I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies

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

Changed by God’s Mercy Living Sacrifices (Romans 12) – Part 1

The Mercies of God I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, • Defining Mercy • • Oiktirmos / Oiktirō – compassion, pity, mercy (Rom. 9. 15; 2 Cor. 1. 3; Col. 3. 12; Phil. 2. 1; Heb. 10. 28) Eleeō – help for one seeking aid (Rom. 9. 16, 9. 18, 11. 30, 11. 31, 11. 32) Eleos – Kindness or good will towards the miserable and afflicted joined with a desire to help (Rom. 9. 23, 11. 31, 15. 9) Understanding the Mercy of God (Romans 3. 21 -26, 5. 1 -11, 9. 14 -29)

Presenting Sacrificial Service …that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. • • “Present” – No one is forcing us into this life. “Sacrifice” — Allusion to OT sacrificial system Because of what God has done this is Reasonable Service/Worship Nature of Our Sacrificial Service • • Our Bodies Living Holy Acceptable

Not Conformed but Transformed And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind • Conformation = being fashioned alongside another; shaping oneself according to another’s pattern • Transformation = changing into another form; said of Christ (Mk. 9. 2) and of Christians (2 Cor. 3. 18) • Battle of Conformation vs. Transformation is in the Mind.

Proving the Will of God that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. • “Prove” (dokimazō) – test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals; to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy • Two Levels of Purpose in “Proving” God’s Will • Testing it within Myself • Displaying it to the World