Romans 12
The vast majority of Romans focuses on salvation. The theme
of justification (how we come to be righteous in God’s judgment) dominates the
first eight chapters. The next three chapters (9-11) deal with the mystery of
Israel’s relationship with God and how the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) came to
be included among God’s chosen people. The last chapters are a third theme,
which is not unrelated to the other two, indeed without the first
three-quarters of the book it would be pointless to have these last chapters which
deal with how we live now that we are justified and included in God’s redeemed.
Paul writes, “I appeal to you therefore,
brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by
testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable
and perfect.” This passage sets the stage for the rest which is to follow.
“I appeal to you … by the mercies of God
….” – This is not merely a list of rules that are being forced upon us. It is
an appeal that is rooted in the fact that we have experienced God’s mercy. We
are forgiven people. Our relationship with God is restored!
“Present your bodies as a living
sacrifice … which is your spiritual worship.” – Worship is not merely the
Sunday morning gathering. It is not just singing songs and listening to a
sermon. It is definitely not doing our part or paying our dues. Worship is
described here as being a living sacrifice. We are not supposed to give God an
hour of our week. In God’s redemption we see that our entire lives belong to
Him! Every moment of every day we are called to die to self and live to Christ.
This is utterly impossible without the salvation we’ve been given, and even as
saved people we don’t do this perfectly, as though every choice we make will be
holy. We are, after all, sinner as well as saints. Yet we strive for this, and
we present ourselves before the Lord in repentance moment by moment relying on
the mercy that brought us to Him.
And in this life we do not conform to
the world but seek to know God’s will. And friends, God’s will always begins
with you and me being washed in Jesus blood, forgiven of our sins, and then
living in Him.
Lord, You have saved me. Help me live in
Christ’s salvation. Amen.
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