A Living Sacrifice Part One
When we are born-again of God there are many things that happen to us as a result of our regeneration. There are many obstacles for us to conquer and there are many lessons for us to learn. As we like to say, "Salvation is the foundation" for the rest of our lives. Being born-again is the start of a new life and we are to begin a holy construction on the Foundation of Life who is Jesus Christ our Lord. We are not to have the foundation laid and then leave it bear. One of the first obstacles that we need to overcome is the pattern of living for ourselves. We need to learn to submit to the authority of Almighty God and we need to become "living sacrifices" that are holy and acceptable to God. This means that we are given the task of denying ourselves and our worldly desires to do those things that God approves of. Part of this is renewing our thinking and giving up the false worldly ideas that we have held to for so long. We should begin to think as God does. That is why it is so important that we study and read our Bibles. By doing this we can learn what God's will is in every situation in our lives. I want to talk to you about learning to be this living and holy sacrifice. Let us look at to Romans 12:1:
"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."
(Romans 12:1 KJV)
Paul is calling to us with Urgency.
I want discuss several things here. The first thing is that Paul is calling to us with urgency. He says, "I beseech you therefore." Paul is strongly urging us towards a principle of the Christian life. This is an important principle and he wants to bring us to an understanding that will, in turn, help us to impact other for Christ just as it will impact us. Paul is saying, "Come on, this is the way of truth and I am encouraging you to walk in it." Paul has just ended his argument that all have fallen short of the glory of God and now he is going to show us a practical way to apply the Scriptures to our lives and to live a sacrificial life that is pleasing to God.
Paul calls to his Brethren
Second, Paul calls to his "brethren". This word brethren is used as a term of affection and concern. I want to point this out because it means that all Christians are born of the same origin. We are all born of the Holy Spirit. We are all cut from the same cloth. We are all brothers and sisters. We are all of the same family. Family should always be there for family. We should be willing to help and take care of our own. We have family in places like Israel and the Middle East. We have family in places like the Sudan, where they are persecuted for their faith. We have family in China, Russia, Australia, and South America. We have family all over and that is why missions are important. We now have a growing family in Iraq. We need to support our families when we are able, whether they are here in the United States or those on other continents. We should be willing to be there, not just for our earthly families, but also for our heavenly ones. We are family. We all have the same Father in heaven. Paul's call is to all of the family of God.
Mercy was the Basis for the Call
Third, Paul has laid down a principle and called all of God's family to look into this matter with urgency. The basis for this call is the great and wonderful "mercies" of Almighty God. This is the groundwork on which believers should offer themselves as living sacrifices. Why should we become living sacrifices? It is because of God's great compassion on us that we should be moved to making ourselves offerings before Him. These offerings should be made with joy because we know that we have been loved and cared for by a loving and merciful God. He has shown an undeserving people great compassion and kindness. We should give ourselves wholly to Him in undefiled worship and service.
We are to Present Ourselves to God
Fourth, what is this worship? It is the call that we are to "present" ourselves to God. The word means that we are to yield ourselves to God. It is the term that was used for the Levitical priest when they presented the sacrifices on the alter of God. The sacrifice would be placed on the alter and turned so that it faced the Most Holy Place bringing it before God. The act of presenting the offering was one of free will. It was a voluntary exercise of their faith in God. Likewise, we need to offer ourselves as freewill offerings before Him. We need to yield ourselves up to Him in righteousness and truth. It is God's will that we freely yield ourselves.
We are to Yield Up our Bodies.
The fifth thing I want you to see is that we are to yield up our "bodies" as the living sacrifice. When we talk about presenting our bodies we are talking about presenting the whole man and surrendering our whole will to God. It is putting away evil and worldly desires to walk in the newness of our regeneration.
When a sacrifice was brought to the altar the whole thing was given, not only part or half, but the whole sacrifice. We are to give our entire selves to God, transferring all ownership, all our rights, the title that belonged to us and every other interest we may have into the hand of Jesus Christ. We were bought with a price, the deed has been signed and it is time to hand over the property to the One who owns it. In the presenting of our bodies we are not only to avoid sin, but we are also to offer ourselves to righteous living and righteous works.
We are to be Living Sacrifices
Sixth, we are to be a living sacrifice. We are not to think of it as an atonement offering. Jesus was the one who offered atonement for our sins on the cross. We are to think of it as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God. How can the body become a living sacrifice?
Let the eyes look on no evil thing. We have many evil and wicked things broadcasted to us on a regular basis. We see these things every day, whether on TV or in every day life. We need to look away from these things. We need to spend time placing things that are of God in front of our eyes. For example, reading our Bibles, looking on good godly pictures and artwork.
We need to turn our ears away from wicked speech. Sound waves are consistently sent through the air. Sometimes they are sent from the radio, from T.V. or from people around us. If we are watching something on TV that is wicked then we are filling our souls with that wickedness. If what is on TV does not honor God then change the channel or turn it off. If we are listening to a radio station and it is not of God we need to turn the channel and not listen to the trash being broadcasted.
I love all kinds of music; everything from contemporary to good old rock-n-roll. However, if the music playing does not praise and honor God, it is wicked and worthless. It does not edify our souls. There are good Christian rock-n-roll songs that truly seek to honor God and there are those that do not. Likewise there are good contemporary songs that honor God and there are those that do not. If the music that we listen to does not honor God turn the channel or turn it off.
We need to make sure that our speech is pure and clean, not fill with filth and vulgarity. The things we say influence others. I want you to think about something; "Profanity is the effort of a feeble mind trying to express itself forcibly." If we are speaking wicked words and claiming Christ our witness is dead and void. It is when we speak pure, holy words and keep ourselves from worldly ways that we become a light and a living sacrifice in all that we say. I am not suggesting that we should only quote Scripture all day. I am saying that when you speak, speak words of encouragement and compassion to others. When Jesus opens the door for you to speak more, do not hesitate to quote Scriptures.
Part Two ( Click here )