Romans 12:1-2
I really thank God for His rich blessings in preparing for the upcoming conference. We have prayed for 250 registrations, but the number is already over 260. I can see the work of the Holy Spirit in many areas for the conference. I also thank God for the nearly completed room arrangements, which is my big task! I pray that God may give each of the messengers a gracious and powerful message so that the words of God may penetrate each attendee through the mighty work of the Holy Spirit. May they repent of their sins with crying and tearing hearts, return to You, and connect with You!
We have studied the book of Revelation so far. I know it is somewhat hard to understand and focus on the book of Revelation, so I decided to refresh our souls with today’s passage from Romans 12:1-2.
If you become a Christian, the Bible says, “You are a new creation; the old things have passed away, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This should be accompanied by new faith, belief, understanding, and value systems applied to your entire life because you are now governed by the Lordship of Christ Jesus instead of the power of sin, which is the power of darkness. Being a Christian means being newly recreated as a new self. It means the old self no longer rules over us with its logical sense because my old self was already crucified with Jesus on Golgotha. Romans 6:6 and 6:10-11 testify to this: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For the death He died, He died to sin once for all, but the life He lives, He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Being a Christian does not merely mean attending a place of worship on Sunday, going through a certain form of worship, and then returning to a worldly lifestyle. That is not what being a Christian means. Being a Christian means Christ is my Lord. Previously, I pleased myself when I didn’t know Christ, but now my goal is to please God. However, you know we often accustom ourselves to living in the old self and seeking our own glory rather than God’s glory. We fall into sins such as unbelief, negative thoughts, lust, pride, greed, and so on, which are my chronic issues. So, some may doubt the new creation. Apostle Paul, who experienced the same as we did, gives us clear direction after he wrote Romans 1-11, which describes our salvation systematically.
He starts with “Therefore” in today’s chapter. It means that it is impossible for anyone to live such a life without regeneration. Only Christians, who are newly born again by the blood of Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, are able to live a new life because the Holy Spirit dwells in each of them and guides them. Even though today’s passage consists of only two verses, it is tremendously important and gives us clear direction in our Christian conduct. I pray that God may open our spiritual eyes to be able to listen to today’s passage as the living word of God!
### Part One: Your True and Proper Worship
In our postmodern era, social trends, culture, and the environment rapidly change against godly life. It is really hard to live as a Christian. If we act and speak in a godly way, people look at us with weird eyes. In Apostle Paul’s time, the circumstances must have been even worse than now. He wrote this book to encourage us to live a godly life despite the challenges.
How can we do this? We should remember the astonishing grace of salvation. That is why Paul gives us direction after describing salvation and sanctification in chapters 1-11. Our salvation doesn't come from our emotional decisions or God's impulsive decisions; it came through God’s eternal plan and good purpose. Our salvation is the most astonishing grace and mighty work of God, even more than His creation work, as theologian Jonathan Edwards noted. It is the most precious miracle of God. “You were dead, but I gave you new life through my Son’s sacrificial death; therefore, you should live a new life.” You were hostile to God and subject to His wrath, but now you have peace with God and are the apple of His eye.
“You were separated from God, but now you are connected to Him.” “You were dead, but now you are alive in God.” “In the past, the Holy Spirit was apart from you, but now the Holy Spirit dwells in you and guides your life.” “You were an alien to God, but now you have become God’s own and His dear one.” “You belonged to the world, but now you have been delivered from it.”
Without God’s special intervention, no one can be a Christian. If you are a Christian, God’s special and astonishing love came to you. We received such great grace and mercy. This grace, mercy, and love is a free gift, but the price is priceless.
I remember my previous life before I knew Christ. I tried to change my life through the teachings of Buddhism, Confucianism, Yoga, and a moral lifestyle. However, nothing could save me from a frustrated and fearful life. I prayed to Buddha a lot, but it didn’t work for me. I suffered greatly due to my sins, negative thoughts, and lust. I even tried to commit suicide because of my hopelessness. I was like a sick and dying chick because of my sin. God intervened in my life with His one-sided love, delivered me from the power of sin through John 3:16, and gave me a new direction in life through Genesis 1:28. How could I forget His astonishing grace? How can I be silent as one who received such grace? My earnest desire is to share His grace and declare His glory. Think about the Creator of the universe caring for me, who is like dust compared to the creator of the universe, and sacrificing His one and only Son. Is there any greater or more shocking news? You also received this astonishing grace. That is why Apostle Paul urges us in verses 1 and 2:
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
As I mentioned, we are a new creation, so we can live a new life. However, it often seems not to work. Why? We need to understand this so we don't confuse our minds.
