I hung out in Romans 12 this past Sunday as the main text for my message. As I was walking through it with everyone I really felt like I needed to spend a little extra time there. So I told everyone that I would be doing a bit of a study with it here on my blog. So we are going to go through chapter 12 together. I don't have any plans than to look at it and talk about it and see how it applies to us. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to offer them in the comments section of this post. So here we go.
Romans 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." (NIV)
I love this verse. It defines worship in simple terms yet the act of actually doing it isn't as simple. There is so much to un-pack here but I think I want to hit a couple points first, some of which I spoke about on Sunday.
First, this idea of being a "living sacrifice" goes back to the tabernacle and temple times of animal sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Now I don't think our sins are forgiving if we offer ourselves up for sacrifice, because Christ has already done the work on the cross. Although, Jesus said, "Take up your cross and follow me." (Matt. 16:24) So the idea is that we are laying down our lives like we would lay down a jacket we just took off and pick up the cross, or that way which Christ has called us to live and carry that, or put it on like a coat. It is not by our righteousness that we are saved but by Christ's righteousness.
So to be a living sacrifice is to be basically, a living dead thing, after all, something which is sacrificed is dead. But we are called to live too, so we are to die to our passions and lusts and live according to the Word of God. Constantly pursuing His will. Jesus said, "Seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matt. 6:33)
Second, it's interesting that God demands that we "present..your bodies". He is not only interested in our spiritual well being but also our physical and emotional well being. When God "saved" us it wasn't just from the pit of hell. He has and does desire that we have an "extreme home makeover" of the person. That means he has come to save, heal, redeem, set free our whole selves. Body, mind, spirit. They are most intricately connected and whatever affects one of them will affect all of them.
The Corinithians had a view of the body as something to be despised, or something that was evil. They were more concerned about the spirit, and that is why they had sin problems of the flesh. Whether it was sexual or even gluttony. For them the body and the soul were seperate not affecting each other and therefore they could do whatever they pleased as long as they held Jesus as Lord in their hearts. But Jesus must be Lord of everything or He is Lord of nothing. He must rule over our hearts, minds and souls and BODY.
We must realize that God desires not only our spirits to be redeemed but also our bodies. "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." (I Cor. 15:51-53) (NIV)
One day we will be changed, but today, we must live with that hope in mind. The body is not evil, but what we do with it can be if put to selfish purposes and sinful pursuits. I Cor. 6:20 states, "You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (NIV) You honor God with your body when you seek to be like Christ in your mind, body, and spirit.
I could keep going just on this verse but now I want you to chime in. Give me some more insight, comments, questions or if this has spoken to you in a special way.
Comments