Holiness. Righteousness. Faithfulness. These and many other aims of Christian sanctification are to characterize a life that honors and brings glory to God. Practically, these aims are often lived out in service to the Lord. They are to testify to a life that has been rescued from destruction and a heart that has been captured by the love of God. In turn, this demands waving the white flag of submission and yielding ourselves completely to the authority and wishes of our good God.

Paul makes a strong appeal to surrender to the Lord in the first few verses of Romans 12. His appeal to live this way - characterized by holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness - is not without reason or motivation. As a matter of fact, God’s claim on our life is entirely reasonable, because of His initiative. Our salvation is not based on our merit, but on the precious ransom that God provided in the propitiation and substitute of Jesus (1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Pet 1:18-19). So, our surrender is founded on the mercies of God. Paul writes:

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

The “therefore” in verse one connects the preceding eleven chapters to what Paul is about to say. The previous eleven chapters of Romans are primarily theological in nature. They focus on our aforementioned need for rescue and God’s supply of salvation, extending to us great mercy. Beginning in chapter twelve, Paul shifts his focus to a practical nature. He moves from our need and God’s supply to salvation’s transformation and its effect on our lives. He answers the question: “How does salvation change the way we live?”

Paul juxtaposes a believer’s former unregenerate life and new resurrection life, creating a dramatic contrast. He uses two commands - one negative and one positive to illustrate the transformational shift that is to take place in the life of a Christ-follower. Paul calls his readers to “be not conformed … but be … transformed” (Rom 12:2). A believer is to reject the world’s patterns, values, and morals and, instead, affirm the transformative power of God. There is no straddling the fence. There is no half-heartedness and no in-between. Since being friendly with the world is to be at war with God , the believer submits to God and finds His mercy and grace to be the means for spiritual change and living a victorious Christian life (James 4:4-8). God’s power is unleashed and everything is made new - a believer’s mind, life, and purpose.

According to C.H. Spurgeon, “God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.” Surrendering our lives to God is our “reasonable service” or, as it could also be translated, it is our “logical act of worship.” Based on His mercies it would be illogical and inappropriate to do anything else!

In his influential book, Spiritual Leadership, Oswald Sanders notes the following: “No man, however gifted and devoted, is indispensable to the work of the kingdom.” This should be a final warning to all of us that God’s mercies are not bestowed frivolously. His grace and mercy have been extended to us in order that we might serve in “good works, which God prepared beforehand” (Eph 2:10). Sanders’ words also hint at the fact that Paul’s appeal and God’s will are never in opposition. Effective service that produces ripples into God’s throne room and makes the King smile is never divorced from qualified, submissive character marked by holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness. So, let us all surrender our lives, separate ourselves from the world, and renew our minds in order that we might consistently discern God’s will.

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV) - “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”