This article is part 4 of the Faithful Faith Formation in a Formative World series. Romans 12:1-8
Paul led us through a remarkable rhythm of formation. First, from offering our whole selves to God (v1), and into the ongoing measure of a mind renewed by the mercy and grace of God. Ultimately, toward a transformed way of life that grows our capacity to discern God’s will. This inner work isn’t an end in itself toward some sort of spiritual enlightenment. On the contrary, it prepares us for the relational work that follows. As our thinking is reshaped and our lives take the shape of Christ, Paul now shows how this discernment becomes visible within the community of faith.
Discerning What Is Good, Pleasing and Complete
(Romans 12:2b)
Paul closes his opening charge to the Roman church with a phrase repeated in countless sermons, prayers, and personal reflections:
“So that you can work out what God’s will is, what is good, acceptable and complete.”
What does it mean to discern; to work out God’s will? How do we do that in a world where “God’s will” is often used to justify everything from personal ambition to political ideology? We hear that a lot in religious and political propaganda!
To answer that, we need to follow Paul’s flow of thought. This verse doesn’t stand on its own; it follows his call for a living sacrifice and a renewed mind. Notice discernment comes after a renewed mind and transformation. But don’t see that as a three step process – renewed mind to transformed life until we ultimately “arrive” at discernment capability. Instead, Paul describes a dynamic relationship; a feedback loop – an ongoing flow between renewed thinking, transformed living and recognizing God’s will.
We don’t figure out God’s will flying solo trying to decode a divine plan. Conversely, we learn to discern God’s will in community as Jesus’ pattern of thinking and living reshapes our way of thinking and living. Let’s consider a rhythm or pattern for discernment.
Working Out God’s Will in a Formative World
Visualize Paul’s world. Crowded with competing visions of “the good life.” Rome’s gods promise prosperity through loyalty to the empire, philosophy offers virtue through reason, and religion offers purity through ritual. Each system shapes what people perceived as normal.
The same contest continues today. The world still grills us – through consumer habits, media messages, and political echo chambers. Our cultural formation happens daily, and honestly, most of it happens under our level of awareness.
This is why Paul insists on renewing the mind before we can experience transformation and then discernment (again don’t look at this like a linear A + B + C but a circular spiral). He knows we can’t understand God’s will with un-restored lenses. A transformed mind learns to see differently. It begins to distinguish the difference between what looks good and what is good, between what feels right and what builds a right relationship.
The Greek word Paul uses for “discern” is “dokimazō” which means to examine; to see if something is genuine or not. The word Paul uses for “discern” is the same word also used for refining metal or testing the quality of a coin. The test isn’t about passing or failing; it’s about revealing authenticity.
So when Paul says, “that you will be able to work out,” he means:
You’ll develop the capacity to recognize what really bears the imprint of God’s character. Therefore, discernment isn’t a one-time discovery, but an ongoing refinement; a lifelong practice of learning to recognize God’s good reality amid the world’s many counterfeits.
God’s Will: Not The Secret Cipher
Over generations, Christians learned to seek the specific will of God. In other words, discover a single right path hidden among countless wrong ones. Find the right partner, the right job, the right home, the right ministry…and on and on. But Paul’s phrase doesn’t compress God’s will in that narrow sense.
When he describes God’s will as “good, pleasing, and perfect,” he’s not layering it with three categories or levels of divine approval. In most English Bible translations, the Greek “teleios”, is often translated “perfect,” but I don’t like that word because it almost defies meaning. Either it implies something without flaw or fault and unachievable, or it’s like a moving target – hard to pin down with a definition that satisfies everyone. Instead, I’ll stick with what Paul has in mind with his word choice; complete, mature, whole – something that’s reached its intended purpose.
God’s Will: Revealed in Wholeness
Instead of compressing God’s will into a rigid rule book; Paul expands it into real life. I see in this, a lesson from Eden. With lavish latitude, Adam and Eve could easily discern and participate in God’s will and yet they chose the single thing that was out of bounds. They reasoned God was holding out on them; a matter of misdirected desire. That continues to this day…but that’s a series for a New Year…hint…hint.
