As Paul continues his letter to the Romans, he now shifts to the practical aspects of living the gospel tangibly. Romans 12:1-2 is the foundation for the rest of this section that focuses on daily living. The gospel is intended to change us, that change comes as our minds are renewed through the word of God. This renewed thinking then impacts every relationship we have in life; including our families at home, our church family, our community and our engagement with unbelievers. Every facet of life must be affected by the transforming power of the gospel, this is Paul's message for the believers in Rome and for us today. Because of God’s rich mercies in Jesus, you must renew your mind and be transformed.
Throughout Romans, Paul offers a defense of what he believes and teachers about the gospel for these believers in Rome he has not yet met. Some of them may have been questioning him, his message and how it relates to Judaism. Paul writes to explain at length the connection of Jesus, the gospel and defend it, in spite of the rejection of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah by many Jews.
