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The book of Roman is a masterfully written exposition on grace. This letter to the believers in Rome has changed the hearts of many as they read and understand the wonderful truths nestled inside. Paul wrote this letter to these Christians to explain his revelation of grace.

Romans 1 covers Paul's introduction to the book of Romans as well as building a case against the entire world that we were guilty before God. The reason for writing the book of Romans was to share the gospel and teach that our righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ apart from what we can do to earn it.

Romans 2 is written to admonish the Jews that living by the law and circumcision does not make them righteous in God's eyes. This comes as quite a shock, but Paul stresses that living by rules and regulations only brings about judgment and condemnation. Paul concludes that a true Jew is one that has experienced circumcision of the heart by the Spirit of God.

Romans 3 completes the accusation that both the Jews and the Gentiles are guilty before God. Now the prosecution can rest and the defense can begin. Paul switches gears by explaining that the righteousness that the law was powerless to give us, God did by sending Jesus. He maintains that this righteousness comes by faith to all who believe in Christ Jesus apart from the law.

Romans 4 is proof that faith has always been the means for justification. Paul reflects back to the Old Testament patriarchs who were justified by faith, not works, to illustrate his point. Paul uses this illustration to prove that Gentiles were part of this promise given to Abraham. The whole world was blessed through him because he chose to believe God rather than his circumstances and because of this, his faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Romans 5 is powerful and instrumental in understanding that we are completely reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. God did not spare his son, but graciously gave him for us to undo what Adam did in the garden. Death came through one man's sin, but life came more abundantly in every way through the gift of Jesus. Paul stresses that this reconciliation is not something we are waiting for, but in every sense of the word, we are righteous, holy and pure before God.

Romans 6 eloquently teaches that, as born again believers, sin's power over us is broken. Paul maintains that we are freed from sin and made alive to God through Jesus Christ. Our sin nature was crucified with him when we were baptized into his death. Now through Jesus, we have received the gift of God which was eternal life.

Romans 7 shows us the contrast between living bound to the law and living fresh and new by the spirit of God. No longer slaves or in bondage, we are free to belong to another. The struggle with sin may still be evident, but Paul maintains we have no obligation to it. If we live by the Spirit then we will bear fruit according to our new nature.

Romans 8 shows how to live by the Spirit, letting peace rule in our hearts. The Holy Spirit within us testifies that we are children of God. He gives us assurance before God so we are convinced that nothing will ever separate us from His love. This is a passage of hope because we know our future is bright in Christ.

Romans 9 teaches us that it is not natural children that are God's children, but rather children of the promise. The promise comes through faith in Christ not by works of the Law. The Israelites who pursued righteousness by the law did not obtain it. But Gentiles, those who pursued it by faith, obtained their righteousness through Jesus Christ. Chapter 9 is a sobering call that Christ alone saves nothing else is sufficient.

Romans 10 teaches the word of faith. By confessing with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and by believing this in our hearts we are saved. Nothing more, nothing less. Christ is the end of the law so we can be justified and made righteous by faith in Jesus alone. Faith comes by hearing this gospel message and responding to it. Paul encourages us that "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Romans 11 discusses that although Israel as a whole rejected Jesus as their Messiah, there is still a remnant chosen by grace. Their dismissal of Jesus has blessed the world because this salvation message was then opened to the Gentiles. However, they have not fallen beyond recovery, in the end Israel will be saved through faith. God's plan includes bestowing mercy upon all mankind.

Romans 12 encourages us to be living sacrifices in view of the mercy we have received in Christ Jesus. We do this through renewing our minds to the truth of God's word, serving and blessing the body of Christ through our gifts and above all by loving and being devoted to one another. Romans 12 is a call to live a life of peace, faithfully serving the Lord in all things and overcoming the evil of the world by the lives we live through Christ Jesus.

Romans 13 is a charge to clothe ourselves with Christ Jesus and live as his children in this present world. We are to submit to authorities and to pay respect where it is due. We are to awake from our slumber and serve the Lord out of love showing that we are included in the light of the gospel.

