Conformed or Transformed? (Romans 12:1-2)
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In a church service one Sunday, the offering plate came to a little girl at the end of a row. She took the plate, put it down on the floor, and stood in it. When the usher asked her what she was doing, she responded, “In Sunday school I learned that I was supposed to give myself to God.” Romans 12:1-2 confirms she had the right idea. In these two verses Paul calls for a total commitment or dedication of our lives to God.
After devoting eleven chapters to heavy-duty theology, Paul now transitions in chapter 12 from doctrine to duty, from creed to conduct, and from belief to behavior.1Although these two verses are well known to many Christians, my hope is that familiarity will not breed passivity. Rather, my aim is for us to be transformed by these two verses. These two verses are two of the most important verses in the entire Bible. In these two verses, we will: (1) come to better understand God’s purposes in Romans 1-11, (2) discover God’s purpose for our lives, and (3) learn what it means to find God’s will. This transforming experience will occur as we fulfill two actions. The first action is found in 12:1.
1. We are to offer our bodies (12:1). Paul opens this new section with the word“Therefore.”2This important word begs the question: What is the word“therefore” there for? In this context, “therefore” looks back to all that Paul has said in chapters 1-11 and transitions into a different direction. This new direction is one of application. This should remind us again that the most important part of doctrine is the first two letters. You see, Paul believes that you haven’t really learned the Word until you live the Word. How well have you learned the Word? I didn’t say, “How well do you know the Word?”-I said, “How well have you learned the Word?” Have you been applying the truths of Romans? When you study the Bible on your own, do you bring it to bear on your life? Are you just a hearer of the Word or are you a doer of the Word?3Only when you are a doer of the Word have you truly learned the Word.
Being the excellent motivator that he is, Paul writes, “I urge4you, brethren, by the mercies5of God.” Paul exhorts us to respond to “the mercies of God.” It is natural for Paul to again use the word “mercy” because he has used this word many times in the previous section. In fact, the key word of Romans 9-11 is not love but mercy.6The storyline of Romans 1-11 is bursting with the mercies of God. In 1:18-3:20, man is described as sinful and condemned. Yet, in 3:21-4:25, God showcases His mercy in the person and work of Christ by offering us salvation as a free gift. In 5:1-8:39, God’s mercy frees us from the Law and empowers us to grow up in Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this section we also discover the blessings of full assurance and security in our relationship with God. This leads right into 9:1-11:36 where Paul informs us that God’s love for His people is unconditional. This means He still has a plan for Israel, despite her unfaithfulness. We also learned that God chose us because if left to our own devices, we would have never chosen Him. Is God merciful? You better believe it! God chose us, called us, saved us, released us, and will one day take us home to heaven. God’s mercy is past finding out! That is why I’m convinced that the best motivation to live for Christ is a good memory of all of the mercies He has blessed us with.
In response to these mercies, Paul challenges his Christian readers “to present”7their bodies. Generally speaking, we hear these verses used as an appeal to rededicate our lives to Christ. Often, because the appeal is emotional and without a proper doctrinal foundation, the individual is urged to periodically rededicate his life to Christ again. However, the tense of the word translated “present”8is such that it should be a final and decisive decision, something like the marriage commitment.9When I married Lori on July 17th, 1993, I “presented” myself to her. Yet, that was only the beginning. I must decide daily to be the husband that Christ has called me to be. In the same way, the commitment to holiness must be a decisive commitment that is continually reaffirmed.
Paul states that we are to present our bodies as a “living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,10which is your spiritual service of worship11.” The word “living”is a contradiction of terms. How can you offer a sacrifice and not kill it? We can explain this oxymoron by remembering Paul’s words in chapter 6-we are dead!12Or, as Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Paul tells us that this living sacrifice must be “holy.”The word “holy”simply means “consecrated” or “dedicated.” It speaks of being fully abandoned to God. Dedication and service to God are an act of worship. This is the only worship that is “acceptable to God.”This means that as individual Christians and as a corporate church, we must do all that we can to ensure that holiness is promoted. That is why we must exercise church discipline. That is why we must speak the truth in love. That is why we must disciple new believers. We are commanded to be holy as God is holy.
