Now Paul turns to some of the practical implications of the gospel. This is a pattern he follows in most of his letters. The "theological" bits are not there for mere academic interest, they have a direct impact on our day-to-day living. What we believe will affect how we live.
God's mercy is in no way to be viewed as meaning we can do what we like and get away with it. In fact we would pout ourselves in grave danger if we treated God's mercy with contempt (Heb 6:6). Instead we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Because of what Jesus did in the cross, our lives are acceptable to God. Sometimes we can hold back because we feel unworthy. Isaiah 6 we read that once the burning coal had taken away Isaiah's sin he was willing to offer his service to God. We should do likewise. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were dead, but we are living sacrifices, our sacrifice will achieve something. The true worship is the offering of our lives to God as instruments to be used by Him for His glory and for the good of others.
We are not to be dictated tom either in our actions or thought patterns, by the world. Instead we are to be transformed, we are to allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. Sometimes people talk as if the mind is a problem. A renewed mind is not a problem. A mind that is submitted to God is one that will help us to live lives that are pleasing to Him. Our minds were a problem because of sin, but then so were our hearts (Jer 17:9). Jesus died to bring complete salvation to us, and that includes sanctifying our minds.
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