Continuing with our unit theme of being set apart, we now turn to Paul’s letter to the people in the church at Rome.  Paul had not yet been to Rome, though he would be imprisoned there and be martyred for his faith in Christ near the year 64AD.  The letter was written from Corinth in approximately 55AD.  Paul was expressing his deep desire to visit those in Rome.  He also wrote to appeal for their financial help in a planned ministry trip to Spain (Romans 15:22-29).  Paul wanted people to know Jesus.  This was his heartbeat…his reason for living. 

In Romans 1:1, Paul introduces himself to the Romans first by name.  His given birth name was Saul, probably named after King Saul, his royal ancestor in their mutual  Jewish tribe of Benjamin.  When he worked with Jews, he used the name Saul.  When he worked with those in non-Jewish settings, he used the name Paul.  He was a Jew.

He calls himself a bond slave of Christ Jesus.  A “slave” was a forced laborer.  He remained because he HAD to.  A “bond slave” had completed his obligated time of service and was free to go (see Deuteronomy 15:12-18).  He remained because he WANTED to.  A bond slave loved his master and desired to continue his work out a sense of loyalty.  Since his salvation experience on the road to Damascus, Paul saw himself as set free to serve!  He served Christ.

Paul was called by God to serve Jesus and spread the gospel.  He was not one of the original 12 disciples.  In fact, he called himself the apostle born out of due time (First Corinthians 5:8). A disciple was a learner.  An apostle was one who had seen the risen Christ and was sent out to deliver the message of the resurrection.  Jesus (post resurrection) appeared to Paul personally at his moment of salvation.  He was an apostle.

Paul declared himself to be “set apart” for the sake of the gospel of Christ.  He was living out his calling day by day as he interacted with people all over Israel, Syria, Greece and Asia and later Rome and Spain.  His life was used to touch lives in every part of the world of his day.  He was set apart. 

In our scripture passage today, we are in chapter 12.  Paul’s letter to the Romans is usually divided into two main sections.  Romans 1-11 contains doctrine.  Romans 12-16 contains practice.  In other words, I see it this way:  First we soak.  Then we serve.  First, we breathe it in.  Then we live it out.  First, we see the gospel in The Word.  Then we walk out the gospel in The World.  The word “therefore” in Romans 12:1 calls us to take what we have learned through the first eleven chapters and apply it to our lives daily.  You can actually “feel” the passion of the heart of Paul as you turn the page from chapter 11 and begin reading chapter 12.

“I beseech you (urge you, beg you, draw you, move you, dare you!) brethren (and sistren) by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship.  Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your MIND that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

You can almost hear spilling tears and join Paul’s deep sense of urgency for the gospel. 

God was done with innocent animals being brought to the altar and sacrificed.  At the crucifixion of God’s only Son, the final (and only necessary) perfect, blood had been spilled.  The “once for all” sacrifice of Jesus had fulfilled the need for forgiveness of sins.  Paul was announcing here (and in several other of his writings) that it was time for living sacrifices to walk out the truth of the gospel.  Living sacrifices are worship walking around! 

We are not to be conformed (placed together as a match) to this world but we are to be transformed (a complete metamorphosis or change of form).  How do we do this?  We RENEW our minds.  The word for this in Greek is “ana” which means upward or rising and “kainos” which means brand new and continuing to be ever new in quality. Our minds are to be set apart by Christ unto Christ.  This kind of mind renewal only comes through surrender to the heart and mind of Christ.  He changes US.  We do NOT change ourselves. 

This changes our thinking about Christ.  We put Him first.  This changes our thinking about ourselves.  We put us last.  This lines up our thinking about others.  We serve them in the name of Christ.  We love without hypocrisy.  We hate evil.  We love good.  We are devoted to one another in preference and in honor.  We are diligent, fervent servants.  Hope wins.  Tribulation is endured together.  Prayer is our conversation.  Giving becomes our desire.  We open our homes as ministry locations.  

Welcome to how it feels to be mindfully set apart unto Jesus!  As believers, we know that He is preparing a place in His home for us.  While we are here on earth, we should share our roof and our table and our supplies as a vehicle for inviting others to come live with us forever with Christ.