"The Christian Experience is the Outgrowth of a Transformed Mind, a thought process molded by G

Praise God forevermore! Our passage is the transition to the last major part of Paul's letter to the Christ followers at Rome. He's laid the doctrinal foundation for life as a Christ follower in the previous eleven chapters. Now in chapters 12-15 the apostle will single out some of the ways our faith and doctrine are to be demonstrated in our lives! These transitional passages bring before the Christ follower the proper attitudes and actions which should set the Christ follower apart from the evil world system in which he or she lives! Are you interested? I sure am! Let's get started! It's extremely important that we understand and embrace the doctrines Paul has taught in the previous eleven chapters of Romans. At the same time, we are to recognize they're doctrinal truths that God expects for us to practice! We're to live them out in our daily walk as Spirit-filled Christ followers! In other words, sound doctrine is intended by God to bring about sound living. The verses of our passage are a call to commitment! This commitment is to be worked out by way of a whole new way of thinking and behaving. We're to heed these words. More importantly, we're to be obedient to them. Let's examine our passage to discover the commitment that Paul calls for and do as Paul urges us to bring glory and honor to our great God and Savior! Paul says, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2). We'll continue our examination of these powerful verses in our next lesson. Until then, let's understand that the words of our passage are designed by God to completely reverse the process of the mental and moral decay found in Romans chapter one. Read through these verses from Romans one and think on them with me in the light of Romans 12:1-2! Be encouraged!