Your spiritual service: introduction

Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Having concluded eleven chapters of profound and stirring teaching about what God has given Christians, Paul now charges those Christians with what they need to give God. A distinct break in the train of thought occurs as Paul moves from 11:36 to 12:1.

Eight chapters have been spent in establishing and developing the theme of the letter (Romans 1:16). Then, three chapters deal with how that theme applied to fleshly Israel, God’s once chosen nation. Paul’s thankfulness for God’s mercies, his awe of the depth of riches of God’s wisdom are his conclusion to his discussion of Israel.

That having been concluded, practical advice was needed and thus given to all Christians to illustrate how they were to live in various aspects of life. These two verses set forth the fundamental obligations we must meet before being prepared to face the challenge of living as Christians in this world. This blog will examine three ways in which we should give ourselves to God over the next several days.

Kyle Campbell