Romans 14 encourages us to consider everything we do as if we are doing it for the Lord. It is a call to do what leads to peace and mutual edification within the body of Christ. We are not to condemn or look down on those who are weaker in faith, but be fully convinced of what is acceptable in our own minds, for everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Romans 15 stresses unity within the body of believers. We are to take the encouragement from the scriptures and Christ as our example in how we live accepting one another. Paul reminds us that we are competent ministers of the gospel taking in and internalizing the amazing grace that was covered in the previous chapters. Now it is our job to share it with others.

Romans 16 is Paul's final farewell and instruction to the believers in Rome. He is affectionate toward them and gives final coaching to watch out for false doctrine and teachings and those who would cause division among them. He reminds them that Satan will soon be crushed under their feet and that His gospel is able to hold them until the day of Jesus.

As you can see this is an amazing book and will bless all who read, understand and enjoy this wonderful message of Jesus.

The book of Roman is a masterfully written exposition on grace. This letter to the believers in Rome has changed the hearts of many as they read and understand the wonderful truths nestled inside. Paul wrote this letter to these Christians to explain his revelation of grace. This revelation was not made of man but Paul received it directly from the Lord Jesus himself. "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ" ( Galatians 1:11-12 ). What Paul taught was beyond previous comprehension and understanding. Becoming a student of this letter will change your heart and bring you into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Because Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles he wrote to this church to settle a dispute between the Messianic Jews and the Gentiles. The church was a diverse group of people who had settled in Rome from other areas. There is no record of an a visit to this church by an apostle offering doctrinal teaching and guidance.  In fact many assume that these Christian had been in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given ( Acts 2 ). They spread and settled in Rome. The church was comprised of Gentiles who had converted from idol worship and devote Jews who believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Problems arose when the Jews urged the Gentiles to live as Jews and undergo the rite of circumcision. Because of Paul's mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles he felt an obligation to write to this church and settle this dispute among them explaining in fullness the grace of God.

The book of Romans covers a multitude of topics including: grace, redemption, salvation by grace, being born again, the gospel, righteousness apart from the law, freedom from sin, eternal salvation, living by the Spirit and the love of God. Don't miss this incredible journey of faith.

Read a summary of each of the 16 chapters of Romans.

This book is about grace, how Christ has made us right with God. Believing in Him and accepting this wonderful gift is the only thing it takes on our part. This is the amazing truth that Christ came to this earth to share. The gospel is God's message of love, mercy and grace in the person of Jesus Christ. It is the good news that was hidden in the ages past and unknown until Jesus came to earth, as a man, to show us the love of the Father.

Through this word and through the person of Jesus Christ, we can know and understand God in an intimate way. Paul started this letter by declaring that the gospel was the "power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" ( Romans 1:16 ). So it is only fitting that as he closes this final chapter, he is reminding us that this proclamation of Christ was manifest so that "all nations might believe and obey him". The gospel truly is the power of God that can unwrite, all the wrong, ever done in this life. All we need to do is believe in Jesus and this unlocks the power of God for our eternal salvation.

I can imagine how the Apostle Paul felt as he finished up this amazing letter to the church in Rome. Knowing what it contained must have given him incredible pleasure. These wonderful truths had been recorded and plans were made to send it to the ends of the earth. He must have felt relief and joy knowing that the course of people's lives would be changed by reading these words and understanding the revelation of grace that he held onto. I wonder if he had a glimpse of the magnitude of impact this letter would have on the many people who have since read it. Did he know how many lives beyond his time and influence would be touched as he closed this letter with a wonderful exhortation to the only wise God and the glory of Jesus.

I can relate in a very small way to what Paul must have felt, as I have spent the past year of my life studying this incredible book. I have recounted the revelation which the Lord has given me in this blog.  I've received comments, emails and personal testimonies from my readers and have been blessed and encouraged by each one, knowing that these words, written by Paul, continue to bring freedom to everyone who reads and understands them.

