Romans 12

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Verse 1 “therefore” is connecting the previous 11 chapters to what he is about to say.

Because you have been justified by Faith

Because you are right with God

Because you now have direct access to God without condemnation

Because you now you have the Holy Spirit

Because now you can reign in life by Christ Jesus

Because you have grace

VS 1 I urge you by the mercies of God

(Our Christianity is not based on pride in what we can do, but entirely on God’s mercy)

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Twelve

Thus, the exhortations are to be obeyed in view of the contents of and through the enablements which chapters 1–8 provide.

V1 To present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice.

Romans A Living Sacrifice to God / 12:1-8

The main problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar.

—Anonymous

Romans A Living Sacrifice to God / 12:1-8

The word offer has also been translated “give,” “yield,” or “present.” If our body is at God’s disposal, he will have our free time, our pleasures, and all our behavior

Maybe even our very life.

Some have went so far to physically offer their bodies into martyrdom:

St Agnatius of Antioch was one of the disciples of the original 12 namely Apostle John. Agnatius was the bishop over Antioch. His powerful Christian teachings and fearless evangelism encouraged the entire Christian population.

In 107 AD, Ignatius’ Christian influence became too much for the Roman elite in the city. He was arrested, brought before the governor, and ordered to renounce his faith.

Three times he was asked to deny Christ; three times he adamantly refused, so he was condemned as a “Christian agitator.”

Rather than executing Ignatius in Antioch where he was so well-loved, he was sentenced to be taken to Rome, first to appear before Emperor and then to die in the Colosseum, fed to the animals.

Before his death he wrote a letter stating:

For if you are silent concerning me, I shall become God’s; but if you show your love to my flesh [by rescuing me], I shall again have to run my race.

Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favor upon me than that I be sacrificed to God…that, being gathered together in love, you may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop, worthy to be sent…from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him.

All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die on behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. For what shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul? Him I seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose again for our sake.

Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God.

I am God’s wheat and shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ’s pur bread.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24 nasb)

Romans 12:3–21 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.