Romans 12:1-2
Romans 12:1-2
What does a life of worship really look like?
And I’d argue based on these first two verses in Romans 12 we desperately need two things to live a life of worship, you ready? 2 verses. 2 requirements. And they both start with an “R”. You're welcome. To live a life of worship we need:
A Reason (Namely: the mercies of God)
A Renewal (of our minds)
1 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. 2 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.
1 I appeal to you…
Paul has a serious, urgent, request for them (for us) to change our behavior.
Remember this is Ch.12. There were 11 other chapters right before this. And this verse here marks the big turning point in the book of Romans. Everything leading up to this section has been all about what Christ has done for us, everything after this section is about how we ought to live in response to what He’s done for us. And so here we are at Paul’s appeal.
Side note: Whenever we see a big imperative (or command) like this, we always want to pause and hold it in balance with the grace of the gospel to avoid getting legalistic. If you take the grace out of the Christian life all you’re left with is the Nike slogan “Just do it.”
But offering your body as a living sacrifice is not something you just mindlessly check off your "to do” list for the day. A life of worship is built on a reason. It has a foundation.
(John 4) Jesus said true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth. We’re not allowed to just remove the “truth” element and still call it true worship.
Like anything in life, a movement loses momentum without a cause. We must know the reason WHY we worship.
Look at how quickly Paul’s appeal here would break down if I removed his reason (which is the next 5 words) we’d be left with… “I appeal to you brothers, present your bodies as a living sacrifice.”
If that was all we had, my response would be WHY Paul? Why on earth would I want to become a sacrifice? That sounds terribly uncomfortable. Without a good reason I think I’ll opt out of the whole living sacrifice thing.
We need to have a reason, know the reason inside and out, and really love the reason in order to sustain a lifelong sacrifice.
So what’s our reason?
Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, (that’s our reason.)
I can logically, reasonably, choose to offer my body as a living sacrifice to God because… I was guilty, He forgave me. I was helpless, He rescued me.
Don’t rush past this. The gospel is not just an introduction, it’s everything to us.
So I’d like to actually go back and highlight God’s mercy just by reading some verses from the first 11 chapters for a minute.
Chapter 1 - 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes 18 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
Chapter 2 - 1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
Chapter 3 - 10 No one is righteous, no, not one 23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 and are JUSTIFIED by his grace as a GIFT through the REDEMPTION that is in Christ Jesus 25 whom God put forward as a PROPITIATION by his blood to be received by faith
Chapter 4 - 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Chapter 5 - 8 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Chapter 6 - 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Chapter 7 - 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Chapter 8 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Chapter 9 - 25 “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
Chapter 10 - 12b bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Chapter 11 - 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Therefore… by the mercies of God.
Attach that to every sacrificial, non-world conforming, decision that you make
Therefore, because of his mercy, I know longer…
(spend my money that way, dress that way, joke that way etc…)
When you knowingly make these sacrifices in response to his mercy, it is worship. But if you make those sacrifices merely for health purposes or success, or anything other than His glory, it misses the entire point.
15:8-9 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
If Jesus died so that we would glorify God for his mercy; then all our acts of worship must be to that end.
Otherwise it’s like Jesus said in Matt 15: If we honor him with our lips but our hearts are far from him, then it’s all in vain!
That’s what I mean when I say “a reason” is required to live a life of worship. Everything we do must be rooted in a deep gratitude for the mercies of God.
Point #2
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 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.
In other words: To become a “living sacrifice,” means all of my decisions should no longer be governed by the evil ways of the world, or my own selfish desires, but should be governed by the perfect will of God.
This is a battle.
What can we do about this double mindedness struggle? How can we discern our will from God’s will?
First, go to the word. Much of God's will is not a mystery at all. We just have to open the book and see if He likes it or not.
Secondly, we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to renew our minds.
Because there are plenty of other more nuanced situations that the bible won’t have answers for. The bible won’t specifically tell you who to marry, or what car to buy, or what type of milk to drink…
In these situations we need to rely on the Spirit's transformational work in our life.
And the reason I say it that way, that it’s the Spirit’s doing, is because of these passive verbs in the verse. Notice how it doesn’t say “transform yourself” Instead it says “be transformed.” There’s something external doing the transforming.
2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is the one actively transforming us into the image of Christ as we behold him. And our role in all this is to be actively asking for him to do so.
Luke 11:13 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
We all need the Holy Spirit every day. We need him for Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The fruit of the spirit is exactly what will help me to act in God’s will when in those “not mentioned in the bible,” unpredictable situations. For example:
If I’m praying for the Spirit to make me a man of peace, and then my car breaks down. I will spontaneously respond to that situation with peace.
If I’m praying that the Spirit would make me patient, and the traffic to Haleiwa is backed up past the church. I’ll spontaneously respond with patience.
If I’m praying for gentleness, and you say something that offends me, I’m not going to lose it on you.
And then in all these situations…
Because God has shown me mercy
And I’ve asked to renew my mind
And He’s transformed me by His Spirit
And I respond to things according to his will
And that brings him glory
And my whole life just became worship.
I pray that these simple thoughts about worship will become life changing daily habits for you.
Remembering the mercies of God
And praying for a renewed mind
He is our reason. He does the renewing. He gets all the glory.