I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is a 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. (3) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

The letter to the Romans was written to the faithful in Rome by the apostle Paul. In our verses today, the doctrinal part of the epistle is over and Paul now gives practical lessons. The sum of all Paul has written is the doctrine of justification, sanctification and salvation of men; these results are not attributed in any way to human merit. The mercy of God delivered us from sin and misery. Mercy means the faithful are delivered from the condemnation we deserve and grace is blessings we do not deserve. In Christ’s sacrifice it is reasonable to consecrate ourselves to God; there must be a corresponding holiness of life. Our verses deal with the Christian’s most important relationship – our relationship to God which is foundational and governs all our conduct. God in His mercy redeemed men and they should devote themselves to Him.

In faith, in Christ, we are reborn – our hearts and minds have been changed from hostility to God to loving God. Renewal is change from within. We are not just to use God to get out of problems – “foxhole conversion” – but to live out of gratitude for God’s mercy which is a heartfelt desire to please God. Reference to this evil age is in contrast to the coming eternal age. We are not to be wrapped up in temporal things, to think within a frame of reference bounded by the limits of our life on earth but to think of our destiny as the redeemed and chosen children of God. All sin and all obedience begin in the mind. Commitment to God is an act of will and is progressive as living sacrifices have a way of crawling off the altar.

Pride is the root of every sin we commit. Humility comes from our recognition of our absolute dependence on our Creator – it is the root of all virtue. Humility is focussed on God, not self. As c.s.Lewis wrote “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”