The following message is by pastor John Piper.

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Well, last time we began to explain how verse 3 of Romans 12 opens and explains

verse 2 particularly opens and explains

particularly the new mind of verse two. Vers two says don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

And then, verse three begins to talk about the way the new mind works. What's new about the new mind?

And the very first thing Paul deals with in trying to get at,

the nature of the new mind is pride and the way the new mind understands itself in relation to God and people

and I don't think he does this first because the most important thing the new mind does is think

about itself but the most dangerous thing the new mind does is think about itself.

How you think about yourself cannot save you, but how you

think about yourself can destroy you. And therefore, verse 3 begins with a warning.

So let's go there.

Vers three.

For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you, that includes all of you who are listening now,

not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.

Now that's a warning.

Don't think highly of yourself. Now that is exactly the opposite approach to service

than is typical in America.

That's exactly the opposite attitude towards self-exaltation

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