are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?”
Galatians 6:14 — has been crucified to us. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
(16) The Word vs. The World — The Bible Says The World …
Colossians 2:8 — seeks to take us captive. “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.”
1 Corinthians. 3:18-19 — “18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
Satan is driving his world’s system into The Satanic New World Order:
Daniel 7:23 — NWO will be masked in diversity that devours everything in its path. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Revelation 13:3 —And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
1 John 5:4 our faith is the victory that overcomes why world. “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
(14) Rom 12: 2 The Transformed Mind Proves, Tests & Discerns The Will of God
Rom 12: 2 2… but be transformed (the change of moral character that aligns us with the inner working and reality of the Holy Spirit) by the renewal (change of heart and life, for the better, achieved by God’s power) of your mind (the reasoning faculty, intellect),
Another way of thinking about this, is the Renewal process transforms our character by providing a mental change of heart by God’s power working in the faculty of our intellect and reasoning.)
Character Change means are values have changed. Values motivate and drive behavior.
The mind is part of the whole body that we dedicate to the Lord.
Transformation = 2 Corinthians 3:18 —. 18And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord (e), are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (f). For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
e 18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord = to reflect as a mirror
f 18 Greek from glory to glory
2 Cor 3:18 NLT = So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord–who is the Spirit–makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
2 Cor 3:18 BLB (Berean Literal Bible) =And we all having been unveiled in face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Cor 3:18 NAS = But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Cor 3:18 KJV But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
“with unveiled face” = 2 Corinthians 3:18, is also used allegorically. of a mind not blinded, but disposed to perceive the glorious majesty of Christ.
NW 1828 Study of The Mind:
MIND, noun [Latin reminiscor; Latin men’s; Gr. memory, mention, to remember, mind ardor of mind vehemence; anger. mind signifies properly intention, a reaching or inclining forward to an object, from the primary sense of extending, stretching or inclining, or advancing eagerly, pushing or setting forward, whence the Greek sense of the word, in analogy with the Teutonic mod, moed, muth, mind courage, spirit, mettle. So Latin animus, animosus.]
- Intention; purpose; design.
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination; how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind Proverbs 21:27.
- Inclination; will; desire; a sense much used, but expressing less than settled purpose; as in the common phrases, ‘I wish to know your mind; ‘ ‘let me know your mind; ‘ ‘he had a mind to go; ‘ ‘he has a partner to his mind ‘
- Opinion; as, to express one’s mind
- Memory; remembrance; as, to put one in mind; to call to mind; the fact is out of my mind; time out of mind from the operations of the intellect in man, this word came to signify.
- The intellectual or intelligent power in man; the understanding; the power that conceives, judges or reasons.
So we speak of a sound mind, a disordered mind, a weak mind, a strong mind with reference to the active powers of the understanding; and in a passive sense. When we speak of mental capacity, we mean the mind’s ability to comprehend a subject.
Proverbs 21:27 — The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
(15) Failure to acknowledge the God of the Bible is God & failure to worship Him leads to sin and frustration!
Sex, Drugs and R&R vs. Love, Peace and Joy
Pride, Power and Prosperity vs. Love, Peace and Joy
The more we give ourselves over to the SD&RR or PPP, the lower our capacity to be filled with God’s LPJ.
(16) Romans 12: 2 The Transformed Mind Tests For The Will of God
The purpose or outcome of a renewed mind is we develop the capacity for TESTING (prove, examine; distinguish by testing) and DISCERNING (examine, prove, scrutinize to see whether a thing be genuine or not; to approve) …what is the will (d) of God, (d = what is what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God
Meaning: God’s “preferred-will,” and “best-offer” to people, who either can accept or reject it.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
(17) The Transformed Mind operates in a holy, consecrated contrast to the world’s way of thinking
The Church operates in Contrast to the world; Not in conformity with the world.
Rom 10: 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” This verse indicates …
The world operates in contrast to God’s will for His disciples, who should not conform to the world in the name of relevance. (John 17:16). Christ positions His Church to be a contrast to the world.
The church is in (operating within the instrumentality of) the world (John 17:11).
The church is not of the world (meaning it does not operate out of the depths of the world’s sources of principles)
NW 1828 Dictionary defines reverence as
- “Fear mingled with respect and esteem; veneration.
- The fear acceptable to God, is a filial fear — the respect a child has for a parent.
- The fear of the Lord is an awe-filled reverence of the divine nature, proceeding from a just esteem of his perfections, which produces in us an inclination to His service and an unwillingness to offend him.
- To regard with reverence; to regard with fear mingled with respect and affection. We reverence superiors for their age, their authority and their virtues. We ought to reverence parents and upright judges and magistrates. We ought to reverence the Supreme Being, his word and his ordinances.
