For the Christian, conversion is about something much greater than obeying a few instructions. As important as such commands are, conversion is basically about a new direction for one's life. The converted come to God through Jesus Christ in order to change directions in life. One's faith does not lead him/her to repent and to be baptized in order to continue to live as he/she always lived. Purposes change. Values change. Behavior changes. Moral concepts change. The converted look at commitments, relationships, promises, and the treatment of people in an entirely different manner.
The question truly becomes this for the converted: "What influences and forces do I, as one guided by Jesus Christ, allow to shape who and what I am?" It is what I allow to shape me that determines who I am and what I do. Are those forces to be ambition? For what? Success? How do I determine its existence? Material accomplishments? The pursuit of pleasure? What defines my joy? Societies' expectations? Will I allow people who do not know or love God to decide who I am and what I do?
The real issue: Do I exist in pursuit of a God-centered life or in pursuit of a physically centered life? Certainly that involves a definition and a distinction. The Christian of necessity must define what is meant by God centered. Nothing happens in my life if I merely transpose my godless lifestyle into my godly lifestyle. Nothing changes. I just give new names to old habits. Thus I must distinguish between influences and forces in my life that encourage me to become more spiritual and the influences and forces in my life that encourage me to consider only physical desires.
Consider the realities of the Christian living in first century Rome. "Do I abandon Christian morals to win acceptance in an idolatrous city? Does being "politically on the inside" [like calling the ruling Caesar a god in public] control my actions? Do I regard worshipping the patron god or goddess of my trade guild as an economic necessity in order to retain my job and to continue to do what I trained to do? After all, my training required enormous personal sacrifice! Do I "use people" as opportunities to get ahead in the patron system? Am I to allow the pursuit of pleasure or power to determine who I am and what I do in my circumstances produced by my realities in my social environment? Remember these were first generation Christians. They could not return to Christian families for encouragement and support--they were the first Christians in their family! Seeking a Christian enterprise operating on Christian values was not an option--those enterprises did not exist yet!
Thus the option was straight forward. Because I follow Jesus Christ, do I allow this new God to Whom I belong determine who and what I am? Or, do I allow the physical realities of a society who does not even acknowledge this new God determine who and what I am? Do I conform to the physical realities of idolatrous Rome, or am I transformed by God's will? What or who do I allow to shape who and what I am?
Note several things about Paul's plea. Though not discussed, remember (1) Paul just completed an explanation of God's ability to save; and (2) specifically demonstrated that gentile people of faith in Christ were included in God's desire to save. In Paul's plea, first note it is based on God's mercy. The foundation motive was to be an appreciation of an act of God: the revealing of His inclusive mercy. Their spiritual commitment was to be based on God's deservedness!
Second, note the commitment to a spiritual existence was justified. Though such commitment might not be appreciated in the realities of their physical environment, it would be appreciated by the God who deserved such commitment. The merciful God deserved their spiritual commitment!
Third, note this spiritual presentation of self to God involved their bodies. The presentation involved more than a hidden attitude. It involved more than guarded internal values to which loyalty was professed in 'safe' contexts. It involved physical expression in bodily form. It involved a sacrifice of self, not of an animal the person acquired. The convert was to understand that self was given to God as a gift to express personal appreciation for His mercy. This gift was given as an act of worship which redefined the common concept of holy. Holy was more than something aside from yourself which you gave. It was the living [continuing] gift of self to God.
Fourth, note what shaped them. The shaping force was not to be a conformity to the realties fashioned by the age in a godless Rome. They were to be shaped by God's will. For this to occur, a transformation of life must occur. The transformation would not be produced by some sort of external control. It would occur by the renewing of the mind. Their faith produced service to God based on understanding, not mere habitual acts! They would be dedicated to a new way of thinking [an enormous, continuing challenge!]. This new way of thinking would be focused on determining God's will, not on "getting ahead" by conforming to societies' control. It would involve understanding God's concepts and definitions of "good" and "perfect." It's objective would be to give pleasure to God rather than to society.
Bottom line, what was to shape them as they lived in idolatrous Rome? They were to be shaped by God's will, not by society's expectations. Bottom line, what is to shape who we are and what we do? It is the same. It is God's will, not society's expectations. Being a Christian is a transformation of life, not a conforming to unspiritual expectations.
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 2