Transformed Heart
Transformed Heart
John 17:16
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
(Jesus in the Garden praying to God about His disciples)
As followers of Jesus, we are meant to stand out—not because we’re better, but because we’re changed. There are many "versions" of Jesus in the world today—different teachings, different gospels—but only one true Jesus. And He calls us to live by His truth, not popular opinion.
2 Timothy 4:2-3
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Paul warns Timothy that a time is coming when people will reject sound teaching. That time is now. People chase what makes them feel good, not what makes them holy. But we’re called to preach truth, even when it’s hard. Even when it’s unpopular.
Background to Romans 12
Before jumping into chapter 12, we need to understand where we are in the letter. Romans is written to Christians in Rome (Romans 1:7). At the time, there was tension: Jewish believers had just returned from a five-year exile (Acts 18:2), and the church was filled with first-generation Gentile believers. There was turmoil—cultural tension, spiritual confusion—and Paul addresses it head-on.
{Interestingly, Harvard Law School once studied the book of Romans for its logical structure.}
Paul builds a powerful case, and the first 11 chapters lay the foundation. Then, in chapter 12, everything shifts.
The Hinge of the Letter
So when Paul begins chapter 12 with the word “Therefore”, we should ask: What’s it there for? It’s pointing us back to the greatness and mercy of God.
Romans 12:1-2
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And 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.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
(Jesus in the Garden praying to God about His disciples)
As followers of Jesus, we are meant to stand out—not because we’re better, but because we’re changed. There are many "versions" of Jesus in the world today—different teachings, different gospels—but only one true Jesus. And He calls us to live by His truth, not popular opinion.
2 Timothy 4:2-3
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Paul warns Timothy that a time is coming when people will reject sound teaching. That time is now. People chase what makes them feel good, not what makes them holy. But we’re called to preach truth, even when it’s hard. Even when it’s unpopular.
Background to Romans 12
Before jumping into chapter 12, we need to understand where we are in the letter. Romans is written to Christians in Rome (Romans 1:7). At the time, there was tension: Jewish believers had just returned from a five-year exile (Acts 18:2), and the church was filled with first-generation Gentile believers. There was turmoil—cultural tension, spiritual confusion—and Paul addresses it head-on.
{Interestingly, Harvard Law School once studied the book of Romans for its logical structure.}
Paul builds a powerful case, and the first 11 chapters lay the foundation. Then, in chapter 12, everything shifts.
The Hinge of the Letter
Romans 11:36
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
So when Paul begins chapter 12 with the word “Therefore”, we should ask: What’s it there for? It’s pointing us back to the greatness and mercy of God.
Romans 12:1-2
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And 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.
Because God created and sustains all things, our only reasonable response is to live for His perfect will.
Anything else is a losing battle.
A Transformed Heart Is Urgent
Paul says, “I beseech you…” That word means to urgently plead.
The Christian life should carry urgency—especially when it comes to reaching the lost.
Time is short.
We’re not promised tomorrow.
The average life expectancy is 78.8 years.
That’s not much time.
If my time is limited, then I need to limit how I spend it.
The Christian life should carry urgency—especially when it comes to reaching the lost.
Time is short.
2 Corinthians 6:2
Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
We’re not promised tomorrow.
The average life expectancy is 78.8 years.
That’s not much time.
If my time is limited, then I need to limit how I spend it.
A Transformed Heart Is Understanding
“By the mercies of God…”
Paul is urging Christians to remember what God has already done.
We owe everything to Christ.
Romans 1:14
"I am a debtor..."
We are debtors—not in guilt, but in gratitude. Because of His mercy, we live with understanding. What I’ve received, I must now give away.
A Transformed Heart Is Spiritually Empowered (Unction)
“…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Before Christ saved you, you had no desire to give your life to Him. You didn’t even know that you could. But now, Paul calls us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice—not because of what we can do, but because of what He has done.
We are not the sacrifice—Jesus is.
But because of His sacrifice, we live differently.
1 Corinthians 15:31
“I die daily.”
We die to self. Every day.
The life we live now is through the grace given to us by Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice. Because of His mercy, we now live under a new covenant—a covenant that makes us acceptable to God.
And this kind of life?
It’s not a burden. It’s what we want to do.
Why wouldn’t we live this way?
Because in a world full of false versions of Jesus—"all the Jesus's" that people try to shape in their own image—we still want control.
But surrender is the only reasonable response to mercy like His.
A Transformed Heart Is Unfinished
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
If you’re a Christian, you’re still being shaped.
Think of the caterpillar. It crawls into the cocoon unaware that transformation is coming. But once transformed—it flies.
You weren’t born to crawl. You were born to be changed.
Renewing your mind is a daily process. Paul himself struggled:
So daily, we remind ourselves:
I am a living sacrifice. I am still being transformed.
If you’re a Christian, you’re still being shaped.
Think of the caterpillar. It crawls into the cocoon unaware that transformation is coming. But once transformed—it flies.
You weren’t born to crawl. You were born to be changed.
Romans 6:10–11
"Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus..."
Renewing your mind is a daily process. Paul himself struggled:
Romans 7:15
"For what I am doing, I do not understand..."
So daily, we remind ourselves:
I am a living sacrifice. I am still being transformed.
A Transformed Heart Is Undivided
“That you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
When you live a life fully surrendered, no proof is needed—it’s visible.
The Christian life, lived out with passion and obedience, draws others in.
We prove His will by doing His will.
Why? Because…
When you live a life fully surrendered, no proof is needed—it’s visible.
The Christian life, lived out with passion and obedience, draws others in.
We prove His will by doing His will.
Why? Because…
Romans 11:36
“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things…”
No Comments