The leading writer of the New Testament epistles, Paul, was a brilliant master of words. He wove them like a tapestry, creating masterpieces of ideas, church doctrine, and practical ways to put our Christianity to use on a daily basis.
The first section of the book of Romans is an expose on the doctrines of the Church. Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers calls Chapters 1-11 Paul’s “speculative” portion of Romans, where the great apostle gives a broad overview of the Kingdom of God and what it means to be a Christian.
Chapter 12 changes in intent and direction as Paul shifts gears. Endicott’s says that here is where Paul begins to apply the specifics of the Kingdom to everyday living, giving us practical and useful council to apply Christianity to our everyday lives.
Romans 12:1-2 begins with:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Paul could have stopped right there, and the core of our Christian experience would be complete. Paul, master of words, summed up the entire Bible in these two verses. Even so, Paul, understanding the propensities of his fellow believers, didn’t stop there. He filled another five chapters with advice on how to order our days to best exemplify the authority of Christ over our lives.
Let’s look again at this sentence:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”
We are to become like Christ. When the world looks at us, our face should be the face of Jesus. He becomes our mask of righteousness before the world, seen in everything we say and do.
Being like Christ means we wear a new suit of clothes, and we look nothing like we did before.
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Code: FGO.D.10.16b.vp.esv