Romans 12:1,2

Text

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

507.

Beseech is a strong word. Would we be disobedient if we fail to obey what is taught in these verses?

508.

How have Chapter s one through eleven formed a background for the conclusion here stated?

509.

Upon the basis of God's mercies, not his condemnation, we are called upon to make a living sacrifice. Explain this.

510.

Our bodies are to be a living sacrifice. Explain in your own words how this relates to your body.

511.

If our bodies are not so presented to God, are they acceptable to him?

512.

It would help you in your understanding of the inspired text if you would read it from several translations. In doing this you would find a new meaning for the word spiritual in Romans 12:1 b. What is the meaning of the word?

513.

Is the fashion of the world always wrong? How can we tell just what is fashionable with the Lord and with the world?

514.

Isn-'t it wonderful to know we can be transformed? Not just changed or improved, but transformed!! Honestly now, do you believe this is possible? Transformed into what?

515.

The renewing of the mind: If we never had new minds to begin with, how could they be renewed? How often should this process be practiced? How often is it practiced with you?

516.

Here is experimental religion in its purest form. We can come to prove to ourselves, to others, and most of all to God that which is good, acceptable, and perfect in life. We are here saying that we believe the practice of God's will in our lives will produce the greatest amount of real happiness for man. Do you agree? Tell why.

PART THREE

The Practical, The Hortatory, and Conclusion. Romans 12:1, Romans 16:27

Our Duties to God and Man. Romans 12:1Romans 15:13

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 12:1-2

Paraphrase

Romans 12:1-2. Since the Jewish church, with its sacrifices, is removed, and the Christian church is erected in its place, I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present to him your bodies, wherein sin formerly ruled, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, by consecrating its members to his service, which is your reasonable worship.

Romans 12:2 And be not fashioned like to the men of this world, by adopting their corrupt principles, their carnal temper, their rotten speech, and their vicious practices, but be changed from what ye were, by having your understanding enlightened, that ye may approve what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God, which is made known in the gospel.

Summary

We are continually to present our bodies a living, holy sacrifice to God. This is made our reasonable service by all the facts and teachings in the foregoing part of this letter. Our minds are to be changed by being renewed. This change is necessary in order to understand God's will correctly.

1.

Full consecration to God. Romans 12:1-2

Comment

Whereas we cannot comprehend many aspects of the nature of God, there is one quality of God which we can understand, and which calls for a response on our part. We can understand the mercies of God. A review of the history of his dealings with both Jew and Gentile will show he hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. The goodness of God should indeed lead us to repentance, to a change of mind. We are not abused at all, but marvelously blessed. In the heart of Paul so strong was this concept of God's goodness that he used a very strong word in calling for our response to God's mercies. He said, I beseech you. It is as if he were saying, Come here apart with me, and let me impress upon you face to face the inescapable responsibility each of us have as Christians in response to mercies to us. In the Chapter s to follow, Paul is to call upon believers to do many things, both for God and man, but now there is but one injunction which was inclusive of all others: Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. When this is done, all other expressions of devotion and service will issue forth. Note, please, that the body does not present itself. We must offer it up to God. By God's grace and in response to his mercy, we do have control over this body of flesh; we can make it an offering to God, or Paul would never have called for it. Other Christians have done it; they are now doing it. Can we do less?

When we thus present our bodies to God, he will deem them holy and acceptable. Not that we by such a surrender become sinless or infallible, but he who looks on the heart so counts us holy and acceptable on the basis of his grace and our offering. Such action and devotion on our part is but the natural, sensible response of the heart and life to God. Anything short of this reflects upon our willingness to follow out the divine plan of God in dealing with man through Christ.
In verse two are the details of the living sacrifice. If our bodies are to be laid upon the altar of devotion to God, it will be because the volitional, responsible part of man has been renewed, not once but day by day, for that is how often this sacrifice is to be made. Perhaps a morning and an evening oblation would be in order. How shall we dress? How shall we talk? How shall we think? If we see and follow only those things and persons which are near, we shall be like them, corrupt, full of lust. But it is wondrously possible to set a new fashion by following Christ, who is the fashion designer of the Christian. To be in fashion with Christ calls for time, thought, energy on our part. All of this means we must set our minds on the things that are above, and not once, but continually, to have that divine power work in us both to will and to do his good pleasure. When our minds are renewed, so is our life. Our bodies then become instruments of righteousness.

312.

We can know one quality of God. What is it? How do we discover this quality?

313.

Why should the goodness of God lead us to repentance?

314.

Is it unreasonable to expect such a complete commitment of fallible man?

315.

When we fail to present our bodies to God we fail our own selves also. How is this true?

What are we trying to prove? Better yet, to whom are we trying to prove it? We are proving the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God, or that God's will is good, acceptable and perfect. When once we have made this surrender, we will know it ourselves. It will be good, acceptable and perfect to uslife indeed! It will likewise appear so to other Christians, some who need such demonstration. Above all, it will prove to Satan that God's way is the best way, good, well-pleasing, and perfect. We feel the emphasis is upon proving it to ourselves, but the other aspects of the thought are also true.