A Life Pleasing to God (Part 1) – Romans 12:1–2

PRAY

What makes life a Christian life? What makes the Christian life different from simply being alive? 

As Paul transitions in Romans to the practical section—how the theology he has taught works out in daily living—he answers this question for us: What is the distinctly Christian life? What difference does the gospel make in the way we live? How does one live a life pleasing to God in Christ Jesus?

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

¹ 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. ² 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.

These two verses form the foundation for all of Paul’s practical exhortations in chapters 12-15. Here he gives the principles and the process that govern Christian conduct. Paul describes how we may live distinctly Christian lives—a life that is pleasing to God. 

To live pleasing to God, let the gospel motivate your total devotion and continual transformation through renovated thinking. (Rom 12:1-2)

I know that I have packed a lot into this statement to summarize the central application of this text, so let me try visually representing the parts and progress of it, in case that helps some of us.

The gospel we receive through faith should motivate and empower us to present our whole selves to God as a sacrifice of proper, rational worship. In so doing we must strive against this evil age conforming our thinking in its mold and instead be continually transformed into the image of Christ our Lord. To this end we must continually invest in the Spirit’s work through His word to renovate our minds, to rebuild our patterns of thinking.

And if we are thinking of this in cyclical form, you might just as easily reverse the order. Meditate on the mercies of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ to rebuild your patterns by the Spirit for God to keep transforming you into the image of Christ so that you will devote all that you are and have in service to God, which is the rational way to worship Him. 

Let’s look more closely at each part so that by the power of the Spirit God’s word can impress its full weight upon our thinking and lead to holy living.

Live Pleasing to God: Gospel Motivation

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God…”

Paul transitions with the word “therefore,” which here turns out to be a significant shift to the practical application of all the theology he has been teaching. Chapters 1-11 are more weighted with doctrine, and 12-15 form the practical implications of our response to God’s righteousness and grace in the gospel.

A coach knows that sports knowledge must be translated into active practice that leads to muscle memory and quick reactions on the pitch (or on the court). A military captain must see his soldiers trained for battle action beyond war theory and tactics such that they demonstrate skill under pressure. Just so, Paul instructs the church in practical conduct that flows from doctrinal truth. As Martyn Lloyd-Jones taught, “Christianity is a life to be lived, not just a doctrine to be believed. The purpose of doctrine is to enable us to live the Christian life.”

Even so, in emphasizing practice Paul never leaves doctrine behind. In fact, theological truth is the driving force: I urge you brethren through the mercies of God! Although this is slightly different than a command, it carries a stronger sense of exhortation and urgency than our English word appeal. 

Paul makes an urgent call to Christian living based upon everything he has expounded, which he summarizes as the mercies of God. And surely by these “mercies” Paul has in mind the fullness of God’s mercies in the gospel of faith in Jesus, which is the power of salvation to both Jew and Gentile.

If we are in God’s grace through faith, then God’s mercies are the motivation and means of the Christian life. Since Paul says “through” the mercies of God, it’s quite possible that he has in mind that God’s gospel mercies provide the motive and the power. We do not begin by grace but then continue in our own strength alone. As Christ’s illustration of the vine shows (Jn 15:1-8), we remain plugged into him as the source of our growth and usefulness.

But it seems abundantly clear that Paul also (or even primarily) has in mind the source of a new motivation for life—a life that is pleasing to God. The Christian life is motivated by God’s mercies. - This guards against mere religiosity or legalism based upon systems. Rather than fear of punishment or to earn merit with God, the Christian aims to live pleasing to God in gratefulness for grace, yearns to love in response to God’s love. In God’s economy, it matters greatly WHY we do what we do. What are the motives, reasons, and attitudes behind our actions?

In this context right thinking is predominant—renewal of the mind, continually renovating our thinking. We should therefore realize that a deeper and clearer understanding of the gospel of grace—meditating on the mercies of God in the gospel—has a direct impact on our motivation to live for God and not for self. It purifies and sharpens our affections for God and the things of God instead of lesser pursuits.

As we transition to the next part of what Paul says, he helps us see then that this impacts every area and facet of our lives. When we are moved by the mercies of God to live pleasing to God, it affects the way we do the laundry and the way we respond when someone asks for help, just as much as becoming a missionary to an unreached people group. It is a life of total devotion to God.

Live Pleasing to God: Total Devotion

“…to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and well-pleasing to God—your reasoned worship.”

The Christian life is an “all in” complete commitment (your whole self, your entire life). So with the reference to our bodies Paul does not aim to awkwardly separate the body from the mind or the spirit (the eternal soul). He means here the complete surrender of oneself in service to God.

The body is the housing of our spirit and the instrument which acts out the will of our minds. The body doesn’t do anything that the mind isn’t committed to. So the influence of our minds upon our bodies is paramount (as we see in v. 2), but Paul here emphasizes body likely in reference to the most tactile and practical part of us. As he said before in Rom 6:13, we are to present our parts as instruments of righteousness. And presenting our bodies means that everything we do, because we cannot be outside our bodies, is caught up in this total devotion of our whole selves in service to God—in mowing the lawn or in Christian counseling.

The infinitive “to present” is also active. This complete and ongoing devotion is one of active participation. (Think of passivity as a rock being pushed by water; think of activity as being the water pushing the rock to tumble it forward and smooth its roughness.)

Even Christ’s imagery of abiding in him for sanctification is not merely a passive endeavor. It is a deliberate and intentional activity on our part. - This should make us realize that whenever we lack active focus on this central purpose, we begin to get off course, doing so more and more, like a boat or a plane that doesn’t regularly course correct to maintain its proper heading.