- An act of respect or obeisance; a bow or courtesy. 2 Samuel 9:6. KJV – Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
- Mt 21:37 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
The Church should operate in a “Relevant Reverence vs. seeking a “Relevance that Tolerates the world’s way of thinking, and compromises the telling of the Biblical Gospel.
So we should not conform to the world in the name of relevance.
We instead, should be focused on bringing people into a Reverent relationship with the God of The Bible.
Heb. 12:28 ESV – Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
That God expected the world to show reverential respect for His Son is demonstrated by how 3 Gospels record this story:
Mark 12:6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent …
… Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also
last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. …
//biblehub.com/mark/12-6.htm – 18k
Matthew 21:37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will …
… But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, they will reverence my son. … But
last of all he sent to them his son, saying, they will reverence my son. …
//biblehub.com/matthew/21-37.htm – 17k
Luke 20:13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? …
… I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. …
I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him. …
//biblehub.com/luke/20-13.htm – 18k
(John 17:16). Christ positions His Church to be a contrast to the world.
(18) Thinking God’s Thoughts = Emotional Responses Consistent with … Gal 5: 22-24 Walking in th Fruit of the Spirit
Walking in the Spirit means relating to our renewed minds and thinking God’s thoughts. If we think a thought, we get a feeling: Gal. 5:22-24 becomes
Galatians 5: 16-24
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
(19) Rom 12: 2 The Mercifully Transformed Mind Thinks God’s Thoughts & Teams Together with God’s Will.
Gal 5: 22-24 The fruit of the Spirit = the outgrowth of everything done in true partnership with Christ, who is the vine upon which each believer branch depends. (John 15 1-11).
- 2590 karpós – properly, fruit; (figuratively) everything done in true partnership with Christ, i.e. a believer (a branch) lives in union with Christ (the Vine). By definition, fruit (2590 /karpós) results from two life-streams – the Lord living His life through ours – to yield what is eternal
If we think a thought, we get a feeling:
If we think God’s thoughts we get feelings that are consistent with Gal. 5:22-24 the Fruit of The spirit, each of which is manifested through our emotions.
The benefits to overcoming the world include how in Galatians 5: 22-24 we are reciprocated, rewarded, requited, obtain in response to reading God’s word and thinking God’s thoughts, the emotional fruit of 22…the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5: 23 b says, “against such things there is no law” — meaning force or influence impelling action that emanates from the power of death, which is contrasted to the impulse that compels right action emanating from the Spirit, (Rom 8: 1- 7)
1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been BORN of God OVERCOMES the world. And this is the VICTORY that has overcome the world—our faith.
(20) Let’s Pray that God ReAwakens, ReInvigorates & ReEstablishes Us in Our Calls In Christ!
Let’s Pray: That God will make us willing transformists whose minds He can renew, so our lives conform to His Will!
(21) Communion Symbolises Committing To Christ
John 6: 53-59
- 53So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
- In John 6:55-56 Jesus says, “… 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true (True = factual, worthy of credit to provide essential spiritual sustenance, i.e. “EW= “soul food!”) 56Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides (continue to be present) in me, and I in him.
- Abiding = something has established itself permanently within my soul, and always exerts its power in me. Thus in John 15: 1-11 Jesus provides a discourse on “abiding in Him, because He is the vine and we are the branches.”
The CONTEXT of John 6: 53-59 is that in John 6: 1- 15 Jesus multiplied five barley loaves and two fish to famously feed 5,000 men (vss. 9-10). Notably, John 6: 4 says, “the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.” This episode culminates in John 6:15 with Jesus, “15Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”
When Jesus says in John 6: 53-55 eat my flesh and drink my blood, He obviously is not talking about people trying to gnaw on His body! He fed people real food, and admonished us to appropriate Him spiritually into our lives!
Thus in John 6: 22-59 Jesus confounds people by saying “I am the bread of life.” In John 6:58 Christ distinguishes what he means by contrasting it with physical bread 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread/manna the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
The context of John chapter 6, and the entire Bible is that Christ is not talking about literals chewing on His physical body. Thus, any so-called human ritual that insinuates it is creating that also is out of Scriptural context! 
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The word “eat” is “trogos,” appears to be a strengthened form of the base of the word for “trauma” and tribos through the idea of corrosion or wear; or perhaps rather of a base of trugon and trizo through the idea of a crunching sound; to gnaw or chew, i.e. (generally) to eat — eat.
The word for flesh here is “sarx,” [4561 /sárks (“flesh”) which generally, but is not always evil in Scripture.
- it is used positively in relation to sexual intercourse in marriage (Eph 5:31)
- it positively designates the sinless human body of Jesus (Jn 1:14; 1 Jn 4:2,3).
4561 (sarks) is generally negative, referring to making decisions (actions) according to self – i.e. done apart from faith (independent from God’s in working). Thus what is “of the flesh (carnal)” is by definition displeasing to the Lord – even things that seem “respectable!” In short, flesh generally relates to unaided human effort, i.e. decisions (actions) that originate from self or are empowered by self. This is carnal (“of the flesh”) and proceeds out of the untouched (unchanged) part of us – i.e. what is not transformed by God.
