Christian doctrines are never an end in
themselves; they should lead believers toward an expected end. Embracing sound
doctrines and right beliefs should result in sound practice and right behavior.
Romans chapters 12 verse 1 to 15 verse 13 constitute Paul’s call to sound,
practical services and right behavior.
In Romans 1-11, Paul dealt with issues of sin,
salvation, sanctification and the Sovereignty of God. Having explained those
key issues, he now turned to discuss the issue of the service believers must
render to God, in response to His grace. Believers’ service to God will help
them develop right behavior and conduct. In short, Paul here is dealing with
what transformed living is all about.
Christian life functions effectually in two plains –
the vertical and then, the horizontal. First of all, it has to do with one’s
relationship with God, and then one’s relationship with men. The vertical
relationship will always determine the effectiveness of the horizontal
relationship. In this chapter, Paul indicates the importance of a believer’s
relationship with God first, and how it should affect the way he relates with
others.
In verse 1, Paul began by calling believers into a
vital relationship with God. Appealing to their gratitude, he pleaded with them
to dedicate their bodies and minds to God. His call was for believers to offer their
bodies in the light of the mercies of God, in consecration to Him. In earlier
chapters he had shown how much mercies God had showered upon us sinners, to
make us into saints. Hence in the light of God’s magnanimous mercies, the only
right response to Him is to offer our lives as a living sacrifice.
Unlike the Old Testament’s sacrifice, where only
the carcass of a dead animal would be left on the altar after a sacrifice, he
was asking believers to give themselves to God as a sacrifice with a
difference. It must be a living sacrifice, in contrast to the “dead” sacrifice
of the Old Testament. In the light of God’s mercies, the only appropriate
response to Him is to offer a life in active service to the work of His
Kingdom. This, Paul maintained, is the only rational and logical thing to do.
And it constitutes our reasonable act of worship to God.
Not only should believers give their lives in
active service, they must also allow their minds to be renewed. No longer
should we believers allow the world’s value system to dominate our minds. We should,
instead, allow God’s new value system to reprogram the old system that was
adopted from our un-regenerated lives. Paul used the word transform to describe
the process of change. To be precise the word is metamorphosis. It is like a
caterpillar being transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Transformation for
believers can only happen as our minds are being renewed. When that takes place
we will be able to attest to the good, acceptable and perfect will of God for
our lives. And the way to achieve that is to be actively engaged in the study, meditation
and application of the Word of God. So we must give our bodies as a living
sacrifice to serve God’s purpose. And as we constantly tear down the old value
system in our life and set our minds to discover the truths in His word, and then
apply them, we will be changed from one degree of glory to another, till we are
more and more like Christ.
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