[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
Spiritual Worship and the Church (Romans 12:1-8)
2024. 12. 15. 주일예배 설교- 로마서 강해 27
본문: 로마서 12:1-8
제목: 영적 예배와 교회
설교자: 손진국 목사
Today, we move on to Romans chapter 12. Romans is a representative doctrinal epistle, systematically recording the gospel's core doctrine of justification by faith. However, not all of it is doctrinal. Starting with chapter 12 and continuing to the end of chapter 16, the latter portion addresses practical matters—particularly how to apply and implement God’s righteousness in daily life. The theme is community. From this perspective, I invite you to listen to the sermons on the latter portion of Romans that begin today.
Today’s passage, the opening of Romans 12, is one of the most frequently proclaimed scriptures in the book of Romans. It addresses the spiritual worship believers are to offer and their relationship to the spiritual community, the Church.
God speaks to the believers who have heard the gospel, believed, and received salvation:
1. Offer Spiritual Worship
In verse 1, we read: [Romans 12:1] 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.
The term “spiritual” in the original language is logikēn (λογικὴν), meaning logical, reasonable, proper, or fitting. Thus, there is a worship believers are rightly expected to offer. (In English: your true and proper worship).
What is this? There are two key words in verse 1—find them. Everything else is modifiers. “Offer your bodies.” What is offering your body called? Commitment. And what is this commitment? It is the worship proper for a believing Christian. Believers have a rightful, fitting worship to offer—that is, offering their bodies, or in other words, committing themselves to God.
However, commitment today often feels burdensome and is avoided. Why? I do not want to say it is the fault of the believers. Instead, I believe the greater responsibility lies with pastors like myself, who have not properly taught the meaning of commitment but instead demanded it unconditionally as a duty within the church.
The Apostle Paul speaks of commitment as the spiritual worship to be offered by the believers in the church at Rome. How does he do this? Looking again at verse 1: [Romans 12:1] Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy...
Paul does not command but urges the believers in Rome to commit. Why?
Commitment is not something to be enforced through fear, coercion, or obligation. It should not be seen as a demand that brings heavy burdens or something essential to avoid losing salvation, going to hell, or falling from being a child of God to becoming a child of the devil.
Has salvation been canceled for lack of commitment? Have believers become children of the devil? No. Not at all. Yet, we sometimes judge others—or even ourselves—this harshly. I confess this because I have been guilty of it myself.
Why, then, does Paul urge believers to commit? Why does he speak this way? Commitment, as the spiritual worship believers are to offer, pleases God. As written in verse 1: [Romans 12:1] ...holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
God accepts our spiritual worship—commitment—as holy and a living offering. This is an immense benefit to us.
Reflecting on this truth always moves me deeply. Imagine this: I make a commitment, and God finds joy in it. Recently, I secured a job with a bus company called Richies. I am currently training—having completed my driving instruction, I am now learning the bus routes.
This company did not gladly welcome my commitment. When I first applied, I was rejected. Later, when I had an interview, I was asked if I would clean buses instead of drive them. I declined because it involved shift work and working Sundays.
Eventually, I applied again for a position assisting with disabled transport, but I was again rejected. A month later, I was hired, but only for a casual position at a location far from home. If not for the recommendation of a pastor at the company, I would not have been hired at all.
Now think: if you or I declare our commitment to a prestigious figure, will they welcome it gladly? Imagine approaching Samsung’s chairman Lee Jae-yong, saying, “I have come from New Zealand to commit myself to serving you and Samsung.” Will he respond, “Really? That’s wonderful!” with gratitude? Would you even meet him? Most likely, security would send you away.
Even in our households, when we say, “I will play with my younger sibling,” we might hear, “Just focus on your responsibilities—don’t bother them.”
Yet, when I say to God, “I will commit myself,” who delights in this? The Creator of the universe, God Himself, receives my commitment with joy, declaring it holy and accepting it as a living offering. Isn’t that astounding?
