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Romans 12:1, 2 - Surrender and Transformation. [addendum]

Romans 12:1, 2 - Surrender and Transformation.  [addendum]

Romans 12:1, 2 (TEV)  So then, my brothers, because of God's 
great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living 
sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him.  This is 
the true worship that you should offer.  Do not conform yourselves 
to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly 
by a complete change of your mind.  Then you will be able to know 
the will of God--what is good and is pleasing to him and is 
perfect. 

Romans 12:1, 2 (CWR)  Therefore I plead with you, my brothers, 
because of God's kindness and mercy toward you, offer your lives as 
living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him. This is both reasonable 
and the spiritual way to worship God.  Don't pattern your life after 
this world, but let God transform you from the inside out and give 
you a new way of thinking. Then you will know what is good and 
pleasing to Him and what is not. 

CONTEXT: Surrender and Transformation: Romans 12:1, 2.

  The biblical pattern is to relate doctrine and duty, for what 
you believe must determine how you behave. In these closing 
chapters, Paul discusses your relationship with the Lord (12:1-2), 
yourself (12:3), the church (12:4-16), your enemies (12:17-21), 
government (chap. 13), and believers who disagree (chaps. 14-15). 
  Transformation (vv. 1-2). The Spirit of God transforms your 
life by renewing your mind (2 Cor. 3:18), but He cannot do this 
unless you give Him your body. When you give yourself to God in 
spiritual worship, you become a living sacrifice to the glory of God. 
  Evaluation (3). To think more highly of yourself, or less 
highly, is sin, so have a proper estimate of who you are and what God 
has given you (Gal. 6:3-5). 
  Cooperation (4-16). You are part of the body of Christ with a 
ministry to fulfill, so do your part lovingly and joyfully. 
  Vindication (17-21). If yours is a godly life, you are bound 
to have enemies (Matt. 5:10-12; 2 Tim. 3:12); but leave all 
judgment to the Lord. If you let the Lord have His way, He will use your 
enemies to build you and make you more like Christ. [Chapter by Chapter 
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] 

APPLICATION COMMENTARY With Emphasis On Verses 1, 2.

THIS TEXT IS THE LIFE VERSE FOR MANY - Here Are A Few Examples:

  I was the "good girl." I didn't do any of the things my mother 
scolded against. "Good girls don't drink, smoke, or run around," she 
repeated often. I knew how not to drink or smoke, but I had no idea what 
running around meant, although I was pretty sure I wasn't doing it. I 
married a religious man from a denomination that taught there is no sin, 
disease, or death--those things are only in our minds. This optimistic 
doctrine kept us happy and smiling until I gave birth to two sons a year 
apart, both of whom had an incurable brain disease that took their 
lives. Fred and I were left with no hope and no future. Our bodies had 
both disease and death. We quit church and gave up on God. 
  But God didn't give up on me. One day at a Christian Women's 
Club, the speaker told us to present ourselves to God as living 
sacrifices, and God would accept us as we are. Then came the words that hit 
me hard: "We should stop conforming to the world."  I had always 
been a master social conformist. But that day I began to ask God to 
transform me and give me a new mind. Only then did I begin to see the 
perfect plan he had designed for my life. 
  Florence Littauer, international speaker, trainer, Bible 
teacher, and founder of CLASSeminars, is the author of more than fifty 
books, including Journey to Jesus, Silver Boxes, and Personality Plus. 
[The One Year Bible Live Verse Devotional re Rom. 12:1, 2] 

  The other six hundred guys at the Fellowship of Christian 
Athletes youth camp seemed eager to read their Bibles. But I grew up in a 
church blatant with hypocrisy, and in my mind that ancient book had 
nothing to say to me. Still, because it was "quiet time," I arbitrarily 
opened my Bible and began to read Romans 12. Unexpectedly, I was 
overwhelmed by the painfully clear picture of my life: I was a phony. In the 
locker room I was the tough guy. To the girls, I was sweet. I totally 
conformed to the world. And this verse diagnosed the fact that I needed to 
be transformed. 
  Best of all, Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome 
prescribed the treatment: I needed to renew my mind. That was the only way 
to become a living sacrifice. Since then, I have been drawn to 
memorize hundreds of verses and am almost fanatical about what I allow 
into my mind. Let me be clear. I didn't change me. All I did was 
position myself so the Spirit of God could use the Word of God to work in 
the life of a pagan guy who didn't have a clue. 
  Now I've come full circle. Out of my pain came a passion for 
the church and a vision for people everywhere to renew their minds 
and know God's perfect will for their lives. 
  Chip Ingram, a radio teaching pastor on Living on the Edge, is 
the president and CEO of Walk Thru the Bible. He is the author of 
God, As He Longs for You to See Him; Love, Sex, and Lasting 
Relationships; and Effective Parenting in a Defective World [The One Year Bible 
Live Verse Devotional re Rom. 12:1, 2] 

LINK TO MINI-VIDEO ON THIS PASSAGE:

http://www.itiswritten.com/television#episodes/2171