Romans 12:1-2 contains the fourth “therefore” in this letter (cf. Romans 3:20; 5:1; 8:1; 12:1). It is one of the many conditional promises in the Bible. If you obey this conditional promise, you will be transformed by the gospel. The Apostle Paul uses the word metamorphosis to describe this change. Almost every part of the Christian life depends on this change. Therefore, it is critical that we have a right understanding of the concept.
- Conditional Promise
- If you obey → God promises to bless
If you disobey → God promises to curse
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. (Romans 12:1-2 KJV)
This is one of the most beautiful transformation verses in the Bible. It describes the same incredible metamorphosis that transforms an ugly awkward caterpillar into a beautiful, majestic butterfly. The caterpillar is transformed by doing its part and allowing God to do his part.
- present your bodies a living sacrifice
- This phrase is based on the preceding 11 chapters: the whole world is guilty of sin; therefore God has provided salvation, God has made a way to be restored to him, which is illustrated by Israel’s past blessings, current rejection, and future restoration. This is the gospel. Turn from your self-righteous religious works and present once and for all your whole body, mind, and soul to God.
- conformed to this world
- Your natural condition without God is dead in sins and trespasses (Eph 2:1-10; Col 2:13-15). If you disobey God, you are ruled by your natural self (cf. What defiles a person? (What makes unclean, polluted, and desecrated?). In this condition, you are serving the wrong religion on your way to hell. You cannot change this in your own strength any more than a leopard can change its spots (Jer 13:23) or you can grow a foot taller by worrying about it (Matt 6:27). Without God, you cannot start doing good (Rom 3:12).
- transformed by the renewing of your mind
- If you obey God by accepting his finished sacrificial work, he will transform you. The word that Paul was inspired to use, is metamorphoó, which means to change into another form, like our modern metamorphosis. This is the same word used by Matthew and Mark of Jesus being transfigured (Matt 17:2; Mark 9:2). It is also used by Paul to describe the ongoing metamorphosis in the Christian life to be more godly (2 Cor 3:18). Luke, a medical doctor, recorded the result of this transfiguration (Luke 9:29) with the word heteros, which means something so different that is not even the same nature, form, class or kind.
When God does this in your life, it will become a spring of living water that bubbles up from you (Jer 2:13; John 4:10) and yields fruits of righteousness in your life (Roman 5:22-23). It may take a while to adapt to your new life, and there may be lapses of acting like your old life, but God will work in your life if you let him.
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT)
Won’t you take a moment to have the faith of a tiny caterpillar and accept the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross to pay the penalty of your sins so that he can transform you into the equivalent of a beautiful majestic butterfly?
Here is a fascinating article on how to break ingrained habits by letting God change the way you think. But the so-called-science writers don’t know that’s what they are talking about. Neuroscience says there’s no such thing as free will. A psychologist explains why that might not be true – ScienceFocus