As I close this chapter and finish this wonderful blog on the book of Romans I am forever changed by the grace I have been given through Jesus. I am so thankful that the Lord has chosen me to write this commentary. And now I commend you to this gospel of grace, that you may be rooted and established in it. May God's grace and mercy carry you through this life and equip you for the next. To God be the glory both now and forever, amen!

God looked ahead and saw the corruption that would befall mankind. Each generation gets more wicked and more evil. Even among Israel, sin's stronghold grew and they turned away from God every chance they got. Isaiah spoke that unless God left them descendants they would have faired like Sodom and Gomorrah and be completely destroy by that corruption. Fortunately for us, we are the descendants that Isaiah spoke about. The true children of God are born again believers who have put their trust in Jesus as their savior. God was not satisfied in letting His descents struggle under the power of sin any longer. So he provided a way for his children to be living children, born again with His spirit sustaining life on the inside. This can only be accomplished through Christ Jesus.

This is an amazing truth, because Paul has been teaching that not all of Israel is truly of the promise spoken to Abraham, only those who are born out of faith belong to it ( Romans 9:8 ). This was the way God provided for us to escape from the corruption in the world. He has given everyone a choice, even the natural line of Abraham which is the nation of Israel. They too have to come into faith and trust in Jesus as their savior, not relying on the Law of Moses and their works to accomplish their justification. Paul is quoting from Isaiah when he said that only the remnant will be saved. "Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand by the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, The Lord, the LORD Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land" ( Isaiah 10:22-23 ). Although they number as great as the sands of the sea only a small number will be saved from perdition. This is a sobering realization, especially since the Jews have a wonderful heritage. However, God calls us by name and has chosen us to be his children. It is a matter of the heart and not a matter of belonging to a natural line. He calls and invites and we have to respond in faith, nothing more and nothing less.

Right now this call is open but eventually God will conclude his accounts with men completely. At that time, the only thing that will matter is what we have done with Jesus. Do we accept him as our savior and our propitiation for sin? Or do we reject him and rely on our own works to obtain reconciliation with God. Paul is pleading grace with his own people even though most have rejected Jesus. Isaiah prophesied it and Paul is reminding this nation that Jesus is the only way. We too have to accept this message and understand this grace. Once we do this, we are counted among the true children of Israel, God's chosen people on earth through faith in Jesus' atoning blood. We are the descendants that Isaiah looked forward to so that God's people would survive and flourish on the earth.

Today, if you believe in Jesus you have been joined to the remnant of Jews that have been saved. God has called for himself a people that were previously not a people and has called us beloved where previously we were not loved ( Romans 9:24-26 ). All of this is by his grace. Today, it is my prayer that you understand this grace and let it be the foundation of every truth that God leads you into, amen.

Mankind has free will and God will not override our choices in life. Throughout our entire life time we are presented with the opportunity to accept the gospel message, which has the power to save us, or we can reject it. The outcome of this choice is based solely upon us. God does not choose for us, nor does he predestine some to be saved and some to be damned. Predestination rests solely upon His foreknowledge of our acceptance of His grace ( Romans 8:29, I Peter 1:2 ). He knew who would accept his message and so he also chose them based upon that foreknowledge. In the same way, He knew who would reject him and so they were prepared for destruction based upon that foreknowledge of their free will and choice.

In today's passage Paul writes to us that God endured with exceeding patience the objects of his wrath. These are the individuals that have rejected his salvation message and the payment for their sin. These individuals are destined for destruction of their own volition because they have chosen this path for their life and have rejected Jesus. It is easy to struggle over a statement such as this and focus on the wrath of God towards them, but what about his enduring patience concerning them? They are clearly enemies of cross and yet God is patient with them. He tolerates and endures those who have rejected his salvation and forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews says, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God" ( Hebrews 10:26-27 ). Once we have heard the truth and know that the only way to be reconciled to God is through faith in Jesus' atoning work on the cross, we have to make a decision whether or not we accept this payment for our sins. If we do not, there is no other sacrifice or payment option left to us, only judgment. Hebrews goes on to say, "Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ( Hebrews 10:28-31 ).

