this week in our study of the 12th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, we come to verse

the 11th verse in the 12th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, not slothful in business,

fervent in spirit, serving the law.

Now here, as most of you will recall, we are dealing with these particular

injunctions that the apostle gives to and addresses to these Roman Christians. This is the

last section of this most important chapter. The theme of the chapter you remember is the practical application

of the doctrine that the Apostle has already been laying down in the first 11 chapters. He starts

therefore by saying, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, which he's

been expanding to them, that you present your

bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,

be not conform to this world, but be ye transform by the renewing of your mind,

that he may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect

will of God.

Now, there, in two verses, you rarely have the whole, a summary of the whole of the remainder

of the teaching of this great epistle.

Doctrine is not something merely to be contemplated intellectually.

It is something to be applied,

something to be put into practice. And there is no point or purpose in our knowledge of doctrine unless it has led to a radical change in our lives and in our living. And there in two verses,

the apostle really gives us all the great motives

for Christian living. But he doesn't leave it at that. We have seen how after doing this,

he goes on to deal with the life of the Christian believer in the realm of the church. The Christian becomes a member of the

mystical body of Christ. And as such a person and in such a position, he is given a gift,

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