The transformed heart
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).
At the beginning of Romans 12 Paul appeals to his fellow Christians, by the mercies of God communicated through His love, to present their bodies as living sacrifices. This is the spiritually intelligent and holy response of our lives to God.
We are not to be conformed to this world (v. 2). “Conformed” means to be shaped into something different. It is rather like a jelly mould emphasising a visible change. Instead, we are to be transformed (metamorphosis), which describes a complete transformation by God’s power. The emphasis is on an inward change expressed through the character and life of a Christian. Paul encourages his readers to behave with humility and to understand and appreciate the different members of Christ’s body. He outlines some of the spiritual gifts given for the building up of the Church, and he describes how these should be used in spiritual ways (vv. 6-8).
Paul completes the chapter with the characteristics that demonstrate the transforming power of God’s love in our hearts, minds and lives:
v. 9: a genuine love – “Let love be without hypocrisy.”
v. 10: a compassionate and considerate love – “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another.”
v. 11: a hardworking love – “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”
v. 12: a rejoicing, patient and prayerful love – “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”
v. 13: a love that gives – “Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”
v. 14: a love that blesses – “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
v. 15: a love that sympathises – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
v. 16: a unifying and lowly love – “Be of the same mind toward one another, do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”
v. 17: a love that suffers evil but does good – “Repay no one evil for evil, have regard for good things in the sight of all men.”
v. 18: a peaceable love – “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
v. 19-21: a love that overcomes – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
This is the love of God, which has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (see Romans 5:5).