### Our Mortal Bodies and the Battle Against Sin
Firstly, we still have mortal bodies even though we were saved by His grace. The meaning of becoming Christ's is that God’s new life has just been planted in us. Even though our salvation is fully accomplished, our sanctification is ongoing. This means the desires of our mortal bodies, which contain our old selves, tenaciously want to control us as they previously did, even though we are saved. There is no good within our mortal bodies, as Apostle Paul teaches in Galatians 5:19-20:
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Romans 8:7-8 also tells us:
“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
The most cunning aspect is when our fleshly desires appear good and reasonable. Humanists claim we can live very good lives without God, even better than Christians. They seem to enjoy life without struggle. However, the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. I don’t know if you have experienced this, but our sinful nature is much stronger and more tenacious than our willingness to do right without God’s intervention. That is why King David, who had God’s heart, fell into adultery, lying, and murder. That is why many famous pastors fall into sin and become miserable. That is why Apostle Paul screamed while struggling to overcome the power of sin that dwelled inside him:
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24)
If we were able to do it ourselves, God would not have sent His one and only Son for us.
Secondly, whenever we live by faith, Satan and his followers zealously try to hinder us from living by faith and for God’s glory. Please remember, we still live in spiritual warfare. The reality is that the power of darkness is fervently working like a roaring lion. His cunning deception is so high-level, beyond our understanding. We cannot overcome his tactics and strategy by our own ability because he has seven heads and ten horns. We always become losers if we fight against the power of darkness with our own strength.
That is why Apostle Paul urges us in Romans 12:1:
“To offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”
What does “living sacrifice” mean? It means that we acknowledge we already had a funeral with Jesus’ crucifixion. Our baptism identifies the death of our old self. If you are a Christian, your baptism signifies the death of your old self and being raised with the risen Christ. From now on, your sin and old self no longer control you unless you let them. You were previously a slave to sin, but now you are free in Christ. You have the right to choose. However, if you choose a sinful life, if you choose to please your fleshly desires, you become a slave to sin.
To avoid being ruled by fleshly desires, you should offer your body to please God instead of pleasing people or yourself in your daily life. God never forcefully pushes you to follow Him but encourages you to choose His way. He honors your choice. But if you choose a sinful way, the Holy Spirit who lives within you mourns. If you continuously choose the way of fleshly desires, the Holy Spirit in you goes into hibernation. You feel spiritually dead at that time.
Living sacrifice means declaring your old self dead through Christ’s death because He already set you free from your old self on the cross. Otherwise, your old self tenaciously controls you. The best defense against Satan’s deception or against sin is to positively offer yourself as an instrument of God. Apostle Paul urges us to choose to please God rather than ourselves, worship Christ in our practical daily lives, and live for His glory. The best explanation of this is in Romans 6:11-14:
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
People live for money in times of materialism. Some seek fame as their life's purpose. We should seek success in our work, business, and studies. However, if these things become the priority, they control you and make you a slave, separating you from Christ. Integrity as a believer is critical, even though it is really hard to maintain daily. We were delivered from the world. Priority is important. Jesus promises us in Matthew 6:33:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
This doesn’t mean that God will do everything if we just seek His kingdom and righteousness without doing anything. If God reigns over us, if we seek His kingdom, He gives us sharp and clear minds, making our work and study more effective when we do our best.
### Part Two: Do Not Conform to the Pattern of This World
Romans 12:2 states: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Why does Apostle Paul urge us not to conform to the pattern of this world? What does it mean? Living in this world, it seems impossible to avoid conforming to its patterns. We may think, “That is impossible.” However, this does not mean you should ignore the world entirely. If we were to ignore it completely, we might have to isolate ourselves in a remote place.
Firstly, we must understand the pattern of this world. The characteristics of this world are secularism, humanism, relativism, and materialism. All common sense indicates a godless philosophy, which is very powerful. These philosophies proclaim, “Pleasure rules this world, men rule this world, and money rules this world.” All human beings are influenced by these powers. No one is free from them because, under Jesus’ permission, this world belongs to the power of darkness. If you conform to the pattern of this world, your spiritual life will become weak and eventually die. Your thinking will be dominated by these influences, and a godly life will appear foolish, leading you away from God.
Secondly, be transformed by the renewing of your mind!
