Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:1-2
1a - Therefore…in view of God’s mercy:
• Romans 1-3 - all have sinned! Jew and Gentile
• Romans 4-7 - wages of sin is death; faith in Jesus, not obedience leads to salvation
• Romans 8 - no condemnation for those in Christ; Jesus was our sin offering
• THEREFORE, our response should be…
1b - Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice:
• Bodies - your whole person
• Living sacrifice - a response to mercy; ongoing; surrendering our right to choose how to live your life
2c - Test and approve what God’s will is - this is the goal!
2a - Do not conform to the pattern of this world:
• “world” = age
• Present age vs. the age to come (death vs. life)
2b - Be transformed by the renewing of your mind:
• We must learn to think and live in the age to come - the age of God’s Kingdom, the age of God’s Spirit
• Have a mind like Christ
Prayer Response: May this mind be in us which was in Christ Jesus.