Romans 12

Living sacrifice and transformed lives

1 So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service.

2 Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature.

Transformed relationships

3 Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you.4 We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function.5 In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other.6 We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith.7 If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching.

8 If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.
9 Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good.10 Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other.11 Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord!12 Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer.13 Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home.14 Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them.15 Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying.16 Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart.

17 Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.
18 If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people.19 Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord .t20 Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head .t

21 Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.

Romans 12

Consecration of the Believer’s Life

1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters,t by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to Godts – which is your reasonable service.

2 Do not be conformedt to this present world,t but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approves what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Conduct in Humility

3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of yout a measure of faith.t4 For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function,5 so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.6 And we have different giftst according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.7 If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach;

8 if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

Conduct in Love

9 Love must bet without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.11 Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord.12 Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.t Do not be conceited.t17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.t18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.t19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath,t for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,”s says the Lord.20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.s

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.