How can we avoid conforming to the pattern of this world? Look at Romans 12:2b again: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Jesus intentionally transfigured before His top disciples on the mountain, revealing His divine nature. Our inner beings have already been transformed from slaves of sin into godly new creatures by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. This transformation reflects our regenerated new nature.
The world continuously views our lives through its own ungodly lens because we are different from the world. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” If we are not transformed by the renewing of our minds, we are easily stressed, pressured, or sometimes panicked. At such times, we should discard all negative thoughts and moods through God’s Word and prayer, viewing ourselves as new creations rather than focusing on specific problems. God’s Word and prayer greatly help transform our thinking, mind, and soul with God's perspective. Even though dark powers may seem invincible to our inner eyes, the light of Jesus is far more powerful. When the great light of Jesus shines within us, our inner mind is newly transformed. If we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit through His living words and prayer, we can find great hope in God in any situation.
I have experienced this many times. When I get up early in the morning, I often feel gloomy, hopeless, and full of negative thoughts and anxiety about various issues—whether concerning my children, church members, or the world. Even though I sometimes pray for several days, this feeling and mood can still grip me. But I know this is not God’s will. God's will is not to condemn us but to bless us, as Jeremiah 29:11 promises: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
When I repent of my sins and confess all my burdens before God, they become like pebbles. All dark and negative thoughts are transformed into thankful, hopeful, and joyful thoughts through God’s providence.
True and proper worship is not limited to our worship services on the Lord’s Day but extends to our daily lives. We can glorify God in our workplaces, study rooms, golf courses, and anywhere, at any time, when we actively seek to please and honor Him.
Part three-“The Will of God”
If you are Christian, you probably thought “the will of God.” at least more than one.
The term “the will of God” has at least two and possibly three biblical meanings. First, there is the sovereign will of God, that always comes to pass without fail. Second, there is the revealed will of God in the Bible — do not steal, do not lie, do not kill, do not covet — and this will of God often does not come to pass.
And third, God’s personal will, we look for and consciously apply the word of God. Nobody clearly knows it at that moment. After we look back of our life, we realize God’s guidance and will. If we are transformed by the renewal of our mind, this verse tells us that you may discern what is the will of God. To know His will, we should “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.”
Transformation is not switching from the to-do list of the flesh to the to-do list of the law. When Paul replaces the list the works of the law, He was still spiritual blind. when the Holy Spirit work upon him, he was transformed and renewed. It is the triumphant power and transformation of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ
2 Corinthians 3:6) tell us, “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”. Transformation is a profound, blood-bought, Spirit-made change from the inside out.
The Relationship Between Verses 1 and 2
“desires of deceit” (Ephesians 4:22). They are life-ruining, worship-destroying desires, and they get their life and their power from the deceit of our minds. There is a kind of knowledge of God — a renewal of mind — that transforms us because it liberates us from the deceit and the power of alien passions.
The other biblical diagnosis is in Ephesians 4:17–18, “You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” Paul tell us how we should live in.
But to enable us to do that, the Spirit must do a double work. He must work in two directions: from the outside in and from the inside out. He must work from the outside in by exposing the mind to Christ-exalting truth. That is, he must lead us to hear the gospel, to read the Bible, to study Christ-exalting writings of great, spiritual men, and to meditate on the perfections of Christ. This is exactly what our great enemy does not want us to do according to 2 Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” Because to see that for what it really is, Paul says, will renew the mind and transform the life and produce unending worship.
Holy Spirit must work from the inside out, breaking the hard heart that blinds and corrupts the mind. The Spirit must work from the outside in, through Christ-exalting truth, and from the inside out, through truth-embracing humility. If he only worked from the outside in, by presenting Christ-exalting truth to our minds but not breaking the hard heart and making it humble, then the truth would be despised and rejected. And if he only humbled the hard heart, but put no Christ-exalting truth before the mind, there would be no Christ to embrace and no worship would happen.
When we obey according to God’s direction, it happen in Romans 12:2, “Be transformed in the renewal of your mind”. We can join the work of the Holy Spirit in his precious and all-important work through our obedience.
Conclusion,
We learned we may positively offer our body toward God not to be reigned by the cunning our old self. The patten of the world is ungodly. If we follow it, you will become weak, weak and powerless. So do not conform this world. be transformed and renewal of our mind. We know it look impossible for us without help of the Holy Spirit. the Holy Spirit work through our prayer and word of living God and our obedience.
12 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.
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