A Transformed Mind Rom. 12: 1-2

12 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. 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.

New Living Translation Chapter 12

A Living Sacrifice to God

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Background on this Letter from Paul to the Church in Rome

Paul had never been to Rome when he wrote this letter to the Romans, though he had clearly expressed his desire to travel there in the near future ( Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “and after that, “he said, “I must go on to Rome!” (NLT) One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God Willing, to come at last to see you. For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. ) The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in CE 57 (Common Era or Christian Era), just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. This before the political situation in the capital had deteriorated for the Roman Christians, as Nero hadn’t begin his persecution of the Roman Christian community making them scapegoats after the great Roman fire in CE 64 seven years after the letters were recieved. Paul wrote to a church that was experiencing a time of relative peace, but a church that he felt needed a strong dose of basic gospel doctrine.

Rome had a population of about 1 million which is almost similar to the population of Manhattan which is 1.665 million. Pauls letter to the Romans stands as the clearest and most systematic presentation of Christian doctrine in all the Scriptures. Paul began by discussing that which is most easily observable in the world - the sinfulness of all humanity. All people have been condemned due to our rebellion against God. however, God in His grace offers us justification by faith in His Son, Jesus. When we are justified by Gos, we receive redemption, or salvation, because Christ’s blood covers our sin. But Paul made it clear that the believer’s pursuit of God doesn’t stop with salvation; it continues as each of us is sanctified- made holy - as we persist in following Him. Paul’s treatment of these issues offers a logical and and complete presentation of how a person can be saved from the penalty and power of his or her sin.

- Transformed defined -

The Greek word metamorphoō means “to change form,” as in the English derivative “metamorphosis,”

Metamorphosis simple is a process of changing from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.

it also means a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.

The way we think! or minds

remodeling the mind

restyling how we see things

reconstruction of our thought life

reordering priorities

reorganization ourself image

THE RENEWED TRANSFORMED MIND

That allows you to learn God’s will

the transformation process is different for each of us.

your process is not the same as my process of transformation.

Life experience are not the same, so therefore the stages of change are not the same.

A Transformed Mind Rom. 12: 1-2

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