March 5, 2026

This is a journal entry of my thoughts and learning this AM; please excuse any content or grammatical errors due to not enough coffee.

Why Romans?

I’ve been in Romans chapter 12, and deeply considering why this chapter is placed where it is, and what it means. In reflecting this AM, I expanded my view to the entire letter to the Romans.

Here’s What’s I Learned:

Paul stretches out God’s plan, including the reality of our predicament, need for a Savior, and riches of God’s mercy towards us through Jesus Christ — the gospel — in chapters [1–11].

★ His response is worship — awe and reverence!

→ How great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge!
→ How impossible for us to understand His decisions and ways!
→ Everything comes from Him
→ Everything exists by His power
→ Everything is intended for His glory

★ And so Paul pleads — because of all God has done for us, and who He is — give your bodies to God as a living sacrifice! This is the way to worship Him.

And now, because of what God has done…

Allow God to work in you, transforming you into a new person by changing the way you think (renewal).

Then:
★You will know God’s will for you (purpose).

How You Will Change

you will grow in…
[Romans 12–15]:

• A more humble mindset
• A more honest self-evaluation
• A greater sense of “body” belonging
• An ability to use your gift(s) well
• Really loving others
• Hating what is wrong
• Clinging to what is good
• Delighting in honoring others
• Working and serving the Lord hard and enthusiastically
• Rejoicing in hope
• More patience in trouble
• Consistently praying
• Helping those in need
• Practicing hospitality with eagerness
• Blessing and praying for those attacking or opposed to you
• Empathizing with others
• Living in harmony with others
• Enjoying ordinary people
• Always seeing ways you can grow and learn
• Not paying back wrong with wrong
• Living honorably
• Not seeking revenge
• Treating your “enemies” well
• Not allowing evil to conquer you
• Continuing to do good
• Submitting to appointed authorities in respect and honor
• Loving your neighbor as yourself
• Living a “decent” life
• Clothing yourself with the presence of Jesus
• Not thinking of ways to indulge your fleshly desires
• Accepting other believers who are weak in the faith
• Not condemning or looking down on others
• Living a life of goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit
• Serving Christ with this attitude
• Following convictions
• Building up others in the Lord
• Living in unity and praising God with others
• Overflowing in confident hope through the power of the Spirit

While there are likely more ways your life will change, this captures the essence of growing in:

Love
Humility
Patience
Goodness
Kindness
Peacemaking
Gentleness
Self-control
Joy
Faithfulness
As well as service toward God and others.

These are the “evidences” of a changing mind and transforming life, offerings of a person living in light of the understanding of what God has done for them. Without that understanding and motivation, this may simply become a “morality list” of someone trying harder to “be good.”

★And so, here is the great news of understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ I have learned from a review of Romans this AM:

Understanding who we are, what He has done, accepting Him as Lord of our lives, and allowing His Spirit to do the renewing work within us begins to grow and produce these fruits, allowing us to live in greater evidence of a transformed — changed — life, reflecting Him, thereby worshipping God and loving others.