Rom 12:1-2: Three Observations

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom 12:1-2 NIV).

First, Paul summarizes the story of salvation running across Romans 1-11 not as justification or even reconciliation, but as “God’s mercy.”

Second, Paul constantly uses cultic and sacrificial language to describe Christians in their worship even though they had no temple and no cultus.

Third, from a pastoral perspective, Paul is saying that if you want to make a difference, then you have to be different.