Living the New Creation: Understanding Romans 6 and Romans 12
One of the most freeing truths in the Christian life is found in the way the Apostle Paul describes offering ourselves to God in Romans 6 and Romans 12. While these passages are connected, they highlight different aspects of our relationship with God, pointing us toward a life rooted in Christ and lived out in His strength, not our own.
Romans 6: Presenting Ourselves as Alive from the Dead
In Romans 6:13, Paul exhorts us:
"Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness."
This command is revolutionary because it presumes the truth of the gospel: that our old self, ruled by sin, has been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). As believers, we are no longer under sin’s dominion but are alive to God through Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). The focus here is on offering the new creation—the resurrected, Spirit-filled life that is now our reality in Christ.
Notice what Paul doesn’t say: he doesn’t tell us to offer our old self or our fleshly efforts to God. Why? Because the old self was crucified with Christ. God has no use for the fleshly, self-sufficient, sin-driven, old you. Instead, He desires the life of Christ to flow through us as we yield to Him.
When Paul says, “offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life,” he is calling us to live in the reality of our union with Christ. We are not trying to improve the old self; we are presenting the new creation—alive and empowered by Christ—as instruments of righteousness. This is not an act of striving but an act of faith, rooted in the transformative truth of the gospel.
Romans 12: A Living Sacrifice
Building on this foundation, Paul writes in Romans 12:1:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Here, Paul takes the concept of offering ourselves one step further. Romans 6 establishes that we are alive from the dead; Romans 12 calls us to live out that reality daily. The word “living” indicates that this is an ongoing, continual act of worship. This offering is described as "holy and pleasing to God," which could only refer to the new creation in Christ.
God does not want the old self on the altar—it has already been crucified with Christ. He desires the new life, empowered by His Spirit, to be fully yielded to Him. This is an act of worship that flows from love, gratitude, and trust in His sufficiency.
The Distinction and Connection
Romans 6 and Romans 12 are not contradictory but complementary. Romans 6 establishes our identity in Christ: we are dead to sin and alive to God. Romans 12 calls us to live out that identity by offering ourselves as living sacrifices. The progression is clear:
In Romans 6, we recognize that our old self has been crucified and that we are now alive in Christ.
In Romans 12, we respond by presenting our resurrected life to God as an act of worship.
This progression highlights an essential truth: God is not interested in our self-effort or fleshly striving. Instead, He desires the surrendered life of the new creation—one that trusts in His power, His righteousness, and His purposes.
God’s Desire: The New Creation, Not the Self-Life
The old self, representing the independent, self-reliant nature, is not something God can use. That is why it was crucified with Christ. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:3, "We put no confidence in the flesh."
Instead, God desires the life of Christ to be expressed through us. As new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are called to yield to the indwelling Spirit, trusting Him to work in and through us. This aligns perfectly with Paul’s declaration in Galatians 2:20:
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
When we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we are not presenting the old, broken flesh-driven life, but the life of Christ within us. This is what makes our offering holy and pleasing to God.
Practical Implications
Understanding the distinction between Romans 6 and Romans 12 has overwhelming implications for how we live as Christians:
Reject the Old Self: Stop striving to improve the flesh. The old man was crucified with Christ and his living patterns have no place in the new life.
Live in Resurrection Power: Present yourself to God as someone alive from the dead, trusting Him to work through you.
Daily Surrender: Romans 12 reminds us that this is not only a one-time event but a daily, ongoing act of worship. Each day, in fact each moment, we surrender our lives to God, allowing Him to lead, empower, and transform us.
True Worship: Offering ourselves as living sacrifices is described as "true and proper worship" (Romans 12:1). Worship is not limited to singing songs or attending church; it is a lifestyle of surrender and trust.
Conclusion
The progression from Romans 6 to Romans 12 reveals the heart of the Christian life. God does not desire or use the self-life. Instead, He invites us to live in the reality of our new identity in Christ, offering ourselves as instruments of righteousness and living sacrifices.
This truth is liberating. It frees us from striving and self-effort, inviting us into a life of rest, trust, and fruitfulness. As we daily present ourselves to God, we discover the joy of being vessels of His grace, love, and power. This is the abundant life Jesus promised—a life not lived for Him, but through Him.