It is severe to reject Jesus and his incredible gift of salvation. God's wrath was fully satisfied through his redemptive work on the cross. However, if we do not accept this payment for our sins, then eventually those accounts will be called overdue. Payment will have to be rendered and how do you thing that God will respond to someone who has blatantly rejected his very own Son. There will be no acceptable alternative payment and it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God when it is God's very own precious Son that has been trampled and rejected in the process.

The amazing thing about a passage such as this, is that it shows an incredible facet of God's nature when you fully understand it. God is not dealing unfairly with mankind, the opposite is actually true, He is showing incredible mercy and grace in tolerating their rejection of Jesus. He does this to demonstrate to believers His incredible wealth of mercy. It shows us the depth of his love and grace that has no bounds. It is important to get revelation of the this truth because this will change the way we look at life. If we can understand how patient and loving God is towards even those who reject him we will know how accepted and loved we are in Christ Jesus. God even uses his enemies to show his incredible love towards us. When we stand before Christ and see his majesty and splendor we will fully understand how offensive and awful it is to reject such a gift. We will understand the severity of it and the depths of the mercy displayed in patiently enduring His enemies.

Understanding this truth is pivotal in understanding the nature of God. He grace and mercy knows no end and his loving kindness extends to the ends of the earth. Today, it is my prayer that you recognize the awesomeness of Jesus and how he can saved you from destruction and hell. The good news for today is that he also saves us from so much more, he has come to give us eternal life which starts the moment you come to Him and accept his free gift of grace. May you understand how blessed you are in Christ Jesus, amen!

Fortunately for us God's gift is not a question of human will or effort but depends solely upon His mercy towards us. There is nothing we can do to earn his grace when he has freely given it to us in Christ Jesus. We can choose to be in cooperation with him and abide in his plan or we can choose to walk away from him. But either way, this does not change the fact that He is merciful towards us.

In the context of today's passage, Paul is teaching us that God's will and plan will be accomplished in the end. He started out with a promise to Abraham and built his family based upon this covenant. He brought it to a people that were his own in the world but they didn't receive him. "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" ( John 1:12-13 ). You and I are included in this promise if we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior. This has always been a part of God's sovereign plan from the very beginning. It all depends on God.

Once we understand God's mercy towards us, it opens up an incredible channel for us to be reconciled to him. As humans we like to do things ourselves, pay our own way and work and provide for ourselves and our families. However, when we grasp how great our sin debt is and that we will never be able to pay for it by ourselves, this gets us to look outside of ourselves for the answer. We can try, struggle and work to accomplish this on our own or we can fall upon God's mercy and be justified before him. Paul said in Titus, "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy" ( Titus 3:5 ).

The Amplified Bible puts today's passage this way, "So then [God's gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God's mercy. [It depends not on one's own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God's having mercy on him.]" ( Romans 9:16 Amp ). As a whole God has extended his mercy towards mankind in sending Jesus. But each person has an obligation and a choice. We either accept this great mercy or we reject it. God patiently waits enduring all opposition to his mercy on account of mankind, knowing that others will come to him in the process. Through it all his plan unfolds and his will and purpose is accomplished.

Today, I know that I am a favored recipient of God's mercy. I have made the choice to accept his grace in all things. I am blessed to know it solely depends upon him and nothing I have done or can do to win his favor. Today, may you rest in his loving kindness and find the grace and mercy you need to navigate today and tomorrow, amen!

Mercy is a wonderful theme throughout the entire Bible. God has dealt with mankind in leniency and compassion since the beginning, but his expression of mercy was in the person of Jesus Christ. This is because Jesus brought into reality the forgiveness of sins so we could be reconciled to God once for all.

Once we were disobedient and rebellious toward God. But in spite of that defiance He showed us his mercy, "at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" ( Romans 5:6 ). This was a complete act of mercy on God's part. We were helpless and condemned because sin had ruined us. God did what we could not do by sending Jesus in our stead; he did this out of love. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" ( Romans 5:10 ). This mercy is offered to us even though we were disobedient to God and his precepts.

