“WE BESEECH YOU BRETHREN”

Text: Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Introduction: The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues and proves doctrines which are practically applied, here urges important duties from gospel principles.

·        He entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand.

·        Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory.

·        The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness.

I.                     FOR THE LORD’S SAKE AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE SPIRIT (Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;)

A.     Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

B.     Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the 

      Spirit in the bond of peace.

II.                   BY THE NAME OF JESUS THAT YE ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING (I Cor. 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.) 

A.     Rom.16:17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

B.     II John 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this 

     doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him 

    God speed:

III.       BY THE LORD JESUS HOW YE OUGHT TO WALK TO 

            PLEASE GOD (I Thess. 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech          

           you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have 

          received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye

          would abound more and more.)

A.     II Cor. 5:7-(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

B.     Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please 

      him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and 

     that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

IV.                 BY THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

 II Thess. 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of  our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.