Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies 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.

Romans 12:1-2

“Saved” is a state we are permanently changed into by Grace. But it is not a static, unchanging state. The word “renewing” here translates the Greek anakainosis (ἀνακαίνωσις) from ana: *up *and kainos: change. It could be rendered in contemporary language as upgrade or update. The software or computers or phones or any other systems which we have now are always undergoing new tweaks in order to perform optimally. Our practice of the faith is the same! Paul said in Philippians 3:12-16 that he was constantly training, like an athlete, to hit his next goal and push past his limits! We must pursue the same in our walk with God! This is the command: be ready to change or fail to offer acceptable spiritual service to God.

Ethan Kirl

Originally Published October 14, 2020