Understanding God's mercy toward us is what brings us to Christ to be justified by him. Romans 2 says, it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance ( Romans 2:4 ). In other words, it is the goodness of God, his love, his mercy and his compassion that brings us to him. Repentance simply means to turn around and go the other way. So when we experience the mercy and goodness of God we abandon the rebellious direction in which we are walking and turn 180 degrees toward God to follow after Him. When we turn to God and accept his message of grace we receive his mercy that also brings us into right relationship with Him.  This is the good news of the gospel, that we are reconciled to God based on his mercy and grace.

The Jews at present are disobedient to God's message of the cross. At one time they were inside of his covenants but became outsiders to the promise when they rejected Jesus as their Messiah. They looked at the cross as foolishness and walked away from it. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" ( I Corinthians 1:18 ). In their disobedience they walked away from the long awaited promise of God and his saving power through faith in Christ. The cross is so simple yet so profound, but the message of the cross is a stumbling block to the Jews. They are steeped in tradition and law and looking to Jesus as their savior seems too simple.  But its simplicity is what holds such incredible power. "We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" ( I Corinthians 1:23-25 ).

The Jews have experienced this hardening toward God on our account so that we can come to him in faith ( Romans 11:25 ). But they too in the end will return to God and find mercy through Christ. The purpose in this is that God's mercy will be displayed on all mankind alike, both to the Jews and the Gentles. We all know what it is like to be an outsider because of our sin nature and then we too will all know what it is like to find reconciliation with him based solely on his grace toward us. This is experiencing God's mercy first hand.  We all must come to him in the very same way, through faith in Christ Jesus, and then He personally opens the door and welcomes us into his family.

Today, I rejoice in His brilliant plan for mankind. I am thankful that God sent Jesus to bring us into relationship with him. His mercy is incredible and his grace is abundant. My prayer today is that you experience this life changing mercy that is freely offered to you in the person of Jesus. I pray that His grace brings fullness of joy into your life, amen.

An amazing thing happens when you internalize a passage of scripture such as this and start living it out. Once you show consideration for people who disregard you, then enemies can no longer stay enemies. By caring for them, God's love spills out of your heart, becomes an action and people respond to it.

God's love showed action when he sent Jesus into a hostile world. Romans 5 tells us that while we are still steeped in sin, God demonstrated his love for us in the person of Jesus Christ ( Romans 5:8 ). It is amazing to think that this act of mercy brought us into fellowship with God. Romans 5 goes on to say, "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" ( Romans 5:10 ). His act of love brought us to the place where we were no longer enemies. His mercy and goodness was never deserved, but Christ's purpose was to overcome evil and offer us freedom from death.

In the same way, our actions should resemble this act of love and mercy. Paul is quoting from an Old Testament passage when he reminds us to love our enemies by caring for them when they are in need. ( Proverbs 25:21-22 ) But Jesus told the disciples something very similar, "I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" ( Matthew 5:44 ). And again in the Gospel of Luke, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you" ( Luke 6:27-31 ). This attitude shows the genuineness of your faith. Jesus' point is that even sinners love and care for those who love them. But in the same way that he came and rescued his enemies making  us sons and daughters, we should love and care for those who hate us. In doing this we are not only allowing room for God to judge and make right in the end, but we are extending the love and mercy of God to our fellow mankind. Romans 2 says that it is the goodness of God that brings us to repentance ( Romans 2:4 ). By showing his goodness, love and grace to one another we are opening the door for them to come to God and be fully justified before him.

Today, I pray that you understand this amazing truth from God's word. May this revelation of God's mercy toward you extend to those around you and bless them. May God's love flow freely through you as you love and care for your enemies in His name, amen.

 Worship is a lifestyle. Worship that is pleasing to the Lord encompasses our whole being, thoughts and attitudes. Paul urges us to present our bodies to the Lord as living sacrifices devoted and consecrated to him as this is our reasonable service and an act of spiritual worship. This offering before the Lord is in view of his mercy toward us. Understanding the abundance of His grace and mercy will change our hearts. This is why Paul spent the last eleven chapters of Romans going over in detail this abundant grace through Christ so that we will understand God's mercy in spite of everything we have done. The greater our understanding of this truth, the more our lives will reflect this worship lifestyle with God as its center.

