An Call to Commitment

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 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.

The Chicken and The Pig

I. The Basis of Commitment (v. 1a)

The basis of commitment is the mercies of God, as Paul so clearly states in the opening phrase of verse 1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy …” Specifically, 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. Radically sinful man was radically lost. But God provided a radical righteouness through the radical person of his Son, which made a radical new life and view of history possible. In view of this mercy God calls us to commitment. Remember the massive theology of Romans 1–11 which burst into consummate doxology in the final verse of chapter 11: “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen”? That very theology is the foundation for committed living.

The greater our comprehension of what God has done for us, the greater our commitment should be. Practically applied, Christ’s gift, meditated on, accepted, taken to heart, is a magnet drawing us to deepest commitment to him. Immense vision will bring immense commitment.

Paul does not ask for a favor when he says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy …” but rather is stating an obligation. It is our obligation to think about what Christ has done and to make our commitment accordingly. There is scarcely anything more important for building our commitment than an increasing understanding of the greatness of God and his mercies to us.

II. The Character of Commitment (v. 1b)

The character of the commitment is given in the last half of the verse: “… to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—which is your spiritual worship.” This commitment has two prominent characteristics: it is total and it is reasonable.

The totality of the commitment comes dramatically to us through the language of sacrifice. The Greek translated “to offer” is a technical term used for the ritual presentation of a sacrifice. “Your bodies,” referring to more than skin and bones, signifies everything we are—our totality. “Sacrifices” refers to the holocaust in which the offering is totally consumed. Old Testament sacrifices pervade the picture—total sacrifice.

Moreover, this sacrifice is described as “living … holy … pleasing.” The believer isn’t killed as the Old Testament sacrifices were, but remains alive. We are to be living sacrifices in the deep theological sense of “a new life” (cf. 6:4). We are also to be “holy” in that we have renounced sin and are set apart to God. Finally, we are to be “pleasing” sacrifices not because we deserve to be accepted, but because the offerings are true to God’s specifications.

This is as bold a call to total commitment, the idea that ministers and missionaries should have 100 percent commitment, but the laity is permitted 75 percent, or 30, or … The truth is, all believers are called to be totally committed to Christ.

Not only is commitment to be total, it is also logical. verse 1, “… which is your reasonable service,” rather than the NIV’s “which is your spiritual worship.” Cranfield is correct in maintaining that the root idea of the word logikos is “logical.”1 For Paul, true worship in offering ourselves to God is reasonable or logical because it is consistent with a proper understanding of the truth of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Total commitment is the only rational course to take when you really see who God is. Nothing else makes any sense.

Halfway committment is irrational. To decide to give part of your life to God and keep other parts for yourself—to say “Everything is yours, Lord, but this relationship, this deal, this pleasure”—is beyond spiritual logic!

If we are worshiping apart from commitment to God, it is false worship. We are deceiving ourselves if we are doing “Christian things” but are not consecrated to Jesus Christ.

III. The Demands of Commitment (v. 2a)

Notice that in verse 2 there are two commands. The first is negative: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world.” The second is positive: “… but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” These are the two sides of commitment.

What does this negative command, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,” mean? “Pattern” comes from the root word schema, from which we derive “scheme,” and “world” should be translated “age,” referring to the passing age (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:31; Galatians 1:4; and 1 John 2:17), which is dominated by Satan.

The painful truth is, such conformity is common to many of us to a greater extent than we like to acknowledge. Sometimes it is difficult to know when we are conforming because there are many good things in the world.

Moreover, we are not to write off our culture entirely. Yet we must think critically.

We must be careful what we read and watch. We must not fear to challenge others’ presuppositions. Above all, we must not be afraid to be different.

Transformed” sounds like “metamorphosed” in the original and is the word from which we get metamorphosis, the change from one form to another, as in the transformation of the tadpole to the frog or the caterpillar to the butterfly. But the full meaning is even richer, as the other three uses of the word in the New Testament indicate. In Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 it is used to describe the transfiguration of Christ

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

How does this happen? Again the language in Romans is most expressive, because our text says we are to “be transformed” (passive imperative). This must be done by someone or something else, which is of course the Holy Spirit. We are to submit to the Holy Spirit who brings about “the renewing of your mind.” We also understand from the present tense of the verb that this is a process, a gradual transformation. The Christian is to allow himself to be changed continually so that his life conforms more and more to that of Christ. Ultimately, as Romans 8:29 says, there will be the supreme metamorphosis when we will be transformed (summorphos) to the image of Christ

These are not suggestions, but are rather imperial commands to be obeyed by all.

IV. The Effects of Commitment (v. 2b)

The final phrase of verse 2 reveals the effects of genuine commitment in our lives: “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The New English Bible says it best: “Then you will be able to discern the will of God, and to know what is good, acceptable, and perfect” (italics added).

A committed life has the power to perceive what God’s will is.

The one who is committed to God sees life with a sure eye. While the careless and uncommitted are in confusion, he knows God’s will. And he finds God’s will to be “good, pleasing and perfect.”

What is the basis of commitment? The mercies of God and his love for us.

What is the character of our commitment? “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”

What are the demands of commitment? There is the negative: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world” and the positive: “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

What is the effect of commitment? Knowing the will of God.

Nothing but total commitment of our lives to God makes any sense. He holds the universe together by the word of his power—“For from him and through him and to him are all things.” And if this is not enough, he gave us his “mercies” through his Son, even while we were yet sinners.

Total commitment is the only logical way to live. Let us live under the logic of God.