A life Transformed

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

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

2 Box Illustration… See how renewing the mind replaces worldly thinking with godly thinking. Transformation happens when we swap out lies for truth.

Introduction: "In Christ, I am no longer conformed—I am completely transformed."

Have you ever looked at something that’s been completely transformed—like a house renovation, a classic car restored, or even someone’s fitness journey—and thought, “Wow… that doesn’t even look the same”?

That’s the kind of transformation God desires in us—not just a surface change, but a total makeover from the inside out.

In Romans 12:1–2, Paul shifts from deep theology to real-life application. After explaining what God has done for us, he now tells us how we should respond. And it all starts with one key word: transformation. Not behavior modification. Not religious performance. But a surrendered, Spirit-led, mind-renewing transformation.

J.B. Phillips has an outstanding and memorable translation of Romans 12:1-2:

With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the Plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Today, we’re going to look at what it means to live A Life Transformed—a life shaped by mercy, surrendered in worship, renewed in thinking, and aligned with God’s perfect will...

1. The Mercy That Inspires

The motivation behind transformation is not guilt or pressure—it's grace... Paul is talking about the mercy of God as spelled out in the eleven preceding chapters—God’s mercy to the terribly fallen human race through the provision of his Son.

A. Remember God’s Rescue - (Vs. 1a)

“When he uses this pattern Paul is saying that the Christian life is dependent on the great Christian doctrines.” (Morris)

By the mercies of God reminds us that we do this because of the mercy shown to us by God (described well in Romans 1-11), and that we are only able to offer ourselves to God as He works His mercy in us. God commanded us to do this, and He makes it possible for us to do it.

i. “Whereas the heathen are prone to sacrifice in order to obtain mercy, biblical faith teaches that the divine mercy provides the basis of sacrifice as the fitting response.” (Harrison)

ii. Think of all the mercies of God Paul has explained to us thus far:

Justification from the guilt and penalty of sin.

Adoption in Jesus and identification with Christ.

Placed under grace, not law.

Giving the Holy Spirit to live within.

Promise of help in all affliction.

Assurance of a standing in God’s election.

Confidence of coming glory.

Confidence of no separation from the love of God.

Confidence in God’s continued faithfulness.

God's mercy, displayed in the first 11 chapters of Romans, becomes the foundation for our response.

Ephesians 2:4–5 KJV 1900

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Transformation starts when we truly remember what we've received.

Imagine for a moment if you were pardoned from a death sentence—how would you live differently afterward?

B. Respond in Reverence

Hebrews 12:28 KJV 1900

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

“Mercy is not something God has, it's who He is.” – Paul David Tripp

Ex. The times he has been merciful…

2. The Mandate to Surrender (v.1b)

Not a partial offering, but a total surrender.

A. Present your whole person

This is not a dead sacrifice, but a daily, living one...

In light of all this mercy — past, present, and future — Paul begs us to present your bodies a living sacrifice. “We must believe that these Divine mercies have persuasive powers over our wills.” (Newell)

Present your bodies: Connected with the idea of a living sacrifice, this calls to mind priestly service. Spiritually speaking, our bodies are brought to God’s altar.

It is best to see the body here as a reference to our entire being. Whatever we say about our spirit, soul, flesh, and mind, we know that they each live in our bodies. When we give the body to God, the soul and spirit go with it. Present your bodies means that God wants you, not just your work. You may do all kinds of work for God, but never give Him your self.

Romans 6:13 KJV 1900

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

ii. The previous appeal to the will (I beseech you) means that the will is to be the master over the body. The thinking of our age says that our body must tell the will what to do; but the Bible says that our will must bring the body as a living sacrifice to God. The body is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. Keeping it at God’s altar as a living sacrifice keeps the body where it should be.

B. Pursue True Worship

“Worship is not part of your life—it is your life.” – A.W. Tozer

An ancient Greek never thought of presenting his body to God. They thought the body was so unspiritual that God didn’t care about it. Paul shows here that God is concerned about our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:20 reminds us that God bought our bodies with a price.

1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV 1900

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Our bodies (our actions, habits, choices) become the platform of worship.

Is your all on the altar…

📝 Application: What area of your life is not yet on the altar?

3. The Mindset That Shifts (v.2a)

Conformity to the world is passive; transformation is intentional.

The battleground of transformation is the mind—what we believe, how we think… there ought to be change in your life…

A. Reject worldly patterns

This warns us that the “world system” — the popular culture and manner of thinking that is in rebellion against God — will try to conform us to its ungodly pattern, and that process must be resisted.

1 John 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

“The world will shape you unless the Word reshapes you.” – Unknown

B. Renew with God’s Perspective - 2b

This is the opposite of being conformed to this world. The battle ground between conforming to the world and being transformed is within the mind of the believer. Christians must think differently.

i. “I don’t want to be conformed to this world. I want to be transformed. How do I do it?” By the renewing of your mind. The problem with many Christians is they live life based on feelings, or they are only concerned about doing.

ii. The life based on feeling says, “How do I feel today? How do I feel about my job? How do I feel about my wife? How do I feel about worship? How do I feel about the preacher?” This life by feeling will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.

iii. The life based on doing says, “Don’t give me your theology. Just tell me what to do. Give me the four points for this and the seven keys for that.” This life of doing will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.

iv. God is never against the principles of feeling and doing. He is a God of powerful and passionate feeling and He commands us to be doers. Yet feelings and doing are completely insufficient foundations for the Christian life. The first questions cannot be “How do I feel?” or “What do I do?” Rather, they must be “What is true here? What does God’s Word say?”

c. Transformed: This is the ancient Greek word metamorphoo — describing a metamorphosis. The same word is used to describe Jesus in His transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3). This is a glorious transformation!

i. The only other place Paul uses this word for transformed is in 2 Corinthians 3:18

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV 1900

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Renewal happens through God’s Word, prayer, and Spirit-led thinking.

4. The Mission That Discerns (v.2b)

A transformed life isn’t aimless—it discerns and demonstrates God’s will.

A. Discover God’s Direction

As we are transformed on the inside, the proof is evident on the outside, as others can see what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is through our life.

Paul here explains how to live out the will of God:

Keep in mind the rich mercy of God to you — past, present, and future (by the mercies of God).

As an act of intelligent worship, decide to yield your entire self to Him (present your bodies a living sacrifice).

Resist conformity to the thoughts and actions of this world (do not be conformed).

By focus on God’s word and fellowship with Him (be transformed by the renewing of your mind).

Psalm 119:105 KJV 1900

105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

“God’s will is not a mystery to solve, but a path to walk.” – John Piper

B. Delight in God’s Design

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

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

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

Your life will prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

You may know what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is, but you can’t prove it in your life apart from the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

God's will becomes clearer and closer as our minds are renewed.

You don’t just know His will—you begin to walk in it.

“The center of God’s will is our only safety.” – Corrie ten Boom

🔚 Conclusion:

A life transformed is a life that remembers mercy, surrenders fully, thinks differently, and lives purposefully.