Living Sacrifices

Introduction

In a church service one Sunday, the offering place came to a little girl at the end of a row. She took the plate, put it down on the floor, and stood in it. When the usher asked her what she was doing, she responded, “In Sunday school I learned that I was supposed to give myself to God.”

Apparently she was referring to Romans 12:1-2, one of the most famous passages in all of Scripture. “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.”

Just what does it mean to offer your body as a living sacrifice? Is it giving up sweets for Lent? Is it dragging yourself out of bed on Sunday morning to go to church after staying up late the night before? Is it giving your life savings to the church? Is it living like a monk in a Third World Country?

If you’ve ever wondered what that phrase really means and how it impacts you and your Christian walk, then today’s the day when you find out. If you’re anything like me by the time this article is over, however, you may not be real glad you read it. After all, Romans 12:1-2 is one of the most convicting passages in the whole Bible.

Remember God’s Many Mercies

Let’s read both verses and then go back and discuss what it all means how it applies to us.

Rom. 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -this is your spiritual act of worship.

Rom. 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The first thing let’s notice are the words “I urge you.” It could also be translated as “I encourage you.” In reality, this is a very soft and gentle command, because, make no mistake about it, God wants all believers to offer their bodies as “living sacrifices.” But Paul doesn’t pull rank here as an apostle and say “I order you!” No. Instead, he basically pleads with them and even calls them “brothers.”

“I URGE you, brothers, PLEASE.”

So Paul’s urging the Roman believers to do something, but before he mentions what it is, he motivates them even more with the words “in view of God’s mercy.” But what’s that?

Simply put, I believe God’s mercy–or what some translations call the mercies of God–is everything the apostle has talked about in the previous 11 chapters of Romans.

Those of you us who have read the book of Romans know that it’s chock full of doctrine. In fact, I would advise anyone who wants to grow spiritually and to get a better handle on all of the great doctrines of the Bible to read Romans. But what, specifically, does “God’s mercy” refer to?

John MacArthur sums it up like this:

“Perhaps the two most precious mercies of God are His love and His grace. In Christ, we are the ‘beloved of God’ (Rom.1:7; cf.5:5; 8:35, 39), and, like the apostle, we all ‘have received grace’ through Jesus Christ our Lord (1:6-7; 3:24; 5:2, 20-21; 6:15). The mercies of God are reflected in His power of salvation (1:16) and in His great kindness toward those He saves (2:4; 11:22). His mercies in Christ bring us the forgiveness and propitiation of our sins (3:25;4:7-8) and also freedom from them (6:18; 7:6). We have received reconciliation with Him (5:10), justification (2:13; 3:4; etc.) before Him, conformation to His son (8:29), glorification (8:30) in His very likeness, eternal life (5:21; 6:22-23) in His very presence, and the resurrection of our bodies (8:11) to serve Him in His everlasting kingdom. We have received the mercies of divine sonship (8:14-17) and of the Holy Spirit–who personally indwells us (8:9, 11), who intercedes for us (8:26), and through whom ‘the love of God has been poured out within our hearts’ (5:5). In Christ we also have received the mercies of faith (mentioned thirty times in Romans 1-11), peace (1:7; 2:10; 5:1; 8:6), hope (5:2; 20, 24). God’s mercies include His shared righteousness (3:21-22; 4:6, 11, 13; 5:17, 19, 21; etc.) and even His shared glory (2:10; 5:2; 8:18; 9:23) and honor (2:10 cf. 9:21). And of course, the mercies of God include His sovereign mercy (9:15-16, 18; 11:30-32).”

So Paul says, in effect, “Hey guys, remember everything I just told you? All of the great stuff God’s done for you, is doing for you and will do for you? Remember the first 11 chapters of this letter? Well, in view of that, considering all that God’s done for you, I urge you brothers, I beg you…”

Personal Holiness Results In Worship

And what’s he begging them to do?

“To offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” This is significant. It’s a climax of sorts for all of what Paul’s been saying in this doctrinally rich letter. And it’s also a prelude to what we’re going to study in-depth in future articles: spiritual gifts.

But what does it mean? I mean, it’s sort of like saying we’re crucified with Christ. What, exactly, does this mean?

The phrase “offer your bodies as living sacrifices” is a reference to the Old Testament sacrificial system. People would bring an animal to the temple and the priest would slay it and put in on the altar as a sin offering. Those sacrifices prophetically symbolized the ultimate sacrifice for sin: Jesus Christ.

Speaking of Jesus, the writers of Hebrews and Romans say this:

Hebr. 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Rom. 6:10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all…

Because of our Lord’s sacrifice, animal sacrifices aren’t necessary anymore. Aren’t you glad that you don’t have to bring your most prized animals to church to slaughter? I know I am.

But God does still expect a sacrifice from us. It’s not an animal. It’s us. He wants us! He wants human sacrifices! Some of you are saying “Whew! Since God wants me as a sacrifice I’m glad it’s as a living one and not as a dead one!”

