Romans 12:1 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

I exhort you — St. Paul uses to suit his exhortations to the doctrines he has been delivering. So here the general use from the whole is contained in Romans 12:1-2. The particular uses follow, from the third verse to the end of the Epistle. By the tender mercies of God — The whole sentiment is derived from Romans 1:1-5. The expression itself is particularly opposed to "the wrath of God," Romans 1:18. It has a reference here to the entire gospel, to the whole economy of grace or mercy, delivering us from "the wrath of God," and exciting us to all duty. To present — So Romans 6:13; Romans 16:19; now actually to exhibit before God. Your bodies — That is, yourselves; a part is put for the whole; the rather, as in the ancient sacrifices of beasts, the body was the whole. These also are particularly named in opposition to that vile abuse of their bodies mentioned, Romans 1:24. Several expressions follow, which have likewise a direct reference to other expressions in the same chapter. A sacrifice — Dead to sin and living — By that life which is mentioned, Romans 1:17; Romans 6:4, &c. Holy — Such as the holy law requires, Romans 7:12. Acceptable — Romans 8:8. Which is your reasonable service — The worship of the heathens was utterly unreasonable, Romans 1:18, &c; so was the glorying of the Jews, Romans 2:3, &c. But a Christian acts in all things by the highest reason, from the mercy of God inferring his own duty.