Is Romans 12-16 full of weird, extreme commands that make Christians oddballs?
No. Romans 12-16 contains nothing that takes believers out of the mainstream or makes them oddballs. Its commands are ordinary and practical. A community that actually lived them out would be the closest place to heaven on earth, though people fail to do so.
Les teaches that there is nothing in Romans 12-16 that would take a believer out of the mainstream of the community or make him a kook or oddball. Everything in these five chapters is ordinary and practical. If a community existed where 99.9% lived out Romans 12-16, it would be the closest place to heaven on earth, but none of us do it. He also notes that Paul's phrase "reasonable service" uses the Greek words logike and latria, with latria meaning rituals or service; Hebrews 9:1 uses the same Greek word for the old covenant's ordinances of divine service.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
More Questions
Is Romans 12:1 a command with a penalty attached?
Paul is not laying down a command that says 'you will or else' — that is the difference between grace and law.
Is Paul commanding believers in Romans 12:1 or pleading with them?
Paul, by inspiration, is not laying down a command that says "you will or else" — that is the difference between grace and law.