When we offer our bodies as “living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God,” this is our spiritual service. Many translations render this phrase “spiritual service”or “spiritual worship.” Yet, the Greek word used here13pertains to reason or the mind, and therefore does not really mean “spiritual.” It is better translated “reasonable” or “rational.” I think what Paul is saying is something like this: “If you weigh all that God has done in mercy in the light of who you were as a sinful, hopeless enemy of His righteousness, the only reasonable response is to lay your life on the altar for Him.” Today’s English Version translates the phrase “spiritual service”as “true worship.” I like this rendering because it encompasses everything. Unbelievers sacrifice because they think it will earn them mercy. We sacrifice because we have already obtained mercy.
Most of you have probably heard about the pig and the hen that were out walking one day when they passed a church. The sermon topic on the signboard was, “How can we help the poor?” After a moment’s reflection the hen said, “I know what we can do. We can offer a ham and egg breakfast.” It took several moments before the suggestion sunk in, but when it did, the pig protested: “That breakfast would be only a contribution for you, but for me it would mean total commitment.” This is what God is asking from you. He wants all of you! This shouldn’t scare you because if you let God have your life, He can do more with it than you can.
[We are to offer our bodies and also...]
2. We are to overhaul our minds (12:2).Paul continues his thought in 12:2 by using the word “and.”“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing14of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable15and perfect.” Paul makes his move from the positive to the negative16in this verse. While 12:1 lays stress upon an initial and life long commitment, 12:2 emphasizes the continuing obligation of the Christian in the service of worship, which we owe to God. Just as the marriage commitment needs to be consistently carried out, so our consecration to God must be manifested moment by moment. The force of the present tense should not be missed; Paul envisions a continuous process of renewal.
The term “conformed”17literally means to be molded or stamped according to a pattern. The Phillips translation reads: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.” The contours of the world’s mold flow along the lines of: (1) fortune-money and materialism, (2) fame-popularity and acceptance, (3) power-influence and control, and (4) pleasure-sensual desires. We must not be shaped by these influences. We must fight against the tide of sin, self, and Satan.
On a bright sunny day when you first walk into a dark movie theater, you usually remark about how dark it is. If there was no usher to show you to a seat, you probably had to stand in the back for a few minutes until the darkness seemed to clear and you began to see again. Before long, you could see without difficulty. Indeed, you seemed to be able to see normally. “Normally,” that is, until you walked out into the sunlight again and the bright glare forced you to cover your eyes.
We Christians are often in the same predicament. We live in a dimly lighted world, where sin is the rule and not the exception. And yet we are really children of the light. We must always be on our guard that we do not become so accustomed to the darkness of our world that we think it is normal and conform to its dubious guidelines. It is not normal. The dim moral and spiritual insight of the world is not the standard that the Christian is to walk by.18
Turning from the negative to the positive, Paul goes on to say, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The word “transformed”19is passive. If I said to you, “I’m going to the store”-that’s active. If I said to you, “I was taken to the store”-that’s passive, someone else drove me. Paul is saying once we become living sacrifices something beautiful happens-someone else transforms us! The word translated “transformed”20is a word that has been brought into the English language without translation. It’s the word “metamorphosis.” When a tadpole is changed into a frog or when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, we speak of it as a metamorphosis. That is what God wants for each of His children-for us to be transformed from the spiritually defeated, dull, and depressing existence so many endure, into the victorious, vital, and enriching experience that is available to the believer in Jesus Christ.
The key to this change is the “mind,”21the control center of one’s attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions. God wants your mind. God knows the power of the mind and He wants it for Himself. He wants you to think His thoughts and dream His dreams. As you do, your mind will be renewed. As your mind is renewed, you will be able to fulfill God’s will for your life.
