“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

In the first session of New Attitude 2007, our older brother Josh introduces the theme of discernment, unpacking Romans 12:1-2.

Below are our completed notes, updated as the session progressed:

1.) Discernment requires resistance.

Don’t look to the world. Don’t think like the world. As Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed.” So one aspect of discernment is to understand our age and its values. Do you know how this world is trying to shape you? Not just, “It wants me to do bad things.” Have you ever taken steps beyond that, to think about and evaluate how the world is trying to influence and shape your thinking about the future, about marriage, about the local church, and all these areas? Have you ever truly taken the time to understand the values of this age?

Discernment dies when we allow our hearts and our minds to be shaped by our age in order to be accepted and approved by our age. Discernment requires resistance. And if you resist you’re going to lose the world’s approval. Are you willing to pay that cost? Pleasing God is choosing to displease the world.

2.) Discernment requires renewal.

We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This means constantly reclaiming of the truths of the Word of God. We don’t just hear it once and say, “Okay, I got that now.” We have to consciously choose to review and renew those truths in our hearts and minds. Truths like, “There is a God who exists and who rewards those who seek Him.” Truths like, “Jesus Christ died and rose again for my sins.”

We gather to sing God’s Word, to hear God’s Word preached, and the reason is because we want God’s Word renewed in our hearts. That’s why we go to church each week and why we read our Bible everyday, because we need that constant renewal of the truths of God’s Word.

3.) Discernment requires action.

The purpose of resisting and being renewed is so that “by testing you may discern what is the will of God.” That means action. Doing. It’s more than theology or doctrine. It’s application. You can’t fully understand how good and acceptable God’s will is until you apply it in your life, until you actually do it. If your theology doesn’t shape your life, you haven’t truly understood it.

When we fail to act on truth, discernment dies. You already know He has called you to honor your parents. You know He wants you to stop lying and to tell the truth. You know He doesn’t want you in that relationship with someone who is not a believer. You know He wants you to stop pursuing immorality. You know He wants you to be involved in a local church. You know He wants you to read and study His Word every day.

So the greatest step towards gaining discernment is not reading a new book or going to a new conference. The greatest step towards gaining discernment in your life is to obey God in the places where He has already made His will clear in His Word. When you refuse or you neglect to put into practice what God has already shown you in His Word, you are not only acting in disobedience you are stepping into spiritual blindness.

4.) Discernment requires the Gospel.

This is the most important point of the night. The work of Jesus Christ undergirds everything that we have discussed and everything we will discuss about discernment. We say this because it is absolutely true. We cannot rightly live the Christian life, we cannot be holy, we cannot love, and we cannot be discerning unless we understand the foundation of our faith is not what we have done or what we do, but what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Discernment must never be separated from the gospel. Discernment is only possible because of the gospel. We cannot fail to conform to the world apart from the mercies of God — apart from the finished perfect work of Christ. And when we practice discernment in light of the mercy of God, we will act in humility towards God and others.