In Luke 7, Jesus visited the house of a Pharisee who had invited him to dinner. While he was there a certain woman came to him with an expensive bottle of perfume. She stood over Jesus weeping and anointing his feet with oil. The Pharisee was indignant and offended at this because she was a notorious sinner and an outcast in that society. He said to himself that if Jesus was really a prophet he would know what type of woman she was. Jesus, reading his thoughts asked him a question, "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" ( Luke 7:41 ). The Pharisee answered Jesus by telling him that the one that had the larger debt would love him more because he had been forgiven more. Jesus confirmed that he evaluated his question correctly.

The woman had come to Jesus aware of her status and her sin and had fallen at his feet worshipping him. She made no pretense that she was good enough for him, but she took what she had and offered it to him as a gift just the same. Jesus then went on to describe to this man that he had neglected even the common curiosities one would offer a house guest. He did not give him water to wash his feet, he did not offer him a kiss at arrival and he did not anoint his head with ordinary oil as was their custom. Jesus called him on the fact that he made no moves toward welcoming him into his home. However this woman offered him everything and held nothing back because of the grace given her. Jesus told her that her sins were forgiven and that her faith had saved her. He then dismissed her to go and live the rest of her life in peace knowing these things ( Luke 7:36-50 ).

The obvious application is although both were sinners; only one recognized it and fell at the mercy of God. The woman was the one who came away from Jesus fully justified. She received grace because she looked to Him to save her. She found incredible mercy in Jesus and in return she loved him greatly. Her actions and worship of Jesus showed this change in heart.

Understanding the depths of God's mercy brings about the desire to serve him. When we know how much we are loved and how we have been forgiven, then this longing is an outgrowth of that knowledge. Paul encourages us in view of His mercy to offer our entire being in service to him. He exhorts us to be wholly devoted and consecrated to God and to live our lives in a way that pleases the Lord. If we are to live this way, the question then becomes what is a living sacrifice?

Fortunately, we have a perfect example of a living sacrifice in Christ. Jesus told the Jews, "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" ( John 6:38 ). Jesus' express purpose was to do the will of the Father. To carry to completion the work that God sent him to do. "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" ( John 6:38-40 ).

This is an amazing example of a living sacrifice. Jesus was obedient to the Father to the point of death. He knew God's will for his life and lived his life with that sole purpose in mind. Jesus told the disciples shortly before his crucifixion, "the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me" ( John 14:31 ). He was preparing them for his death, but in the same manner teaching us an important truth, that his purpose was God's purpose. He showed his obedience to God's will even thought it meant dying for the sins of the world and taking on himself the judgment and wrath for these things. He knew the agony he was facing and said, "if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" ( Matthew 26:39 ). He submitted to the will of God even facing this horrible death and was obedient to the purpose in which God sent him. This is a perfect example of a living sacrifice.

In the same way we become living sacrifices when we understand and know the will of God and walk in that will for our lives. Many think we cannot know the will of God, however the scripture teaches differently. God's intent, desire and will for us have been fully expressed in the scriptures. We can know and understand these things by renewing our minds to them and letting these truths dictate our thoughts and attitudes. Paul gave this key in the very next verse of Romans 12, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will " ( Romans 12:2 ). The way to test and approve God's will for our lives is to renew our minds to the truth of God's word. Understanding these principals will change our hearts to the direction of God. We will be willing and ready to do whatever he desires because his will becomes our will.

This lifestyle of worship comes from knowing God and understanding his grace and mercy toward us. In view of these things we should offer ourselves completely to God to be used by him. Not because we have to but because of who he is and what he has done on our behalf. We have been redeemed and set apart and his mercy has changed everything! Today I encourage you to find God's will for your life and to live it to the fullest, being a living sacrifice willing and ready to go as he directs, amen.