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Living The New Life - Romans 12
Living The New Life - Romans 12
Paul had emphasized that to what we present ourselves to obey, to that we are enslaved (6:16-18). We were presenting ourselves unto sin, but at our conversion we obeyed from the heart and everything changed. We buried the old man, we were forgiven of our sins, we were made alive in Christ, we were set apart unto God, we were adopted as children of God, we became heirs of the promise through Abraham. There are so many changes. So, now that we are the servants of God we are to present ourselves as servants of God (Rom. 6:13).
Notice how Paul picks up this thought saying that we are NOW to ‘present your bodies as a living sacrifice’. Such presentation involves obedience: " Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (6:16). Such obedience is the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5). Paul had said that those who are led by the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5, 6). In specifics, what does minding the things of the Spirit look like when applied? What things become the focus of one’s life when he is led by the Spirit? We find the answer as we study and meditate upon chapters 12-16. Here Paul enumerates and lists the various thoughts, attitudes, and actions of those who are sanctified and acceptable unto God.
Some things are rather specific, but other things are given in great principles of living. The application of such principles illustrates our character. Things are not always black and white, but people of character will end up on the side of mercy, kindness, and love.
Paul informs us that such newness of life is dependent upon a change of our very mindset. We are no longer ‘conformed to the world’ in our thinking but transformed by the renewing of our mind. Human thought, human actions, and human laws are no longer our criteria of right and wrong. We have renewed our mind to think in terms of what is the will of God. God’s plan was to have a people who are conformed to the image of Jesus (8:29).
Using Romans 12-16 as our ‘mirror’, what does our ‘image’ look like? Do people see Christ in us?
Hugh DeLong
