Romans 12 — Be Not Conformed to This World: But Be Ye Transformed By the Renewing of Your Mind
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. Be not conformed to this world. We have many members in one body. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In honour preferring one another. Be not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. Bless them which persecute you. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
“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.”
— Romans 12:1-2
- v.1-2 Living sacrifice; renewed mind
- v.3-8 Many members, many gifts
- v.9-21 The marks of Christian love
Conformed... transformed. The two opposing forces on a Christian life. The world's mold or the Spirit's shaping.
Renewing of your mind. The instrument of transformation is the mind, and the renewing happens by truth. A new way of thinking produces a new way of living.
Two simple acts of Christian sympathy. The believer enters the emotional life of the brother — both joys and griefs.
A test of friendship. Many can mourn with the mourning; fewer can rejoice without envy when others rise. Both required.
The chapter's closing strategy. Evil is not defeated by retaliation; it is defeated by good. The Christian wins by absorbing the blow and returning kindness.
A counterintuitive militancy. The disciple does not lose by refusing to retaliate. The verse claims the offensive is in good, not in evil.
Verses 1-2 hand you the agenda of Christian living. Daily — present yourself; do not be conformed; be transformed by mind-renewal. The three motions cover everything else in the chapter. Make the verse your morning prayer for a week and watch what changes.
Romans 12 turns the soaring doctrine of chapters 1-11 into ground-level Christian living. The mercies of God in Christ are the reason for the therefore. Every command in the chapter — sacrifice, transformation, gifts, love — flows from what Christ has done. The chapter is what gospel life looks like.
By the mercies of God. The motive is everything received in chapters 1-11. The chapter's ethics flow from the chapter's theology.
Living sacrifice. The Old Testament sacrifice died; the Christian sacrifice lives. The body — the whole self — is the offering.