Romans 12 is a well-known and powerful passage. People often highlight the word “transform” in verse 2, noting how it links to “metamorphosis”—the image of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. It’s a beautiful thought, but is based on our use of the Greek word not on Paul’s understanding. Paul isn’t offering a gentle, pretty picture here.

The book of Romans tackles deep divisions and struggles: conflicts between Jew and Gentile believers, battles against sin, and the pressures of the Roman Empire and its demands for the hearts and minds of every citizen. In chapters 1–11, Paul lays out the theological framework, and in chapter 12, he begins to show how believers can fight back, not with violence or rebellion, but with transformation.

When Paul calls us to be “living sacrifices,” he isn’t asking for passive surrender. It’s a oxymoron. Sacrifices can’t be alive. But we are. We are baptised and empowered with new life. The life of Jesus. Paul’s presenting a bold and subversive way to change the world. By refusing to conform to this world’s selfish patterns, we reshape the game itself.

We freely chose to be baptised into Jesus. The challenge for all of us is to live out the new life of Jesus. Discipleship is not about giving in or bowing to the way things are. It’s about a new life a life transformed, and transforming others as a result.

As transforming disciples, we don’t accept the status quo. We don’t give in to oppression, the pull of sin, or the false promises of power. Jesus sacrificed himself to change the world. We live as sacrifices to continue his mission—turning this upside-down world right-side up.

Living sacrifices turn the other cheek, not to invite harm but to demonstrate that love is stronger than hate. The redemptive power of love is the only way to truly transform. At the end of Revelation, Jesus says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” That’s the ultimate power of his love, a world where nothing selfish or broken will remain.

Paul’s command in Romans 12:2 is to “not be conformed to this world.” It’s a warning against drifting with the standard flow of the everyday. A disciple of Jesus must be focused and determined, not passive or aimless. Focus and determination are key to our walk as a disciple. One of the values of the memorial table is the opportunity to ensure we are actively living a Jesus-centered life rather than just drifting along.

Paul’s tells us we have to continuously renew our mind. The new life is one of change and growth we have to always transforming our mindset, our understanding, and most importantly, how we live out our faith.

Jesus doesn’t want people who know stuff and do nothing. Romans 12 goes on to emphasize finding our role in God’s community, using our gifts to serve others. A living sacrifice loves, gives generously, and shows empathy, even when it’s difficult.

It’s tempting to hold grudges or seek revenge, especially when we’ve been hurt. But vengeance isn’t our job. It’s God’s. Trying to be judge, jury, and executioner distorts our sense of justice and distracts us from our mission to love and transform. If mercy is twice blest blessing him that gives and him that takes (per Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice) then human judgment is twice cursed wounding both the judge and the judged.

Sometimes people will hurt us repeatedly, and turning the other cheek may feel exhausting. But God sees, and his justice will prevail. Our part is to reflect his grace. A living sacrifice doesn’t repay hurt with hurt. Instead, we feed the hungry, even if they’ve wronged us. We offer water to the thirsty, even if they’ve let us down. We consciously chose to aid those who caused us pain. 

That’s what our new life looks like in real life—overcoming evil with good, transforming the world through love – one person at a time.

May God bless us all with grace, courage, and love to daily transform and shine as an example of Jesus in this world.

by Daniel Edgecombe