The Spiritual Life Lesson 6 - Dedication to God Part 2

Thinking on Scripture with Dr. Steven R. Cook

Scripture tells us, as Christians, to “Submit to God” (Jam 4:7), and “present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:13), and “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1).[1] These directives are to Christians, calling us to a surrendered life to God. Concerning Romans 12:1, Earl Radmacher states:

• "Based on God’s mercy (Rom 9:11, 15, 16, 18, 23; 11:30–32), Paul entreats believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, meaning they should use their bodies to serve and obey God (Rom 6:13). Such giving of the body to God is more than a contrast with a dead animal sacrifice, it is “newness of life” (Rom 6:4). Holy means set apart for the Lord’s use; acceptable means pleasing to Him; and reasonable indicates that such a gift is the only rational reaction to all the good gifts God has showered on us. [bolding his]"[2]

That Paul instructs his Christian readers to “present yourselves to God” (Rom 6:13) and “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God” (Rom 12:1a) would imply they had not made this important decision but needed to do so. Paul called them to act, directing them to exercise their volition in order that they might move forward in their spiritual life, which, he says, “is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1b). God has done so much to provide our salvation, offering redemption for sins through the death of Christ on the cross; therefore, it is only natural that a life dedicated to Him, born out of gratitude and appreciation, would follow in response.

Submissive Christians will, at a point in time, dedicate their lives to Christ. This is usually some defining moment in their life, perhaps a crisis, where they commit themselves to the Lord.[3] This initial act of dedication will be followed by acts of restoration when failure occurs (1 John 1:9). Dedication is like a marriage ceremony that occurs only once. The life and health of the marriage is what follows, and this is built on many decisions to love and be faithful. If there is failure in the marriage, it does not require a new wedding ceremony, but humility, forgiveness, and the readjustment of the offender to the offended, and the walk of love that reflects a healthy relationship.

Whereas Romans 12:1 pertains to the Christian’s act of dedication to God, Romans 12:2 addresses how to begin the process of moving forward in our spiritual life. Paul wrote, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). First, we are not to be conformed to the world in which we live. The word “conformed” translates the Greek verb suschematizō (συσχηματίζω), which, according to Louw-Nida, means “to form or mold one’s behavior in accordance with a particular pattern or set of standards—to shape one’s behavior, to conform one’s life.”[4] Here, the verb is in the imperative mood, which means it’s a command to be obeyed, and in the present tense, which speaks to ongoing action. Pauls’ reference to “this world” refers to Satan’s world system, which consists of those values and philosophies that originate with Satan and are contrary to the character and will of God. This means we are nonconformists who refuse to be pressed into the world’s mold of values and practices.

In contrast to being conformed to Satan’s world system, Paul says Christians are to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2b). The word “transformed” translates the Greek verb metamorphoō (μεταμορφόω), which, according to BDAG, means “to change inwardly in fundamental character or condition, be changed, be transformed.”[5] Here we have another verb in the imperative mood, which means it’s a command to be obeyed, and in the present tense, which speaks to ongoing action. Satan wants to control us by means of our sinful natures, demonic forces, and external pleasures and pressures, in order to get us to align with the world system he’s created. But God does not want us to conform to Satan’s system, but to be transformed on the inside so that we can walk with Him (Gal 5:16, 25) and resist Satan (Jam 4:7; 1 Pet 5:9). Transformation is a process that starts with God who works in the heart of the believer who is surrendered to Him. According to Warren Wiersbe, “The world wants to control your mind, but God wants to transform your mind (see Eph 4:17–24; Col 3:1–11)…If the world controls your thinking, you are a conformer; if God controls your thinking, you are a transformer.”[6]

This process of transformation involves the renovation of the mind and the recalibration of our thoughts according to the standard of God’s Word. It means expunging a lifetime of human viewpoint and replacing it with divine viewpoint. This is a slow and disciplined process, one that brings joy as the acquisition of divine revelation floods light into a sin-darkened soul that desperately needs healing. Wiersbe states, “God transforms our minds and makes us spiritually minded by using His Word. As you spend time meditating on God’s Word, memorizing it, and making it a part of your inner man, God will gradually make your mind more spiritual (see 2 Cor 3:18).”[7] Earl Radmacher adds:

• "Spiritual transformation starts in the mind and heart. A mind dedicated to the world and its concerns will produce a life tossed back and forth by the currents of culture. But a mind dedicated to God’s truth will produce a life that can stand the test of time. We can resist the temptations of our culture by meditating on God’s truth and letting the Holy Spirit guide and shape our thoughts and behaviors."[8]

And Charles Ryrie states:

• "The believer’s mind occupies a central place in his spiritual development. God uses it in his understanding of truth (Luke 24:45; 1 Cor 14:14–15). The dedicated life must include a renewed mind (Rom 12:2). The mind is involved in deciding doubtful things (1 Cor 14:5), in pursuing holiness (1 Pet 1:13), in understanding the Lord’s will (Eph 5:17), and in loving the Lord (Matt 22:37). Every thought must be captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5)."[9]

Dr. Steven R. Cook

[1] The word “present” translates the Greek verb paristemi (παρίστημι), which is in the aorist tense, viewing the act in a summary manner, as a snapshot, which implies a decisive action at a point in time.

[2] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1447.

[3] This happened to me in August of 1988 when I woke on the grass next to an apartment complex where I’d slept the night before. I’d been using hard drugs for seven years (i.e., PCP, LSD, Cocaine, etc.) and had come to a place of homelessness with suicidal ideations. I was at a place of crisis, and like a big ship that’s about to hit an iceberg and be totally destroyed, my life needed to be redirected, quickly, or I was going down to destruction. In my place of self-inflicted ruination, I cried out to the Lord, and He rescued me. Shortly afterwards, I surrendered to Him and began the journey of spiritual growth by learning and living His Word. I dedicated myself to the Lord at that time, to know Him through His Word and to walk with Him. Though I’ve had many points of stepping off God’s path of righteousness (i.e., when I sin), I’ve also taken hold of His provision of being able to redirect myself back on to the path of righteousness by means of confession (1 John 1:9).

[4] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 506.

[5] William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 639.

[6] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 554.

[7] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 554.

[8] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1447.

[9] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 228.