12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world”. Israel frequently wanted to be like the nations. The church is forever trying to be like the world. This is not what we are meant to be, not what we were created for, nor saved for. We were saved to be like Christ. We are to be transformed, not conformed. And this transformation comes about by the renewal of our minds. This is not the mere gathering of knowledge, but a whole new way of thinking. For instance, if we lose our lives for Christ’s sake we actually gain them. And this is most certainly not an unthinking approach to life. We are to discern the will of God by testing. We apply Godly wisdom, not human wisdom, to situations. And God’s will is “good and acceptable and perfect”.
12:3
“By the grace given to me ...” We sometimes think of grace as a rather “soft” thing. However, grace also gives authority. Right at the beginning of Romans Paul said it was because of the grace given to him that he was an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul’s first instruction to them is to have a right attitude about themselves. We should not have an unduly high opinion of ourselves. Instead we are to have a “sober judgement” about ourselves (and others). While we must not have an inflated picture of ourselves, we must not have an inferiority complex either, especially mistaking it for humility. We are to measure ourselves by faith. This means that we recognise we are all forgiven sinners and that God is making us evermore Christlike, able to be useful servants.
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