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.

The letter to the Romans was written by the Apostle Paul in preparation to his visit to the Christians in Rome.  In the first 11 chapters of this letter Paul has laid the doctrinal base for the Gospel.   The verses we study today are a call to commitment – a whole new way of thinking and behaving.  Verses 1 and 2 set forth our need to commit to God completely.  The first of the two great commandments – that we love God with our whole heart, body and mind – is addressed here.

There is nothing we can do to earn salvation.  Implicit in this is God makes it possible for us to transform our minds and all is initiated by God..  God wants US, not our work and this decision to transformation is an act of will – an ongoing commitment on the part of the committed Christian

When Paul uses the verb beseech, he means that we have to will or make the decision to holiness.  We must resist conformity to the world – to be transformed takes place in the mind of the believer and is a conscious decision.  Beware of living based on feeling and only being concerned about doing.  A life of feeling ignores the renewing of the mind which is the transforming power of God.  The Apostle Paul is not against feeling or doing but this is insufficient foundation for Christian life.  We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

Transformation of our minds is a process of sanctification – to be holy, set apart.  This world is passing away – look around you – it is under Satan’s dominion.  We need to live in contrast to this age where all thoughts concern what is seen and temporal.  To think as a Christian is to think with salvation and eternity in mind.