Changed (P3)

Romans 12:1, 2 connects with Romans 11 in which Paul shows the mercy of God in admitting gentiles as well as Jews into the privilege of being selected as prospective members of the bride of Christ. Pleading these extended mercies, Paul urges nothing less than a total commitment, a sacrifice as animals were sacrificed in Israel’s ancient worship. This sacrifice would be different, though, in that it would be living or a day by day presentation of one’s self to the service of God.

-It was holy in that it would be first covered by the merit of Jesus’ own blood, justifying the recipient so that he could be acceptable in God’s sight. This presentation is described as a reasonable service in that it is a service of reason, a logical conclusion of the individual in response to what Christ has done for him.

2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

-The consecration, or presentation, in Verse one would lead naturally to the transformation of Verse two. The contrasting verbs conformed and transformed are based on two different Greek root words.

The word conformed is the Greek "suschematizo" based on the same root from which we get our English word "scheme", whereas the word transformed is a translation of the word "metamorphoo" from which we derive our word "metamorphosis." The thought is that we are not to allow peer pressure to bend our actions according to the outward "scheme" of this world, but are to be changed from the inside, from the heart, metamorphosed like a caterpillar to a butterfly.

This inward change is to be accomplished by obtaining a a new set of values through the renewing of our mind. It is through this new way of looking at things that we can prove what is God’s will for our lives, which is what is good, acceptable, and perfect.

-Then Paul cautions that we do not make this evaluation of the role Christ would have us play with too high an esteem of our personal worth. The word "soberly" implies that we do not err to the other extreme either, having too low of an estimation of our talents.

The key to balancing between these extremes is the measure of faith which God has given to each. The principle was laid down by Jesus in other circumstances:

Matthew 15:28 "According to thy faith be it unto thee."