A Living Sacrifice Romans II Series [12] Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1-2 [ESV] 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE? Romans 1-11: Doctrine [what God has done for us] Romans 12-16: Practice [how we should live] “Therefore”: Because of God’s gospel [Good News] revealed in Romans Chapters  Because God has saved you from the condemnation that has come upon all human race (Romans 1-3).  Because God has justified you by grace through faith in Christ alone (Romans 3-5).  Because God’s Spirit is indwelling you to give you the power over sin (Romans 6-8).  Because God has sovereignly chosen you in his mercy for the glory of God (Romans 9-11).

HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE? “I appeal to you brothers… by the mercies of God”:  Not a command from an impersonal superior but a pleading from a steward of God’s gospel.(Romans 10:21)  The basis of this appeal: since they [“brothers”] have experienced the mercies of God (Romans 1-11).

WHAT: TOTAL SURRENDER TO GOD “present your BODIES”  Not just hearts.  But physical bodies—i.e., all of everyday life itself.  We are to present our body as an instrument to be used by God. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Romans 6:13

WHAT: TOTAL SURRENDER TO GOD “as a LIVING sacrifice”  A DEAD sacrifice = static; requires someone else’s will to be offered—once offered, it stays on altar.  A LIVING sacrifice = dynamic; requires continuous, voluntary self-surrender.  Another implication may be dying to self to be a living offering to God [Galatians 2:20, “Christ lives in me”].  We are to offer ourselves as sacrifice to God and take our hands off [reckless abandonment to God’s control]. “holy and acceptable TO GOD”:  Set part for God [consecrated]  Pleasing to God [what God desires]  We are to focus on pleasing God alone.

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. - Frances R. Havergal [1874]

WHAT: TOTAL SURRENDER TO GOD “which is your SPIRITUAL worship”  The Greek word, logikos means reasonable, logical or intelligent.  It is reasonable in a sense of “most appropriate” response [worship] to God’s mercies.  It is intelligent in a sense of “inner” willful surrender expressed in outer obedience as [true/spiritual] worship. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:20

A Daily Prayer of a Living Sacrifice Oh, Lord, I thank You that I belong to You. I thank You that You live within me, and I thank You that You have forgiven my sins. I thank You that I am Your child. Now, as I begin this day, and as I continue throughout the day, I invite You to walk around in my body, love with my heart, speak with my lips and think with my mind. I thank You that You promised to do greater things through me than You did when You were here on the earth. By faith, I acknowledge Your greatness, Your power, your authority in my life, and I invite you to do anything You wish in and through me today. - Bill Bright

HOW: THROUGH TOTAL TRANSFORMATION BY THE RENEWED MIND “Do not be CONFORMED to this world”  Christians are IN the world but NOT OF the world—we don’t belong to the world, so we must not become like the world.  This requires the mindset of a sojourner/exile whose values are of God’s kingdom. [the values of this world vs. the values God’s will]  We are to be radically different from the world, living counter-culturally. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, but let God remold your minds from within. Romans 12:2a [J.B. Philips]

The Worldly Values vs. God’s Values [A Few Examples] Live for yourself vs. Give yourself to God and others Acquire more/bigger vs. Choose simplicity/modesty. Success is your accomplishment vs. Success is your faithfulness Don’t get mad—get even vs. Overcome evil with good Promote yourself vs. humble yourself Seek comfort/pleasure vs. Seek God’s kingdom

HOW: THROUGH TOTAL TRANSFORMATION BY THE RENEWED MIND “but be TRANSFORMED”  The goal of the Christian life is transformation into Christlikeness.  REAL transformation is inside-out [a heart transformation].  We are to present our body as an instrument to be used by God.

HOW: THROUGH TOTAL TRANSFORMATION BY THE RENEWED MIND “by the RENEWAL of mind”  The beginning point of REAL transformation is your mind.  Reprogram your mind with God’s will.  How? By seeking Scripture guidance and the Spirit- dependence.

HOW: THROUGH TOTAL TRANSFORMATION BY THE RENEWED MIND “DISCERN what is the will of God…”  Renewing our mind will enable us to discern God’s will.  God’s will points us to what is good, acceptable, and perfect in all situations.  Discernment is a compass which help us to glorify God in all things as true worship.

Do Not Be Conformed But Be Transformed We belong to God, not to the world and not to America. We learn to live from him, not from television or fashion catalogues. We are aliens because we are God's. We must cultivate the mindset of exiles. What this does mainly is sober us up and wake us up so that we don't drift with the world and take for granted that the way the world thinks and acts is the best way. We don't assume that what is on TV is helpful to the soul; we don't assume that the priorities of advertisers are helpful to the soul; we don't assume that the strategies and values of business and industry are helpful to the soul. We don't assume that any of this glorifies God. We stop and we think and we consult the Wisdom of our own country, heaven, and we don't assume that the conventional wisdom of this age is God's wisdom. We get our bearings from God in his Word. - John Piper

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Surrender yourself to God so that CHRIST WOULD BE EXALTED IN YOUR BODY!  Give your bodies to God.  Let your everyday life glorify God in all ways. 2.Don’t get squeezed BY THIS WORLD INTO ITS MOLD.  Be watchful about the strong current of the worldly values.  Be counter-cultural by choosing the godly values. 3.Pursue REAL transformation through SCRIPTURE AND THE SPIRIT.  Let Scripture and the Spirit change the way you think.  Learn to discern what is pleasing and acceptable to God.