In Romans 12:1–2, Paul wrote to the brethren in Rome, who he described as ones with faith spoken of worldwide. He knew the environment that the Christians faced in Rome since most Romans were pagans. If you think about the world we live in now, isn’t it similar to ancient Rome? Think about the state of the church in this world. You cannot tell the difference between the church and the world.
Paul started this letter “beseeching” the saints, meaning he addressed, spoke to, instructed, and urged them to heed his words. He wanted to let the Christians in Rome know that what he would tell them was vital to their faith and needed immediate attention. This letter was meant to correct the actions and character of the brethren.
Paul urges us to pay attention and be vigilant so that we, too, do not fall into the enemy’s trap. Many saints in the body of Christ are churching without change. What do I mean by churching? We are used to the systematic function of the church; we come to church on Sunday, praise and worship, and once we leave the church doors, we leave the Holy Spirit right here until the next time. Many love the idea of the creator but refuse to serve the creator because they are consumed by everything else around them. They know God but choose to glorify him not because of their vain thoughts. It is vain sacrifice and worship without a change of the heart, mind, spirit, and soul. Many saints and churches have lost sight of Christ and have shifted their focus on things of this world, for popularity, compromise, and even politics in the body of Christ and government.
Paul instructed them and us that we must be aware of what is happening in the body of Christ. We have to recognize what is going on in the body of Christ and not be ignored, even if it is us. We should realize what is going on! God is separating the wheat from the tear. There needs to be more accountability and less façade amongst us as believers. When will we stop playing church, pretending, and ultimately submit ourselves to Christ wholly? Paul is encouraging Christians to live a countercultural life.
We have to realize that we are still here by God’s mercy and grace. Therefore, Paul urged the saints in Rome and us today that we have the opportunity to choose the creator over our self-will, desires, and the flesh.
Paul urges us as believers to present our bodies as living sacrifices and not to conform to the patterns of this world, emphasizing the need for transformation through the renewal of the mind.
By the Mercy of God
Do you know the mercies of God?
God’s mercy is rooted in his love for us and the promises he made to our forefathers. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul tells us to use the Children of Israel as an example, as we know that God gave them so much mercy, more that what they deserved.
1 Corinthians 10:1–12: “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them, God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example…”
We read the same words, listen to the same songs, and hear the same preaching Sunday after Sunday, but can we say that God is pleased with our lifestyles? Are we including Him in everyday decisions and even our homes? What does our lifestyle show once we leave these four walls?
Ephesians 2:4–5: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
Titus 3:5: “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
Deuteronomy 4:31: “For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.”
Psalm 145:9: “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”
Do you understand the magnitude of God’s mercy?
His mercy runs deep that he willingly sent his only begotten son into this world to redeem us. No one else could have done it.
The very thing man could not do, Jesus did. He did the impossible. Therefore, we have to offer ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is our reasonable service.
Present Yourself As A Living Sacrifices, Holy, Acceptable unto God, which is Our Reasonable Service
Believers are encouraged to offer themselves wholly—body and spirit—as acts of worship. This aligns with Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, compelling us to respond kindly. In our world of temporary commitments, we can suggest that fully dedicating ourselves to God allows Him to work profoundly in and through us.
Hebrews 10: 1-20 tells us no law, sheep, lamb, goat, or bull could have taken away our sins, but his one offering was perfect.
Hebrews 10:1–20: “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer be conscious of sins? But in these sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year. For the blood of bulls and goats can’t take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), the…”
Knowing this, we all should be convinced that our only response should be like Isaiah, “Here am I, Lord, send me.”
John 3:6: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Once we are truly dead to sin, we can walk according to the spirit, live a holy life, and offer to God authentic worship. To be holy means to be consecrated, rare, and set apart. We do not walk according to the flesh but by the spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:1, “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Leviticus 20:26: “You shall be holy to me, for I, the Lord, am holy and have separated you from the peoples, so you should be mine.”
Romans 6:22: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”
Can we genuinely offer ourselves as living sacrifices today, and will it be holy and acceptable? Can we say that we are different from the world, not placing our confidence in our spiritual state and falling into disobedience and sin? The sacrificial system in the Old Testament was not ejected, but if it was presented with the wrong heart or attitude, it was worthless. The sacrifice of self-will and importance is the sacrifice that God desires. But we have to be different, willing to die to our flesh. Jesus tells us that those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.
Prevent Conformity to the World- Pursue Mind Renewal
What does conform mean in this verse?
Conform means to comply, conform one’s self (i.e., one’s mind and character) to another’s pattern (fashion one’s self according to)- to adapt to an environment.
When I was in the military, I had to conform to the culture of the military.
When we start a new job, we must adapt to their customs, regulations, etc.
Well, here Paul is telling us to do the complete opposite.
Do not adapt to this world. The word of God tells us:
John 15:19: “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
It is crucial to avoid conforming to worldly patterns. By standing apart, believers reflect the transformative power of Christ. In a world that often pulls away from God, resisting Conformity protects our spiritual integrity and capacity to serve Him wholeheartedly.
1 John 2:15–17: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
The world is full of vanity and emptiness, without purpose, insensitive to God, and without fear of consequences. This is when God turns you over to your reprobate mind and will.
Ephesians 4:17–23: “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,”
We must abstain from everything that goes against God’s word and do this with renewed minds. Let us be like David in Psalm 51, who confessed his transgressions to God and asked God to cleanse and renew his mind.
Psalm 51:7–12: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
The renewal of the mind is the source of transformation.
Immersion in God’s Word and prayer strengthens our spiritual life.
Psalm 1:2–3: “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
As Jesus renewed the covenant, we must continuously renew our minds and align ourselves with God’s will, guiding us through life’s complexities.
What is God’s will?
Jesus tells us in John 6:40, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
With a renewed mind, we think about things that are pure, true, and of good report.
Philippians 4:6–8: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Application: These verses are small, complex, and practical for walking this narrow road of salvation. God’s word teaches Christians to be living sacrifices through Christ Jesus, actively reject worldly influences, and embrace God’s transformational work in our lives, which can help us navigate personal struggles, moral dilemmas, and societal pressures.
True worship is characterized by a radical dedication to God that is evident daily. We are challenged, as believers, to live out our faith actively and to seek God’s will through spiritual renewal to the church of change and truth.
Christ is the ultimate example of this transformation. Through His sacrifice, we are empowered to be transformed, illustrating how His life and purpose influence our identity and calling as believers.
Big Idea: To be a church of change, we must present ourselves wholly to God, allowing Him to transform our hearts and minds, shaping us into His image.
