Transformation by Renewal

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Background: Romans follows the same pattern of other epistles written by Paul, beginning with a strong doctrinal statement (Romans 1-11) followed by exhortations of how we should “therefore” live as Christians. Doctrine and duty go together. This is the fourth “therefore” in Romans, and this one is of dedication pointing back to the case Paul presented in the first eleven chapters of God’s vast expanse of mercy to all.

Paul starts with “I beseech thee” reminding us that all have a free will to choose for ourselves how we will conform in this life. We have two options: conform to the world or conform to the Lord through transformation.

After we trust Christ as our Savior, we are a child of God. We belong to Him, and we should be fully dedicated to Him. Full Christian dedication involves three steps.

1. You give your body to God (v.1).

Our body is God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us (Romans 8:9). Jesus Christ took on a human body in order to accomplish God’s will on earth, and we must yield our bodies to Christ so He can continue that work.

We can do a whole lot of work for the Lord, and yet never give wholly of ourselves to Him. Being a living sacrifice means being fully surrendered to God which can be hard if we feel God is asking “too much” of us – giving up a “dream” career, going through a health crisis, losing someone very dear to our heart…add the thing that may have come to your mind as being too much to keep you faithfully serving our Savior.

The standards for holy sacrifices under the New Covenant are not any different from the Old Covenant. God wants us to be holy (pure in heart, free from sin) and acceptable (well pleasing). We become what we behold. What has your attention in the day-to-day? When our bodies are yielded to the Lord, every day and every moment can be a worship experience. This commitment is our “reasonable service” or “spiritual worship.”

2. You give your mind to God (v. 2a).

How does the world try to cause us to conform? Through the battlefield of our minds. Our weak areas are often the first areas where we start to feel the pull. We must think differently by transforming our minds through the help of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word.

The more we read His Word, meditate on, memorize, and make it a part of our daily lives, the more we will be spiritually minded (2 Corinthians 3:18). In other words, we will have a renewed mind. Instead of relying on our feelings, we must use God’s Word as the standard to measure what is true.

3. You give your will to God (v. 2b).

Warren Wiersbe said, “Your mind controls your body, and your will controls your mind.” It is all interrelated. Every decision and every detail of our lives should be completely given to the Lord. Spending time with the Him through a disciplined prayer life will help us surrender our wills. We pray about everything, and trust God to have His way in everything. “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Being in God’s will is not necessarily a place or a job, but a way of living a fully dedicated life. Obedience from the heart is more important to God than an act of service such as sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6). When we allow Him to transform us, we will know (“prove”) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God for our lives.

Merciful Father, I humbly offer myself to You as a living sacrifice. Help me to give my body, mind, and will wholly to You each day. Guard me from the influence of the world. Transform me from the inside out, renewing my mind according to Your truth. Empower me to live out Your will for my life so I can bring glory to Your precious name. Amen.

Cross references: Romans 6:13; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 2:5

beseech – to ask or pray with urgency; conformed – to reduce to a likeness or correspondence in manners, opinions, or moral qualities; prove – to establish as truth