From Killer to Saint.

From Killer to Saint. Romans 12:1-8.

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. Romans 12:1 (NKJV)

Paul has discussed the plan of God for a Messiah, the need for salvation, and Israel's rejection of the Messiah, yet now is no longer going to try to persuade a person to come to Christ; for there is only so much that you can say to a person without moving on.

With one last urge, Paul beseeches his brother Jews to present themselves unto God and do what is right before God. Knowing that if they would seek God faithfully, then they would see the truth about the message he preaches.

A person, no matter if they are Jew or Christian, is to present themselves unto God as trying to escape the corruption of this life and live as purely as they can. It is reasonable that if our God is holy, we too should seek holiness and refrain from impure thoughts and actions.

Proof of God can be seen in nature and no person is excused from answering His call. Throughout our life the Spirit of God is calling us to come to God; especially those of Israel who have a history of deliverance and leadership by God. It is inexcusable to resist, reject, or ignore God's work in our lives.

The Jews who rejected Jesus, worked through the Roman law to have Jesus crucified. He was a man, who healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry, and taught with compassion and authority. What could bring people to such depravity that could commit such actions against a person of such a divine nature?

Let us stop for a moment and consider what would make people act the way they did towards Jesus; for we too are people capable of actions against God. What was it that made them think to have Him killed?

Somewhere they developed a resistant attitude. Though they saw Him extend a helping hand to the poor, the sick, and having compassion towards children, they turned their attention towards Him in rivalry. This attitude continued towards the first church and Christians were beaten, stoned to death, and commanded to stop preaching.

Paul was one of those who led the chase against the church and there is no one better to explain to us how this attitude transpires.

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. Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

First Paul asks them to present themselves to God. A person who daily presents themselves to God in prayer and in His scriptures has a reference to compare themselves against. God is good, what we are and how we have acted comes to the forefront of such a meeting. Like Adam and Eve, our sin will cause a distance and desire to hide from God. Therefore if we present ourselves, we have an opportunity see and correct the problems.

Secondly Paul tells them to not be conformed to the world; the world would be those they live and socialize with. Public opinion should never guide us or be allowed to shape our attitudes;p for attitudes turn into action. It was an attitude that the leaders of the temple had towards Jesus that incited others to join them in killing Christ.

Yet we should be seeking to transform our thoughts into pure thoughts and sound actions that help, restore, and better those we live, work, and socialize with. In doing this we can prove what is good and acceptable to God for our measuring stick is not public opinion but acceptance by God as felt in our daily meetings with God.

Evil possesses the hearts of many persons. People run towards darkness and they hate the light and huddled in masses, they take on the characteristics of each other. Bad company corrupts good morals and this must be applied to our lives every day and with every person that we associate with.

There will be those we cannot escape, as we are thrust together in work, school, and social environments; however, if we are daily seeking God and measuring against His standard of holiness we will see ourselves and can change what the worlds influence will do to us.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-7 (NKJV)

Many will say that they are above the influence of the world and that it does not affect them. To them Paul says, "do not think more highly of yourself, but think soberly." The truth is we are all subject to having a fallen sinful nature and given the right circumstance and opportunity, we all are capable of being persuaded to actions we never thought ourselves to do.

In addition, we should never look down on others for their sin. A pastor once preached that the only difference from a killer and us is the circumstance and the opportunity to act inappropriately. We are all the same and though we could never see ourselves becoming a killer, circumstance can drive anyone to an action and an action will have psychological effects that can change us for the worst.

Passion, heat, rage, anger, and outburst are all driven from with our hearts as we react to circumstance and evil pressures us. Therefore we should never consider ourselves better or beyond temptation, but recognize that we need God in our life and in faith seek Him daily.

Third Paul directs the reader to faith. In faith we are to seek God and when we do we will see that inside us God has made a person with talent, ability, and goodness. Just as we have the capacity to allow temptation to drive us to sin, faith can drive us to many wonderful works.

When pursuing faith, our lives react in ways that produces a product that serves God. All the things that Christ did came from within Him and He reached out to serve, help, forgive, and bring others to know God as their Father.

When doing well, it has a psychological its own and produces joy, love, fellowship, friendship, and creates an environment of peace. Now when you couple this within a group of believers, the effects leach out into the surrounding lives.

If we present our bodies to God and die to our old self, our sacrifice produces a new life, a new person, and a new direction that serves God. You become pleasing to God.