Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, …, (a)
The style of Paul’s writings are often broken into two categories, 1. Orthodoxy, emphasis on doctrine (teaching) that is correct believing and 2. Orthopraxy, emphasis on practical that is correct conduct in the light of orthodoxy.
The first 11 chapters of the book of Romans deals with orthodoxy and chapter 12 opens with orthopraxy, “I appeal to you therefore…”. The “therefore” is the response in the light of what he has already outlined in the previous chapters. In short, you cannot become what you don’t know. To tell people to do what they don’t know only leads to confusion and chaos. The knowing (knowledge) leads to duties of believers, general and particular.
He appeals to believers as brothers by the mercies of God. God’s free and unmerited nature, glorious channel, and saving fruits have been opened up at such length. It is by the mercies of God we are not consumed but welcomed into the beloved. In addition, by His mercies we are preserved. His mercies that are new every morning serves as a reminder of His abundance of mercy. Rather than give us yesterday’s mercies which would still be good, He grants us new and never runs out. The “therefore” is only meaningful if it’s fueled by the mercies of God.