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.

1) What is the significance of the “therefore” in verse 1?
“Therefore” is a linking word that tells us that what is about to follow is because of what has come before. In the book of Romans, as in many of the Epistles, the beginning of the book contains logical arguments and doctrinal teachings, while the second part of the book contains practical instructions based on those teachings. These verses are the transition into the practical part of the book. Paul has just laid out a detailed argument explaining the Christian faith and the gospel. He described how we are all sinners, how Christ died for our sins, and that all who believe in Christ’s death and resurrection are saved. Because of all of that, because of the gospel, Paul gives us the charge contained in these verses.

2) What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
The Old Testament Israelites were commanded by God to worship Him through a series of sacrifices. Some were to atone for sins, some were to express devotion or thanksgiving for God’s provision, and all were an act of worship. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, He atoned for our sins, once and for all, therefore Paul was not commanding believers to be a living sacrifice in the sense of doing something to atone for their sins or earn their salvation. Rather, a Christian realizes that he or she has been forgiven a debt that could never be repaid, and the natural response is to want to thank God, to express devotion, and to worship Him. When we stop living for ourselves and begin to use our lives and our bodies to worship God, we become a living sacrifice.

3) How are we to be transformed?
According to verse 2, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. That means that we are allowing the Holy Spirit to change the way we think about things from the selfish, darkened ways of our old self to clear, understanding, God-centered ways.

4) How will we know that we have been transformed?
Verse 2 goes on to tell us that when our minds are renewed, we will be able to discern the will of God. That means we will be able to understand what pleases Him—what is “good and acceptable and perfect.”

1) What is the significance of the “therefore” in verse 1?
Women, let’s not forget the wonder of the gospel—that Jesus died to save us, while we were still sinners! And let’s not stop being curious at this incredible truth, but let’s respond to His amazing gift of salvation, by offering ourselves as a gift back to God. Remember the gospel, preach it to yourself daily, and let Him remake you!

2) What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
Thinking of my body as a living sacrifice motivates me in ways that mere resolutions can’t. For example, when I want to eat healthy and exercise simply to fit into smaller clothes, my motivation runs out. But when I focus on having a healthy body that is ready to do whatever God calls me to do, I find lasting motivation. When I think of my sin as only hurting myself, I have a hard time giving it up, but when I see my body and my mind as a sacrifice that is to be presented to God as holy and acceptable, I find strength for the fight against my flesh.

3) How are we to be transformed?
The renewal of your mind is not something that happens without effort. Reading and studying the Bible, reading good books on theology and how it is worked out in daily life, and listening to sermons and other Bible teaching are all good ways to renew your mind. Which of these mind-renewing activities do you need to increase in your life?

4) How will we know that we have been transformed?
It seems that many people wonder how to know God’s will for their life. It can be distressing to make a big life decision when you don’t feel clear leading. But this verse gives comfort, because it shows that the more your mind is renewed, the more we can wisely discern what pleases God. Instead of focusing on finding God’s will for your life, simply focus on drawing nearer to God by renewing your mind, and He will make His will known through the wisdom He gives.

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We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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