Romans 12:1-2: Our Reasonable Service

Romans 12:1-2: Our Reasonable Service

This is an excerpt from my (unpublished) novel, "The Visionary." It is from a sermon preached by one of the main characters, an African American preacher named Jonah Alexander.  Here is the abridged version from Chapter 25:

Due to the tornado and Jubilee’s accident, the flyers for the church Rose and Rebecca made had been forgotten and were never distributed throughout the county. However, due to the newspaper article mentioning Jonah’s new church location, a crowd of more than two hundred people showed up at the Townsend’s farm that Sunday morning.

Gratefully, all the pews were in place and ready for the parishioners, but seating was tight and crowded. Children sat either on their parents' laps or on the floor. He anticipated having the hayloft transferred into a children’s church area within a month.

The piano was still in the basement, but Jonah played his guitar as Janessa led the group in worship.

After the songs were sung, Micah gave a brief welcome to their guests and invited them all to stay for the homemade desserts provided by Rose, Janessa, and Rebecca. He listed the church’s known prayer requests, including healing for Jubilee. He asked for any other petitions, and surprisingly, at least fifteen other people shouted out their needs. Micah wrote down all that was said, and brought each need before the Lord as he led the congregation in prayer time. When he was finished, Jonah took his place behind their father’s pulpit.

After greeting old and new members, Jonah began his sermon.

“Romans 12:1-2 says, ’I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’ Another word for reasonable is logical. It is logical that we work at presenting ourselves as holy to a holy God. It is logical that we do not conform to the ways of the world but live in a manner acceptable to God.” 

He paused and realized the majority of the congregation was already squirming uncomfortably in their seats. He smiled a compassionate smile as he silently reminded himself his goal was not to be popular, but to preach the Truth. “When I think of the words of the apostle Paul in Galatians 1, I feel as if they could easily be my own. In verses 6-10, he writes, ‘I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned… Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ,’” he looked up from his Bible and back at the congregation, “I too have felt astonished when those who have been shown the Truth of the Gospel turn away to a more secular message. To follow a pastor that tickles their ears and makes them feel good rather than feel convicted of their sins.” 

He saw a few of his old church members look down as if embarrassed. “My goal is not to insult any of the churches you may regularly attend or even to convince you to attend this church. But I am here to tell you that we must not conform to the worldly ways the other churches insist are perfectly acceptable because God offers grace. Yes, grace and salvation are beautiful free gifts, but we must not abuse those precious gifts. Romans 6:1-2 tells us we are not to 'continue in sin,' just so 'grace may abound.' We should be 'dead to sin,' and not 'live any longer therein.' We must live holy lives with which the Lord can be pleased. When we make mistakes, we don’t just brush it off with a shrug of our shoulders and say God understands because we’re only human. No! We’re to get down on our knees and repent and make up our minds that we will not continue in sin.”

Several “amens” were shouted.

“The lie that is trying to tell you that one prayer will guarantee you a ticket to heaven is indeed a perverted version of the True gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus’ own words in Matthew 16:27 tell us that ‘the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.’ How can it be more clear that our works are noticed and we will be judged by them? Jesus also reminds us in Matthew 5:16 to ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.’ Our works either glorify or dishonor our heavenly Father!”

More “amens” circled the group.

“Yes, God is a loving, gracious, and merciful God, but he is holy and cannot ignore our sin. We are not saved by works but through the blood of Jesus. However, we can lose the amazing gift of salvation if we willfully live in rebellion against the Bible. We must repent of our bad works and strive for good works. If you are a regular attendee of my congregation then you have often heard me quote my favorite verses from 1 Peter 1:15-17, ‘As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.’ Again, note that yes, we are being called to strive for holiness because we are indeed being judged according to our works.”

This time a few “Preach it, brother!” were thrown out from new and old members.

“Being a good person is not enough. Striving to walk down the straight and narrow path and giving your heart, mind, soul, and body to the Lord is what is required of us. Good works also include helping our fellow man. For we read in the book of James chapter 2, verses 14-17, ‘What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.’ Therefore, we must combine action with faith.”

As more affirmative remarks made their ways through the parishioners, Jonah said a silent prayer that all he was saying was making a difference.

“2 Corinthians 6:2 reminds us that ‘”In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ Did you catch that? Now is the day you must choose. Don’t wait! In the span of six days there was an earthquake and tsunami in Brazil. We even had our own bizarre tornado in Ellsbridge that caused a friend of mine to almost die in a freak car accident a few days ago. We never know when a disaster or tragedy will strike. Age, race, religion, wealth, none of it can protect you from meeting your Maker when He determines it is your appointed time to die. Are you ready to have your works judged today?” 

Jonah paused and took a deep breath. “Please come forward if you choose today to accept the wonderful gift of salvation and begin the most amazing journey of your life as you learn to walk with the blessed Savior. Yes, it requires spiritual discipline, but the love of Jesus will bring you immeasurable and unmatchable joy and peace in times of trouble that far outweigh any sacrifices you make for Him. My brother Micah, other members of our church, and I are here to pray with you. If you feel God tugging on your heart, don’t worry about what anyone else may think of you if you choose to come forward. Afterall, when you die, it won’t be your buddies judging you or rewarding you, it will be the Lord.” 

Jonah stepped from behind the pulpit, his tall frame making the wooden slat floor creak beneath his feet. “If you do not want to come now, please contact one of us after the service and we will be happy to…” his voice broke as Rebecca stood from the pew and began walking forward, “Uh, we will be happy to pray with you in private.”

Rebecca’s caramel-colored eyes were filled with tears as she made eye contact with Jonah, but she went to Rose’s outstretched arms. The older woman helped Rebecca ease to her knees as they began to pray.

Jonah silently prayed and thanked the Lord for the twenty-nine other people that approached the altar. Someone behind him had picked up Jonah’s guitar and was playing “The old Rugged Cross.” He briefly caught a glimpse of Sam with the guitar when a penitent voice drew his attention forward.

“Jonah, will you pray with Carla and me?” It was Simon, Jonah’s former church landlord.

Jonah was so overcome with emotion, he could scarcely eke out the words, “Of course, I would be honored.”