Actually, that’s not totally correct. In a sense we do have to die. What do I mean by that? We have to die to self. We have to die to our lusts and our cravings. We have to die to ambition and to self-promotion and to pre-occupation with ourselves. Those things lead to sin, to ungodly attitudes and behaviors.

And those things have their source in the body. Sometimes the Bible calls it the flesh. That’s the human part of us. Even though our soul’s been redeemed and we have the Spirit of God living inside of us, and even though our sins are forgiven and we’re destined for forgiveness and heaven, we still sin. We still blow it.

And why is that? Because the redeemed or saved part of us, our souls, are still housed in our human bodies. Sinful human bodies, bodies that like the way it used to be, before we were Christians. Bodies that yearn to do just the opposite of what our godly new natures tell us to do.

Romans 7 is probably the most graphic picture of this daily struggle between our new, inner man and our old, outer man.

Rom. 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

Rom. 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Rom. 7:16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

Rom. 7:17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

Rom. 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Rom. 7:19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -this I keep on doing.

Rom. 7:20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Rom. 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

Rom. 7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

Rom. 7:23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

If we’re to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, then, we have to tame our bodies. We have to resist our sinful urges and faulty thinking processes. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says we have the “mind of Christ,” but unless we yield to the Holy Spirit and make a determined effort, we won’t have victory over the flesh. It’s not always easy and it takes self-control. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul says “I beat my body and make it my slave.”

Self-discipline is critical in offering your body as a living sacrifice.

When I first became a Christian I struggled a lot at work because another man and I regularly told each other dirty jokes and cursed up a storm. It used to frustrate me–and I know it disappointed God–when I would join in whenever my friend was around. At first I’d resist, but old habits were hard to break and sooner or later I’d find myself right in the middle of it.

It got so bad that I made a major decision. I decided that since I couldn’t control myself around this guy, that I’d just have to stop hanging around him. It wasn’t long before our friendship disappeared. It was obvious to him that I avoided him whenever possible.

My only regret is that I just didn’t come out and tell him why I couldn’t hang around him anymore. It was because I was too weak to resist doing what I knew to be wrong. (Of course, he might not have taken that too well…)

That was 11 years ago and we still work together. Our friendship has never been the same since I pulled back, but now we can spend time together without me going over the deep end. I’ve learned to control myself in those areas.

1Cor. 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

1Cor. 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

When we honor God with our bodies, we’re offering ourselves as living sacrifices. Likewise, when we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, we honor God. The result is personal holiness and godly attitudes and godly goals.

But it’s more than just “pleasing to God.” The end of verse one says that “this is” our “spiritual act of worship.”

The Greek word for “spiritual” literally means reasonable or logical or intelligent. In this context, though, the NIV and other translations decide to use the word “spiritual” to capture the kind of service or worship that’s being talked about. Personally, I think the phrase should say “this is our reasonable spiritual act of worship.”

Let that sink in for a minute. Living holy lives, thinking and acting the way He wants us to, doing things His way and not our way, not only pleases God, it’s a form of “worship!” More than that: it’s the ultimate form of worship!

Yes, prayer’s a form of worship, and yes, singing hymns and praises is a form of worship, but you know what really pleases God? You know what He really, really wants from us? He wants us to worship Him by taming our sinful urges and by living godly lives! That’s the ultimate form of worship: offering our bodies as living sacrifices.

And why? Is it because we have to or we’re supposed to? Is it because we’re afraid of being chastened? Is it because we’re legalistic? No! Verse one shows us the purest motive of all: gratitude. Gratitude.

Because of all God’s done for us–all of the things we talked about earlier–because of all He’s done for us, is doing for us and will do for us, that’s why we’re willing to fight off our human desires and embrace the things of God. That’s why we’re willing to be like Paul and beat our bodies and make them our slaves, slaves for Christ. Slaves for righteousness and not UNrighteousness. Slaves to do good, not evil.

When we honor God with our bodies, we’re actually worshipping. If you can embrace that concept, your life will be totally changed. And you’ll be fit for the master’s use. We’ll see that later here in chapter 12.

Be Transformed By Focusing On The Things Of God

If you’re looking for the keys to how to offer your body as a living sacrifice, verse two provides it.

Rom. 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Don’t “conform any longer to the pattern of this world.” The word “pattern” has to do with the idea of the godless, Christless world system that’s under the control of Satan.

1John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

2Cor. 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The term “world” takes on a specific meaning for us here in the United States. It refers to our culture and the way it acts and thinks. It includes things like the theory of evolution, political correctness and situational ethics.

But as Christians, we’re not supposed to buy into the world’s philosophies and belief systems. We’re supposed to be aliens waiting for our future, heavenly home. Unfortunately, our culture effects us in a big way, doesn’t it?

A recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said this:

“Low-rise jeans, tight miniskirts, spaghetti straps, short shorts and midriff-bearing halter tops–the near-naked fashions favored by Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez–are finding their way into the closets of adolescent girls and following them to school.”

The story went on to say how schools–especially high schools and middle schools–are trying to grapple with what even many teens believe are inappropriate attire.

Why do we, as Christians, allow our daughters to dress like the world, to walk around half-naked while a bunch of adolescent guys drool over them? Do we really think Christ would approve of the way some of us let our daughters dress and behave? Why in the world are we following the patterns of this world?

Brent Bozell, chairman of the Parents Television Council says that “Prime time TV has become an utter swampland of poison for children.”

The Council found a mountain of sexual immorality, violence and filthy language in prime time TV. It’s everywhere. In the study, Bozell describes one scene from CBS’ reality show, “Big Brother.”

“…Justin picked up a large kitchen knife and repeated to an intoxicated Christa, ‘Seriously, would you get mad if I killed you?’ He put the knife to Christa’s throat as they kissed.”

Why do we, as Christians, allow our children to watch shows like this? For that matter why do we as adults watch trash and smut like this? Do we really think Christ would approve of us watching shows that glorify immorality, perverted sex and violence? Why in the world are we following the patterns of this world?

I’ll be honest with you, I’m shocked at what some Christians will watch. I’ll never forget hearing about the adolescent son of a mature Christian who watched MTV regularly. What in the world is that boy’s father and mother thinking? MTV is the king of immorality and debauchery.

Why in the world are we following the patterns of this world? All it does is get us into trouble and steer us away from godly living. Even though we live in this world, we’re not supposed to be sucked into thinking and acting like them. We’re supposed to be different. We’re supposed to be salt and light.

But the natural question at this point is, “Well, how do we avoid conforming to the pattern of this world? How are we transformed? How can we renew our minds?

I suspect you already know what the answer is. Here’s what Colossians 3:2 says:

Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

And how do we set our minds on things above, on the things of God? Verse 16 of Colossians 3 says that we should “let the Word of Christ dwell” in us. And what’s the Word of Christ? The Bible, of course. As I’ve said so many times, the Bible is the key to the Christian life. Without it we’re sunk. How valuable is the Word of God in not conforming to the pattern of this world?

2Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

2Tim. 3:17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible will thoroughly equip us for every good work. The more we read and study Scripture, the more we’ll be transformed into the image of Christ.

2Cor. 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Instead of filling our heads with the garbage of this world from things like television, Harlequin novels and gossip magazines, we need to fill our minds with the things of God.

The Bible will renew our minds, so that we can be transformed into a true child of God instead of being a dupe in the hands of the world’s godless philosophies and attitudes.

We have to get to the point where we think like God and act like God, because we’ve saturated our minds with the Word of God and rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Warren Wiersbe says this:

“If the world controls your thinking, you are a conformer; if God controls your thinking, you are a transformer.”

And the more we study the Bible and the more we yield to the control of the Holy Spirit, the more we’ll “be able to test and approve what God’s will is.” That is, we’ll know what God’s will is for all mankind, and as we apply it to our own lives we’ll discover what God’s will is for us as individuals. And God’s will for us as individuals, in terms of ministry or service, is very diverse, as we’ll see in future messages.

And needless to say, God’s will is good stuff: it’s “good, pleasing and perfect.” God’s way is always the best way. God’s way is always the best choice. Do you like things are that are good? Do you like the idea of pleasing both you and God? Is anything better than perfect?

God’s will is good stuff.

Conclusion

The more I studied this passage the more interesting it became to me. If we just read verse one, it seems as if all we have to give to God is our bodies. But then we read verse two and find out that we have to give Him our minds as well. But that’s not all. Verse two also tells us that we have to give up our will for His will.

Body, mind and will. Add them all together and what do you get? Your life. My life.

God wants every part of you. You can’t hold anything back. Nothing. You can’t just give Him Sunday mornings. He wants Sunday afternoons and evenings as well. He wants the whole week!

God wants every part of you. You can’t hold anything back. Nothing. You can’t just give Him your home life or your work life. He wants it all. Everything.

God wants every part of you. You can’t hold anything back. Nothing. He wants your body, He wants your mind and He wants your will. He wants it all. Everything.

Do you want to worship God? Really worship God? Then you have to hand over the keys to your life on a daily basis. It never ends. From now on He’s the boss. He decides what you think. He decides what you do. Today, tomorrow and the day after that.

He wants you as a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”

Now it’s up to you. What’re you going to do? Are you going to give Him what He wants: total commitment? Or are you going to shortchange Him?

God loves you very much. Did you know that? No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God loves you very much. In fact, He loves you so much that He gave His very best: His most precious possession, that of His son. And why? Because He wants you to be in heaven with Him forever.

He gave you everything that He had. The ultimate sacrifice. God gave His best for you. Is it too much to ask for you to give your best to Him?