April 22, 2007
Sun Oak Baptist Church

Introduction

        In Romans 12:1-2 the apostle Paul lays out 3 steps that are essential to knowing God’s will.

I. We must be living a committed and obedient Christian life. See 12:1

        A. “Beseech” here points us back to what Paul says in the previous         11 chapters. We’re a Christian now!

        B. The word “beseech” carries the idea of begging someone to do         something in a loud voice.

II. We must not be living a life that is conformed to the world system around us. See 12:2

        A. The true Christian life has nothing in common with the world: its         people, its value systems, its morality, its priorities, or anything else.         See James 1:29; 1st John 2:15-17; 1st Peter 2:9ff.

        B. Instead of being conformed to the world, the Christian’s goal is to         be conformed to the image of Christ. See Rom. 8:29.

III. We must be in the process of being transformed from the “old man” to a “new man.”

        A. The word “transformed” means to be changed and is a command.

        B. How are we transformed?

        C. Note the context. We can’t be transformed if we are living our old         life of sin. We can’t be transformed if we are being conformed to the         world rather than to the image of Christ. We can’t be transformed if         we are not in the ongoing process of renewing our minds.

        See Eph. 4:17ff (put off and put on); Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:5-11; etc.

Conclusion

        Notice how wonderful it is to know the will of God: it’s good, acceptable, and perfect!