Lesson for January 24, 2024
The Book of Romans 12:1-2
Transformation Not Reformation
Verse 1
“Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
The Greek word for mercies is “oiktrimos,” meaning compassion. The Greek word for present is “paristemi,” which is a military term meaning to place beside, to put one’s self under orders to, or to place one’s self at the disposal of another. The Greek word for sacrifice is “thusia” meaning an act of offering. A believer is to offer his/her body to be used by God. The Greek word for living is “zao,” which means life. The Greek word for holy is “hagios” meaning to be set apart. The Greek word for acceptable is “euarestos,” which means well-pleasing. The Greek word for spiritual is “logikos,” which means reasonable or rational. The Greek word for worship is “latreia,” which means to serve someone.
These words in this verse taken together mean to offer God a set-apart life. In other words, your offering to God is to live a separated life by using our two power options. Those two power options are the filling of the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine. The way we separate ourselves to God and His service is by living our lives in order to bring honor and glory to our Savior Jesus Christ. This is the only rational, well-pleasing way to serve God. (John 4:24)
Spiritual worship refers to worship that is rational and well-pleasing to God by relating all worship to accurate Bible doctrine. Worship may include certain functions: singing, praying, giving, the intake of doctrine, plus the communion service. Each facet of worship demands two things: the filling of the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine in the soul. Therefore, singing must be related to doctrine and done under the filling of the Spirit. Prayer must conform to doctrinal standards. Giving must be motivated from doctrine and the filling of the Holy Spirit. Perception of doctrine is the most important facet of worship. The communion service is a ritual and has meaning only if it includes accurate doctrine.
Verse 2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
The Greek word for conformed is “suschematizo,” which means to be molded after something, to be fashioned like something, or to be guided by something. This is a command to avoid human viewpoint, which distracts us from thinking divine viewpoint from Bible doctrine.
The Greek verb for transformed is “metamorphoo,” which means to change. Being transformed denotes what habitually occurs when a believer is constantly positive toward Bible doctrine and consistent in learning and applying it. The Greek word for renewing is “anakainosis,” which means renovation. Believers are to change their thought patterns by the renovation of how they think.
The Greek word for prove is “dokimazo,” which means to test for the purpose of approval or to discern. This verse is really about the will of God. Good is the Greek word agathos for lasting good. The Greek word for acceptable is “euarestos,” which means well-pleasing. The Greek word for perfect is “teleios,” which means being complete or finished. Studying, learning, and applying accurate Bible doctrine is not only the means of advancing to spiritual maturity, but it is the only way to learn the will of God and to avoid the influence of Satan’s world system. So, as accurate Bible doctrine replaces human viewpoint with divine viewpoint, a new mental attitude is formed in the mind. The result of divine viewpoint thinking is the discovery of the lasting good, well-pleasing, complete will of God for your life.
The Christian Way of Life is a life of thinking the thoughts of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5, says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” The mind of Christ is the doctrine found in the Word of God, the only source of absolute truth. In order to have the proper thinking, we must be consistently learning, believing, and applying the Word of God to every circumstance in life.
God has given all believers a command to grow spiritually, and He never gives us a command without giving us the means necessary to obey it. God, therefore, has provided His written instruction book (the Bible) and the filling (power and guidance) of the Holy Spirit. Both are grace functions for every believer in this age, regardless of education or I.Q. Any believer with a positive attitude towards Bible doctrine can learn, believe, and apply it accurately.
At salvation all believers are placed into union with Jesus Christ and become complete in Him (positionally). (Colossians 2:10) However, experientially we are not complete in Him. The Holy Spirit is constantly developing the character of Jesus Christ throughout the lifetime of an advancing believer. For this reason, God’s desire for all believers is to grow spiritually and advance to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity should be the goal of every person who has trusted Christ as Savior. (Ephesians 4:14-15; II Peter 3:18)