Dedicated To God - Romans 12:1-2

Chapter 12 marks a transition from the doctrinal teaching that Paul has done for eleven chapters. Romans 12:1-2 sets the theme for all of 12 through 15:13 on how believers, who have been given sound doctrine, should take what they have learned and be dedicated to God and live out their lives in a Christ-like behavior towards others. Orthodoxy, correct doctrine, must coincide with orthopraxy correct conduct.

Romans 12:1–2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Paul has detailed all the mercies that God has given to us in the first eleven chapters and the basis of God’s mercies and saving grace towards sinners, he urges all believers to give their bodies to God as a living sacrifice. Paul uses the imagery of the OT animal sacrifices where the people would dedicate their livestock to God to be burned on the alter on the day of atonement once a year, but as Christian believers we are to bring our own living bodies, mind, body, and soul and dedicate, holy (hagios set apart dedicated to God) as a life long sacrifice, that is what pleases God. When you take into consideration all the mercies that God has afforded by His grace your dedication to Him is your reasonable (logikos: logical) service (latreia: worship). Your dedication to God shows a right attitude of gratitude for what God has done in your life.

Romans 6:11 “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:13 “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

To be dedicated to God means not to be conformed to this world

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Conformed: suschematizo /soos·khay·mat·id·zo, means to mold, to shape. You cannot allow your behavior to be shaped by this worlds system of beliefs, values, and cultural norms.

1 John 2:15–16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

As obedient believers we are commanded not conform ourselves to our former evil desires. 1 Peter 1:14 “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;”

So, instead allowing the world to mold your behavior, you must be transformed (metamorphoō English word metamorphosis, to change inwardly in fundamental character or condition). Your thinking is transformed as you behold the glory of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image “gradually” from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” This progressive sanctification by the Holy Spirit aids us to be transformed as we continue to be renewed by true knowledge of Christ who created us.

Ephesians 4:22–24 “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Colossians 3:9–10 “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,”

We must let the word of Christ dwell in us to be renewed in our minds.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

The end results Paul says is “that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” In other words when we have not been shaped by this evil world, but have been transformed, and by the word of the Lord and the Spirit, our minds have been renewed, we will show proof that we have discerned that God’s will is good, pleasing and perfect.

As one commentator said: “It is good because it brings about moral and spiritual growth. It is pleasing to God because it is an expression of his nature. It is perfect in that no one could possibly improve on what God desires to happen.”