The NASB says that our renewed mind is so that we may “prove what the will of God is.”The key word is “prove.”22It is a tremendously important word. It has two implications: one is the idea of testing and proving something’s value. And the other idea is the capacity to assess it and approve of a value when you see it. It is very hard in English to bring out both these ideas with one word. The NIV does it in fact by using two words. It refers to the renewing of your mind, and then says, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.” That is the full idea. Test and approve.
The “will of God” here, then, encompasses His comprehensive and all-inclusive will for His creation, for time and eternity. The “will of God” is not “the will of God for my life” or “what God wants me to do in specific circumstances,” but the all-encompassing will of God for His creation. The will of God here has a much wider scope than just my choices and me. Further, the emphasis here is not so much on “discovering” or “knowing” God’s will as it is in doing God’s will or demonstrating His will. Paul tells us that we will “prove” what the “will of God” is rather than “find” or “discover” what it is. In other words, God’s will finds us as we obey.
God wants our bodies and our minds; He wants our total submission. Is there anything or anyone that you are withholding from God? Is your marriage and family yielded to Him? Is your vocation His? What about your finances or hobbies? God wants to stretch you. He isn’t a part-time lover; He is the all-consuming lover! Will you present yourself to Him anew and afresh? If you will, your life will never be the same.
Copyright © 2001 Keith R. Krell. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, C 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission.Permissions: Feel free to reproduce and distribute any articles written by Keith Krell, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this information, not protect or restrict it.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: by Keith Krell, Timeless Word Ministries, 2508 State Ave NE Olympia, WA 98506, 360-352-9044, www.timelessword.com
Notes
1 In his 13 epistles, Paul often uses this literary device, see Gal 1-4, 5-6, Eph 1-3, 4-6; Col 1-2, 3-4, 1 Thess 1-3, 4-5; cf. Heb 1-11, 12-13. This is not to say that duty and application are never addressed in these first sections or that doctrine and theology are absent from these final sections. But there is a distinct difference in the flavor of these sections and how Paul “breaks” each down.
3 James 1:22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
4 Gk. parakalo, can also be translated “call,” “exhort,” “encourage,” and “implore” (see 12:8; 15:30; 16:17).
7 A form of the word “present” (paristemi) is used five times in chapter 6 (see 6:13 [2x], 16, and 19 [2x]).
8 Gk. parastesai, cf. 6:13, 16, and 19.
9 It is used of the Christian presenting himself (6:13), of God presenting the saved (Eph 5:27), of Christ presenting the church (Col 1:28).
11 It is noteworthy that the Greek word rendered “service of worship” (latreian) in 12:1 is a technical term for priestly service in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (see John 16:2; Rom 9:4; Heb 9:1, 6.)
12 See Rom 6:1-11.
13 Gk. logiken, cf. 1 Peter 2:2. We get our word “logical” from this word.
14 See Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
15 In most instances, when the term “acceptable” is used in the New Testament, it refers to that which is acceptable to God (see 2 Cor 5:9; Eph 5:18; Phil 4:18; Col 3:20; Heb 13:21).
17 Gk. suschematidzesthe, see 1 Peter 1:14.
18 Michael P. Green, Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989).
19 In his sermon on this passage, John Piper writes, “I believe the two most important words in this passage are “be transformed.” That’s what Paul is after, and every other thought in this passage is subordinate to that. The offering of our bodies is the pre-requisite to being transformed. The mercy of God is the motivation for being transformed. The exhortation about not being conformed to this world reveals the key roadblock to transformation. The renewal of the mind is how transformation is accomplished. And the ability to test and approve God’s moral will is the result of a transformed life.”
20 Gk. metamorphousthe. Matthew and Mark use this word to describe the transfiguration of Christ (see also 8:29; Matt 17:2; Mark 9:2; 2 Cor 3:18).
21 Gk. noos, cf. Rom 7:23; Eph 4:17, 23; Col 2:18; 2 Thess 2:2.
22 See Rom 1:28; 14:22; 1 Cor 16:3.
All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
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