THE K I N G ’S BUS I NES S Outline (1) Dedication of Life, vs. 1, 2. (2) Deportment of Believers, vs. 9-21. The twelfth chapter of Romans is the beginning I of the practical portion of the book, the ninth, tenth and eleventh chapters being parenthetical. The twelfth chapter really LESSON f o llo w s immediately EXPOSITION after the eighth ehap- T. C. Horton ter in which we have set forth the great purposes of God in the Mfe of the be liever. The “I beseech you, therefore” with which the twelfth chapter opens, cli maxes the marvellous revelation of God as manifested in the eighth chapter. (1) DEDICATION OF LIFE, vs. 1, 2. Notice,—F irst: Paul’s deep desire for the dedication of the lives o f be lievers in his appeal, “ I beseech you.” Second: the duty of dedication,—“your reasonable service.” Third: the dis cipline of dedication, “Be not conformed but transformed.” Fourth: the demand for dedication, “That ye may prove * * * the will of God.”. The power will be of God, and will prove the will of God. The basis of conduct is character. By “ character” we mean the life, and life depends upon a man’s belief. Doctrine, then, is the basis of real life. Great doctrines are essential to a great life. Rejection of God’s Word is the-root sin. (1 Sam. 15:23). 4 351 a strong, Christian character. Without this, it is useless to urge one to live a devoted life. Paul’s desire, therefore, by reason of these things is “I beseech you.” (Eph. 4:1; 1 Thess. 4:1.) Paul bases his plea for dedication on “the mercies of God.” What are these mercies? Read the eighth, chapter in which they are enumerated,—LChrist’s devotion to us; His sacrifice; His pur pose for us. Think of having to be seech men to be devoted to such a Christ! The word “present” is a temple word, —involving the idea of a sacrificial of fering. The word “body” means the whole man,—body, soul and spirit, the vehicle of impression. Our bodies have been redeemed. They are the seat of the old nature as well as of the new nature. Christian ity exalts the body as does no other system. What claim has the Lord upon our bodies? Read 1 Pet. 1:18, 19:. “F o rasm u ch a s y e know th a t ye w ere n o t redeem ed w ith co rru p tib le th in g s, a s silv e r an d gold» from y o u r v a in co n v ersa tio n received by tra d itio n from y our f a th e rs ; b u t w ith th e precious blood of C hrist, a s of a L am b w ith o u t blem ish and w ith o u t spot.” (Acts 20:28): “T ak e heed, th ere fo re, u n to y o urselves a n d to a ll th e flock, over w hich th e H oly G host h a th m ade you overseers, to feed th e c h u rch of God, w hich he h a th p u r chased w ith H is own blood.” The Old Testament offerings were slain,—-b u t the body is to be a living offering, a, whole offering and a holy offering. “Acceptable” to God because it has beep purchased with “ the pre cious blood of Christ.” He made the expiation for our sins. We dedicate our .bodies to His service, and the offering is a sweet-smelling savour (Eph. 5:2). This is a reasonable duty,—natural, logical. It is a service of life, or a life service. (Luke 1:74, 75). In such a life, He sees His treasure. The discipline of dedication consists in non-conformity to the world, or, rather, to the age in which we live. He
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