New Beginnings and Next Steps | Romans 12:1-2

During this first week of the New Year, many are looking forward to a new beginning of some kind. As we set New Year’s resolutions and hope to experience some change in our lives, the traditional slogan “New Year, New You” may encourage us. But we all know the New Year’s motivational speeches and positive thinking wane after just a few days. 

As Christians, however, we can truly experience radical change and transformation in 2025. We serve a God of new beginnings. And aren’t you glad about that? If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior, in God’s grace and mercy, He has already given you the most transformative new beginning you could ever imagine through salvation in Jesus Christ. But He is not done with you yet. No, He calls you to experience a new beginning every day as you grow in your relationship with Him. 

He is not calling us to a superficial change like so many of our New Year’s resolutions reflect. This year—2025—God wants you to experience a profound, transcendent new beginning that so alters your very nature, it is evident to everyone around you. 

What does God’s Word say about this new beginning?

Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 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.” 

These two verses, Romans 12:1-2, serve as a turning point in the Book of Romans, as the apostle transitions from a type of doctrinal treatise in the first eleven chapters to its practical implications and application. 

Paul bridges the foundational principles of his systematic theology with his instructions about how to apply them in our daily lives by first pointing to the basis of all new beginnings: God’s mercy.

The Basis of New Beginnings: God’s Mercy

A primary theme of the Book of Romans is God’s righteousness, which is reflected in Romans 1:6-17. As Paul launches into what might be considered “A Case for Christianity,” he presents his opening argument. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: ‘But the righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17). 

Here, Paul says, it is that very gospel that is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes it. You see, our God is wholly righteous and just. As such, His holiness demands that our sins be punished. 

And so, in His grace and mercy, He made a way for us to have a new beginning by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins. 

The Believer’s Response to God’s Mercy

What should be our response to God’s mercy? In Romans 12:1-2, God’s Word prescribes three things we should do.

First, the Bible says to consciously give yourself to God’s service. 

In view of God’s mercies, we are to present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices. To present oneself means to stand near or before and to make yourself available or accessible. 

Imagine a knight in medieval times bowing before his king. He stands ready and willing to do whatever the king asks. The knight’s whole life is at the king’s disposal. That is our mindset as we present ourselves as living sacrifices to our King—the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Here, to present our bodies means—not just the physical members and parts of our bodies—but our whole selves, our bodies, hearts, and minds. 

Second, in response to God’s mercy, we must continually refuse to be shaped by society.

The “world” represents the present world system and its values, beliefs, and morals that stand contrary to God—our society. The Bible warns that this world system will lure and pressure us to become more like it. Every day, from the moment you wake, this world system leans heavily on you as it presses and pushes to shape your life and character.  

Envision a Jell-O mold. When you pour liquid gelatin into the mold, the liquid has no shape of its own. Instead, it is entirely pliable and malleable. It takes on the shape of the mold. As the gelatin sets, it simply becomes an image and representation of the mold. 

That is how the world system will operate in your life if you allow it. It constantly applies pressure, seeking to shape you into its image. The pressure is relentless. It comes through music, television, movies, social media, the workplace, friends, and ever-changing societal norms. Society tells you that to be happy, you simply have to do what they do, believe what they believe, and accept what they have to offer—you must conform to the world. 

Thankfully, Christ offers us something far better and more powerful than the Jell-O mold of this world. He does more than influence us. He totally changes and transforms us.

Finally, in response to God’s mercy, we are to consistently change from the inside out.

In Romans 12:2, having directed that we no longer be shaped by this world, Paul goes on to issue a second command: “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.”

Again, we find a present-tense, imperative verb—be transformed. Thus, it is a command that we are to keep on being transformed throughout our lives. 

The Greek word for transformed comes from the root word, metamorphoo—it is where we get our word, metamorphous. Here, it means that we become changed in outward appearance as an expression or manifestation of a profound change in our inner nature or essence.

The Bible says we should consistently experience and evidence this type of transformational change. Now, that’s the new year, new you, we are looking for! How can we experience this type of spiritual transformation?

• Allow the Holy Spirit to regularly restore God’s image inside you
• Actively discern how to live in full alignment with God
• Authentically express inner change through outward behavior

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He took the punishment for our sins. He declared His saving work complete, “It is finished, [our debt was] paid in full.” When He was raised from the dead, He gained victory over sin and death that guarantees our future resurrection. He is the God of new beginnings, and His completed work on the cross continues working in you today. 

• Jesus gave you a new beginning when He saved you. 
• Jesus gives you new beginnings as He renews and transforms you. And so…
• Jesus is worthy of your commitment to His continued work in you.

As we begin this new year together, how can we commit ourselves to Christ’s renewing and transformative work in us? We’ve been asking you to consider what God is calling you to do to grow in your relationship with Him. In fact, as we’ve considered what it means to make pleasing Jesus Christ our one desire, we’ve asked you to answer this question: What’s your next step? 

For resources that will help you identify and take your next step at First Baptist Dallas, go to firstdallas.org/onedesire.