Great talk this morning at Ivy Church by Mary Thomason! This post adapted from my notes…
What does Romans 12 teach us?
Key Takeaways
- True worship = offering your whole life to God
- Transformation happens by renewing your mind
- Holy living must be done in community
- Love your enemies, bless those who persecute you
- Be counter-cultural, not conformed to the world
The Journey to Romans 12
Before Paul calls us to holy living in Romans 12, he takes us on a theological journey. He explains why we need a Saviour, who will be saved, and how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. Only then does he tell us what our response should be.
This is the culmination of everything that comes before it.
Your Body as Living Sacrifice
“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 your true and proper 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
The Power of “Therefore”
Notice that word: therefore. It’s not just a transition – it’s a hinge. This “therefore” points back to everything Paul has written about God’s mercy, and it doesn’t complete its thought until chapter 15!
Why would we want to respond with a holy life? The mercy of God.
That mercy should evoke a response: offering ourselves back to God as holy. This is our worship—not just singing on Sunday, but offering your whole life to God. It’s living liturgy.
The Living Dead
We are both dead and alive. We stand in the death of the cross and the life of the resurrection—we exist in both realities all the time. We are the living dead!
So don’t let the world conform you to its pattern. Be transformed. You don’t belong to the world anymore. You are a citizen of a kingdom with different rules. This is counter-culture Christianity.
How Do I Renew My Mind According To The Bible?
There’s a power that wants control over you: sin. It works through how you see, think, respond, and speak.
The only way to deal with it? Think differently.
Look at where what you’re accepting doesn’t align with what God wants. This is fundamentally a mind issue. Challenge yourself to think differently, and you’ll become holy.
Metamorphosis: Complete Transformation
The word Paul uses here is metamorphosis—a complete change into a different being.
How does this happen? By the Spirit.
We see this transformation in scripture:
- Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 – At the Transfiguration, the disciples saw Jesus as He really is
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we are being transformed into the same image”
As we behold Jesus, offer ourselves, and renew our minds, we become like Him. That’s the invitation of transformation. We should expect this to happen!
You are being transformed into the image of Jesus.
What Holiness Actually Looks Like
Us, Not Me
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Romans 12:3-5
This holy life must be done with others. You cannot do it alone. We belong to one another. We are not removed from one another. The people of God pursue holiness not as individuals, but as community.
Paul warns against arrogance—don’t think you’re better than others. He repeats this in chapter 16 because it’s so easy to fall into. In the kingdom, we are equalized by the love of God.
There’s no higher calling than being a child of God.
There’s no “me” here—only “us.”
Love, Faith, and Hope in Practice
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality.”
Romans 12:9-13
Paul weaves together early Christian practices around three themes: Love, Faith, and Hope.
Love
Sincere, sibling love—and yes, it’s hard! This is deep family connection in the church. These bonds should be as strong as flesh and blood. You’re called to love people in the church like family.
- Hate evil—never people
- Give honour to each other
- Outdo each other in showing honour
Faith
Be passionate! Don’t grow weary. Keep your spiritual fervour alive.
Hope
In the face of opposition and suffering, be patient and persevere in prayer.
Practical Holiness
None of these are easy asks! Be generous. Open your heart and home. Don’t be a closed door.
Relating to the World
In verse 14, Paul shifts from “me” to “we” to them—the world outside the church. How do we deal with the world?
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:14-21
Echoes of the Sermon on the Mount
This passage resonates deeply with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We are called to be peace bearers—to carry the peace and harmony we’ve been brought into.
Cross Cultural Boundaries
Notice who we’re called to associate with: the lowly, broken, forgotten.
In Roman honour culture, there were social boundaries you didn’t cross. But the church was called to pull down the barriers that culture erected.
We naturally gravitate toward successful, influential people. How does this challenge that tendency?
No Revenge, Only Love
As you live with people, they will hurt you. But how you respond will be an offering to the Lord.
We are to love and bless, not curse. The “burning coals” metaphor isn’t about punishment or payback—it’s about opening their heart so they can change.
It may work. They may change. Or they may not. But that’s the way of the kingdom.
The Early Church Example
The early church, right up to the third century, was known for pacifism. Weak? Meek? No—different. Holy.
Not conformed, but transformed to look like Jesus.
Conclusion: The Call to Transformation
Romans 12 is Paul’s Holiness Code—a practical guide to what it means to live a holy life in response to God’s mercy. It’s not about rule-following but about transformation.
You are being transformed into the image of Christ. This happens through:
- Renewing your mind – thinking differently
- Living in community – pursuing holiness together
- Practicing love, faith, and hope – both inside and outside the church
- Being a peacemaker – blessing even those who persecute you
This is counter-cultural. This is radical. This is the way of Jesus.
Will you offer your body as a living sacrifice? Will you let God transform you from the inside out?
That’s your true and proper worship.
“Which is harder for you: renewing your mind or loving your enemies? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear you!”
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