So we are to present our bodies as a sacrifice, a sacrifice that is living, holy, and well-pleasing to God. As Paul uses the language of the OT sacrificial system and worship, he draws on something they understand from Scripture and practice while imbuing it with new and altered significance in the New Covenant.

The first of three adjectives is a participle—living—that modifies our sacrifice, alongside the other two adjectives: holy and well-pleasing.

That our sacrifice is living most likely contrasts taking a life for sacrifice with instead an ongoing surrender into his service. It could also indicate being spiritually alive (Rom 8:13). A combination of both concepts would be that this is the voluntary and continual self-surrender of those who have life in Christ.

“Holy,” which means set apart to God, probably here in sacrificial setting is suggestive of being unblemished and undefiled. The holiness here emphasizes being set apart to God in moral purity. - What we do with our bodies is not something insignificant and disconnected from what we claim to be true as our spiritual condition. If we are God’s children by faith, we are to glorify God with our bodies. (1 Cor 6:19-20)

“Acceptable” means it pleases God. Our sacrifice is intended to be a sweet aroma to God. - It’s humorously interesting to think about our lives “smelling” good or bad to God. But our stink isn’t from exertion but rather from impurity. We need continual cleansing and purifying such that our lives are an incense that is appropriate to a holy God and pleasing to him. - There may be people who are least known to us (to the world) who are most fragrant to God. - And the purpose of bringing pleasure to God, once again, provides powerful motivation to for this total self-surrender in service to God.

So presenting our whole selves in sacrifice to God Paul describes as our “spiritual worship” or “reasonable service.” -Worship in this case does not describe regular meeting together, which is commanded in scripture. And praising God in song is good, but we do ourselves a disservice to understand gathering or singing as the exclusive means of worship. Worship is surrendering our whole lives in devoted service to God.

In this context then, Paul is most likely indicating that this total devotion is our “reasonable service.” - Because of God’s mercies, it is only reasonable that you give your whole self to God. OR you give your whole self to God in a way that is spiritually aware of what is proper service of worship. This is the service due from us as rational creatures.  - Your dog seeks to please you because you love him and care for him and show him affection. Thus, he even desires not to do things that he can tell from your voice bring you displeasure. How much more should we (with significantly greater rationality) understand God’s mercies to us in the gospel and reasonably respond with nothing less than to offer our whole selves as a living, holy, and sweet-smelling sacrifices in the service of God.

So, with a view to God’s acts of mercy, it is only fitting that we should commit ourselves to him without reservation. - Reasonable worship does not try to keep anything back for self. All is God’s and for God. 

And a final implication of reasonable worship is that Paul does not make a sharp distinction between the intellectual thoughts of the mind and our affections. They are interconnected. You will only consider this your reasonable service if you understand the mercies of God and have a heart dramatically impacted by these truths, these realities.

Paul develops this in the next sentence, which will be our focus next time together.

Live Pleasing to God: Continual Transformation

“And do not be conformed to this age but be transformed…”

This sentence is parallel to the first, beginning with “and.” But it is probably also subordinate in the sense of explaining and developing the first. What constitutes total devotion, becoming a living sacrifice? How does one become a living sacrifice and maintain this commitment?

Do not be pressed into the mold of this age, but be transformed with new patterns of thinking.

Live Pleasing to God: Mind Renovation

“…through the renewal of the mind…”

This continual transformation is produced through mind renovation, through new patterns of thinking. Our physical lives, this house in which we live, is never finished being renovated in this life. We keep on striving to make it new in a fight against the pattern of this age trying to press us into its mold.

Such is why theology matters, because although truth itself doesn’t have feet, we do. And what we meditate on determines how and where we walk.

The result will be…

A Life Pleasing to God

“that you may approve what God’s will is, what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.”

The goal is to discern through testing what God’s will is, what he desires from us. So that we may walk in what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. 

So we will not just be reading the drivers-ed manual and nodding their head in agreement, but actually be driving the Christian life. 

Again, we’ll go into greater detail in verse two next week to continue to soak up the same point and implement what we have begun this week.

To live pleasing to God, let the gospel motivate your total devotion and continual transformation through renovated thinking.

If it helps it sink in and saturate our understanding, I’ll review this with another way to consider the structure of the text that might help you as you keep studying and meditating on it so that it can have its full impact. 

A Distinctly Christian Life

THE WHY: Motivated by God’s mercies

THE WHAT: A life of total devotion to pleasing God

THE WAY: In continual transformation (to Christlikeness)

THE HOW: By renovated thinking (in the Spirit) to approve God’s will

A Christian life is a life completely and continually altered by the gospel of God in the Lord Jesus.

Is there anything that you are so devoted to accomplishing that you will make any sacrifice necessary to pursue and achieve that goal?

Is your highest aim to be pleasing to God by becoming like Jesus? Is this your highest pursuit such that all other goals are funneled toward and filtered by this goal? Are you pressing your life against the furnace of God’s holiness that he may remove the dross and purify your motives and aims? Are you filling your mind with the sword of Spirit (the word of God) so that it will comfort you with God’s promises as well as cut off ways that are not pleasing to God?

The goal is to live out the gospel. To not do this is to cut short the gospel’s intent, and to try to maintain good conduct without the gospel truth is mere religiosity, like empty, cracked cisterns. But Christian ethics are the fresh water which flows from the spring of gospel transformation. It is more than how to get along in a religious manner within a religious community. It is the total commitment to God that results in a new way of life that is being transformed by new patterns of thinking according to our new position in Christ Jesus. Nothing less than this total devotion will do, and it will be realized through ongoing transformation into Christlikeness through new patterns of thinking.

The reasonable response to the gospel is to completely and continually give our whole selves to the goal of pleasing God with our lives because of his mercies to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PRAY