Romans 12:1-2 WEL I implore you, brothers, by the compassions of God, that you present yourselves as a holy, living sacrifice [which is] acceptable to God [and is] your rational service [to Him]. 2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what [is] the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
Paul urges with emotion for the believers living in Rome to be a living sacrifice.
A sacrifice of seeking God’s will instead of our own. We normally seek for our own comfort and pleasure, but love demands that we seek for another’s comfort and pleasure. Our love for God yields us to think, desire, speak, and do for God’s pleasure. Matthew 11:30 NRSV For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
This sacrifice is rational, that is, what is reasonable, logical, and dialectical. This Greek word is only used 2 times in the New Testament. It is used here and in 1 Peter 2:2 WEL, properly translated is “As newborn babies, desire that unadulterated, reasonable milk so that you may grow by it.” See Tyndale’s translation. The Scriptures are most reasonable and so is presenting ourselves to God.
Before Christ, we lived our life in conformity to the world, now known as “woke,” and for self. We now want to live as Christians, as God would desire for us. There is a Christian life and worldview. This worldview and lifestyle are not a set of man-made rules like, for instance, the Ordnung of the Amish (their rules).
What transforms our life and mind? It is knowing God’s ways. Reading, studying, and understanding Scriptures have an effect on us.
The Greek word transforms has the idea of changing form, shape, function, and/or substance. It has the idea here of changing from the thoughts, desires, words, and deeds of the fleshly, fallen worldview to the spiritual worldview of God. Compare Matthew 17:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. Ephesians 4:21-24 GNB You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. 22 So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. 23 Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, 24 and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.
Renewal has the idea of removing the corrupt and replacing it with the new. Compare that to one who guts a house removing all the old sheet rock, plumbing, electrical, etc. and replacing it. The corruption of our human nature is totally renovated by the Holy Spirit using the Scriptures. See Titus 3:5 (same word).
By doing these things with the assistance of God’s grace we will know and understand God’s will and live showing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. See Galatians 5:16-26.
You and I are in little (our sins excepted) what God is in large. Being made in His image we have within us the capacity to know Him. In our sins we lack only the power. The moment the Spirit has quickened us to life in regeneration our whole being senses its kinship to God and leaps up in joyous recognition. That is the heavenly birth without which we cannot see the Kingdom of God. It is, however, not an end but an inception, for now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart’s happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead. That is where we begin, I say, but where we stop no man has yet discovered, for there is in the awful and mysterious depths of the Triune God neither limit nor end. [From the Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer]
The word of God is powerful. It is a title of God the Son (Revelation 19:3). It is the word that God authoritatively spoke to create (Genesis 1:3, John 1:4, and Psalm 33:6 NLT). The word of God has been tested and passed the test (Psalm 18:30). It is pure (Proverbs 30:5). It is stable and incorruptible; it is eternal (1 Peter 1:25). It gives life (Psalm 119:37 NLT). It is life (Matthew 4:4). Knowing it and obeying it will keep us from sin (Psalm 119:11 NLT). It will cause us to grow and bear fruit of advancing the knowledge of God and His ways (Matthew 13:23). It is able to build us up in spiritual strength and give us an inheritance (Acts 20:32 NLT).
Psalms 19:7-11 NLT The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living. 9 Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
Bible, Scriptures, God’s word, Bible’s effect on life