Why, then, do we feel burdened by commitment and dislike it? Because we see it as an obligation. Say after me: “Commitment is not a duty—it is a privilege.” Not everyone’s commitment pleases God. Paul urges brothers and sisters—those who, through Jesus Christ, have become God’s children. When we commit, God receives it with joy, declaring it holy and accepting it as a living sacrifice.
Following Paul’s example, I urge myself and every member of our church to offer spiritual worship. “Commit yourself. God is pleased, and He accepts our commitment as holy and living worship.”
[Application] As a saved believer, am I offering to God the spiritual worship I am obliged to offer? Do I feel burdened or uncomfortable because I see commitment as a duty?
2. Discern God's Will
When we offer spiritual worship—commitment—we must first know what is written in verse 2: [Romans 12:2] 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.
Paul emphasizes that, instead of conforming to this world, we should discern God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.
What is the relationship between commitment and discerning God’s will? We find the answer in the subsequent verses: [Romans 12:3] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Paul tells each person that they have received a measure of faith and that they must discern wisely. Simply put, God has a distinct purpose for each person, and we must discern this purpose in order to commit accordingly.
Paul continues: [Romans 12:6-8] We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement…
God has given each person different gifts according to His will. These gifts should be used in spiritual worship—commitment and service.
The message becomes clear. Paul urges saved believers to commit, which God receives as holy and living worship. This involves discerning God’s will for each of us—enabled by the gifts God has granted according to His purpose.
Beloved members of the church, I encourage you to discern God’s specific will for you based on the gifts He has given you. This discernment will guide you in how to commit and offer spiritual worship. Next Sunday, we will discuss how to discern our gifts in greater detail.
[Application] Do you believe that God has a unique purpose for you? What do you think it is?
3. Form One Body
The Apostle Paul urges believers to commit themselves in spiritual worship, and the ultimate reason for this is found in verses 4-5: [Romans 12:4-5] For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
This passage refers to the body and its members. It teaches that the members come together to form one body. In other words, offering our bodies and committing ourselves according to the gifts we have received ultimately serves to build up the body of Christ, the Church.
The shape of our faith has changed significantly over time. Especially through COVID-19, our attitude toward worship has also shifted. One of the most noticeable changes is how people view the church. Many have become accustomed to worshiping alone online due to isolation, and as a result, there seems to be a greater reluctance to gather in person for worship and fellowship compared to before. Of course, I believe those of you here, worshiping together, are not among them.
However, even those who attend church may shy away from engaging in fellowship and ministry, avoiding conflict with others. Many members hesitate to connect with one another. What happens when this is the case? I would like to revisit a discussion we had in last week’s Believe & Grow Bible study.
Do you know this person? He is Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest physicists and astronomers of the 21st century—a scientist often compared to Einstein. Next to him is his book, A Brief History of Time. He presented numerous theories, ranging from black holes and the Big Bang to the origin of the universe and nuclear physics. However, his condition was remarkable—he developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, at the age of 21.
Though his mind was filled with profound knowledge about the universe, his body did not respond to his brain. When I see his image, I sometimes wonder: Could this be the state of today’s church?
The head of the church is Jesus Christ, and we are its members. Do you believe this?
[Colossians 1:18] And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Yet, what happens if the head wants to move in one direction, but the members, such as the feet and legs, do not follow? What if He wants to grasp something, but the hands do not move? Or He wants to speak, but the mouth does not open, and the lips do not move?
How frustrating must it be for Jesus if the church becomes like this? Therefore, we must discern God’s will for each of us and act according to it. When this happens, the church, as the body of Christ, will be built up.
I hope our Heavenly Hope Church becomes such a church. A church that Christ, the Head, looks to first when He wants to accomplish something. A church that He remembers immediately when there is a task to be done. I hope that our church will be one that the Lord can confidently entrust with His mission.
To achieve this, we must each discern the will of God for us and fulfill our roles—hands as hands, feet as feet, hearts as hearts, and stomachs as stomachs—dedicating ourselves according to the gifts given to us to offer spiritual worship. May we all become members who form the beautiful body that the Lord desires.
[Application] Am I currently building up the body of Christ as a member of the church? Is our church moving according to the Lord’s will?
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.