S3E6: Mercy Motivates

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 (Romans 12:1).

Listen as Ed Underwood teaches on the book of Romans for our third season.

The Why and the What of Spiritual Commitment: Overview of Romans 12-15

Can a single decision change a Christian’s life? I think it can!

There is one decision that the Book of Romans urges every Christian to make. It is a decision so significant and with such potential to transform and bless that Paul devotes eleven chapters to preparing us to consider it.

Romans 12:1-2 invites individual believers who have read this great treatise on the mercies of God to respond in a way that pleases God and maximizes their experience of their so great salvation. It is a commitment to God separate from the decision to put your faith in Christ, and it moves the Christian into a new experience of devotion and intimacy with Christ. The choice we are asked to make is to present our lives to God:

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. 2And 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)

Though this is a pivotal decision for any believer, emotions should and will be involved; as with any commitment in life, it’s important to know the why and the what. Why should I do this? And what am I committing to?

The why we should know by now. We can logically decide to worship God by giving Him our life because of His mercy to sinners. The what is outlined in 12:3-15:13. When you give your life to God, He asks you to do the same thing He asked His Son to do—give your life to others: