What would a community look like if everyone actually lived out Romans 12-16?
Such a community would be the closest place to heaven on earth. Living out Romans 12–16 is ordinary, practical, and mainstream—never kooky or oddball. Paul's reasonable service uses Greek words logike and latria, meaning rituals or service. Yet none of us actually do it.
Les explains that Romans 12–16 contains nothing that would take a believer out of the mainstream of their community or make them a kook or oddball. Everything in these five chapters is ordinary and practical. If people 99.9% lived them out, that community would be the closest place to heaven on earth. Les notes, however, that we won't do it—none of us do—even though it is so practical. He also connects 'reasonable service' to the Greek words logike and latria, meaning rituals or service, and compares it to Hebrews 9:1, where the first covenant had ordinances of divine service (latria), with 'divine' implying the prescribed ritual according to the Law.
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.