By appropriating Christ — as we symbolically do during what we call “The Lord’s Supper, we
commemorate how God’s and Christ’s Holy Spirit is within us, empowering our physical bodies to be living sacrifices, per Romans 12: 1-2, so Galatians 2:20 is a reality in our lives: 20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
This means Christ is in us to “flesh out” our Christianity in the physical here and now. We partake of the Lord’s Supper to symbolically substantiate the reality that it is necessary for The Holy Spirit to be synthesized into our corporal lives, so we live out our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through physical actions and works in (Gal 2:20).]
THE COMMUNION CONTROVERSY:
The bread and wine before us are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ.
There is not an insignificant amount of theological controversy over how substantially or symbolically the bread and wine are to be interpreted.
The Catholic tradition calls this portion of a worship service, “Holy Communion” or the Mass, which ritualizes the bread and wine, believing the substances or “the Eucharistic elements” actually are converted or “transubstantiated” into the actual body and blood of Christ through the consecration activity of an ordained priest or brother. Following this, it is said that what we have before us is only the “appearance” of bread and wine.
Bible reading people tend to say this violates Scripture, because it is re-crucifying Christ and insinuating that a human ritually can violate Romans 10:6-7, which says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” … (See below EW’s work from Rom 10: 6-7
Bible adhering Christians tend to call it “The Lord’s Supper”
Lutherans believe in consubstantiation, that the substance of the bread and wine coexists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. The challenge with this pseudo-Catholic view is that it also violates Romans 10: 6-7, by insinuating humans can by ritual move Christ into or alongside the elements.
or (chiefly in the Eastern Orthodox tradition) the Divine Liturgy. See also consubstantiation, transubstantiation.
John 6: 57-59
- 57As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
To Commemorate means to
- recall and show respect for what Christ did for us.
- It also means to celebrate His Sacrifice and Sending His Holy Spirit to live within us by doing what he said on the night He was betrayed.
- We commemorate not only what Christ means for us, but also what we mean to Him Who redeemed us for the purpose of how He is now a most essential part of who we are, and what we are becoming in Him!
1Cor. 11: 23- 26 records the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Let’s partake.
25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Let’s Drink.
BACKGROUND ON WHY WE CAN’T TRANSUBSTANTIATE:
No man, priest or otherwise is righteous enough to climb into heaven and bring Christ down into the Eucharistic elements of the mass/holy communion/Lord’s Supper. No human ritual/work can proclaim someone righteous enough to violate Romans 10: 6-7.
Romans 10:6 tells us that if we are living by trusting in the righteousness that is by faith, we are not to say ‘Who will ascend (I go up, mount, rise, spring up,) into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down – from His position as seated and raised with God in the Heavenliness )
into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down) from the position of His Heavenly seat, and put Him on par with others whom we think can do what only Christ did and be only where Christ is. (Eph 1:20, Eph 2:6 & Col 3:1)
Ephesians 1:20 [God exerted His mighty power] that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
This Righteousness =
- of which God is the source or author, and
- it is a practical divine righteousness that properly meets judicial approval.
- Practical means:
- concerned with the actual doing rather than with theory and ideas
- designed to succeed or be effective in real circumstances
- suitable for a particular purpose
- sensible and realistic in a situation or in response to a problem
So to paraphrase: “If we want to live practically within God’s judicial approval of righteousness, we have to rely upon His righteousness that comes by faith. AND … we cannot rely upon how much or how little we keep God’s law. Relying upon our own abilities is like thinking we can one of two things:
To “Ascend” is negative term for aggressive self-effort in opposition to God’s prescribed will. In Isaiah 14:13 Satan attempted to “ascend and exalt himself above God.
Satan said I will ascend….
In Isaiah 14:13 Satan attempted to “ascend and exalt himself above God.
In Isaiah 14:13 God says of Satan, “For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation.”
To believe we have the ability to ascend “brings down” and degrades Christ’s deity and His sacrificial work on the Cross, as the singular means by which we can be saved.
Ascending into Heaven
Romans 10:6
But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down) …
- Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down
Deuteronomy 30:12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” …
Amos 9:2 Though they dig down to the depths below, from there my …
… “Though they dig into Sheol, from there will My hand take them; And though they ascend to heaven, from there will I bring them down. …
Jeremiah 51:53… Even if Babylon should ascend to the heavens and … Even if Babylon climbs high into the sky and fortifies her elevated stronghold, I will send destroyers …
Isaiah 65:17 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind … things are not remembered, nor do they ascend on the …
The Heart = the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center — “desire-producer that makes us tick” (G. Archer), i.e. our “desire-decisions” that establish who we really are. [email-download-link namefield=”YES” id=”349″]
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