God’s will is good because it reflects His character (Psalm 34:8); it’s pleasing because it restores right relationship and harmony between God and humanity (2 Cor. 5:18-19) And it’s teleios – whole or complete – because it draws all creation toward its fullness and maturity in Christ (Col. 1:28).
Perhaps the most difficult lesson to unlearn is seeing God’s will as a static, strategic plan for each of our lives as if it’s a flawless blueprint that we can’t seem to read. But what if it’s much bigger than that? Instead of seeing God’s will as a hidden script for each of us to uncover, Paul wants us to see it as the life to which we align our choices. Look at it as realigning our desires to God’s desires (there’s that New Year’s series hint again).
Scripture, after all, isn’t a collection of clues and codes to God’s individual plans. Rather, it’s the full revelation of who God is and what He desires for His creation. If we really believe that Scripture tells us everything we need to know about God’s character and intentions, then discerning His will becomes less about cracking codes. Instead, it’s all about aligning our thoughts and actions to what we already know of Him – what is good, pleasing, and complete.
Maturing Into Discernment
Attempting to figure out God’s will usually has us looking for certainty. But Paul shifts the goal of discernment from certainty to maturity. The renewed mind doesn’t overthink and obsess over perfect outcomes – it matures or grows in reflecting God’s goodness.
The more our minds are shaped by the patterns of Christ, the more our instincts begin to resonate with what God values. Increasingly, the good and pleasing things that matter to God, matter to us.
If I understand Paul accurately, discerning God’s will isn’t about seeking flawless outcomes or worrying about wrong choices. On the contrary, it’s about maturing into alignment with the life God intends. It’s where whatever choice we make or any direction we take, is shaped by love, goodness and shared transformation within the body of Christ. This is what I mean when I say, “What would Jesus do if He were me?”
Practising Discernment Together
Many times throughout this series, I emphasize the covenant community aspect. Paul doesn’t write to “you, the individual believer” but to “you all;” the community that personifies Christ in Rome. The New Testament contains over 100 explicit “one another” commands. They remind us that transformation and discernment are never just individual achievements; they’re something we are called to share together.
We learn God’s will as we engage with Scripture, prayer, conversation and listening to one another. In this way, the Holy Spirit forms discernment. Not in the private insight of the few individuals declaring “thus saith the Lord,” but rather, in the faithfulness of the church community.
I think this kind of shared discernment also protects us from confusing our personal desires with divine direction; we all get our say but we don’t all get our way. Shared wisdom and insight teaches us to weigh our perceptions in relationship – with Scripture, with others, and measured with the character of Christ.
Practical Ways We Discern Together
Recognizing God’s will could look like this:
Choose reconciliation when resentment feels easier.
Listen before speaking in situations with opposing views.
Learn to see success as more about being faithful than achieving desired outcomes.
Ask, “Does this lead toward wholeness and well being?” instead of asking, “Is this comfortable?”
In the language of N.T Wright, in every small act of renewed understanding, Christian community is meant to rehearse God’s preferred future. It’s a preview of the kingdom coming into view that John envisioned as the new Heaven and new Earth. (Revelation 21:1)
A Spiral of Grace
Ultimately, in Paul’s mind, discernment isn’t only about recognizing God’s will; it’s about becoming the kind of people who reflect it.
First, being transformed by a renewed mind isn’t linear or static. It’s not a ladder we climb, one moral rung at a time; instead it’s a life process that draws us deeper into God’s life. A transformed life doesn’t happen in an instant but it gradually unfolds as we nurture a relationship with God, others and our world around us.
I don’t believe a transformed life is a stairway to Heaven – it’s more like a spiral of grace. Each turn brings us over familiar ground; surrender leads to renewal, leading to transformation which leads to discernment but from a higher point of view. As our minds are renewed, our actions begin to align with God’s good, life-giving purposes. With every spin of the spiral, the Holy Spirit makes us more like Christ.
I also think a spiral reminds us that renewal isn’t always smooth or symmetrical. There are times when it seems like we’re circling back over the same ground; old habits, familiar struggles or not so good things that don’t seem to work together for our good. Yet as we lean into God rather than away from Him, the renewal continues. Even when it feels like we’re not so renewed, choosing to be more responsive than resistant, we’re not where we once were.
So saints; keep spiralling Godward!