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Sermon: “Your Reasonable Service” (being
a Living Sacrifice—Romans 12:1-2)
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The bull was huge, completely black and perfectly groomed. The camera was looking directly into his eye and I could see that he instinctively knew that this was serious. It was as if he knew that he was about to give his very life.
Then in an instant that bull was cut asunder. It was total and complete and shocked me to my core. Tears came to my eyes as his legs gave way and he slammed downward with a heavy thud. Of course blood was everywhere. That magnificent bull had just given everything he had. To this day, just the thought of that scene brings my heart up into my throat.
My thoughts go to the sacrificial system instituted for Israel by the creator of the Universe. God chose animals to be the object of the sacrifices for the sacrifice had to be something precious to both Him and mankind.
Can you imagine, for a moment, what went into this process? The sinner took great measures to breed perfect and flawless animals…the best of their flocks and herds. Ten percent were given to God. Many chapters in the book of Moses are given over to the involved and detailed offering of the sacrifice.
Now there were many different kinds of sacrifices, each depicting some aspect of Christ. The most costly was the sin offering, for the whole of the animal was burned up. The sinner did not even get the benefit of the meat as was true in some of the other sacrifices. Among other things it was symbol of giving oneself totally to God, giving up all sin.
What if I were to state to you that the time of sacrifices has not come to an end? Now some of you might be thinking, “Whaaaaat?” Is Mr. Cumming proclaiming that we should be slitting the throats of bulls upon an altar and sprinkling the people with the blood? No, I have said no such thing.
However, the New Testament has a lot to say about sacrifices and sacrificing. Turn over to Romans 12 and verse 1.
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.
What does God mean, “Living sacrifice”? What does God want us to sacrifice? How can I tell if what I sacrifice is “acceptable to God?” What does God mean “reasonable service?”
Today we are going to answer these questions as, like Paul, I beseech you to present yourself A LIVING SACRIFICE. Before we even get started, I want you to know this is a most complex subject. It has many facets and elements. Reason? Being a living sacrifice is something God wants from us 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for our whole lives.
First we will define terms. Next we will immerse ourselves into the first two verses of Romans 12. We will then discuss some examples of what to bring before God in sacrifice. Finally we are going to look to our connection to Jesus Christ in becoming this living sacrifice.
Defining the term “sacrifice”
To destroy, surrender, or suffer to be lost, for the sake of obtaining something; to give up in favor of a higher or more imperative object or duty; to devote, with loss or suffering.
Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.
To sell or give away at a loss.
Clearly, any one of these things may be involved, but God wants something FAR BEYOND these physical things we could bring to His throne. Listen to that third definition again, “To sell or give away at a loss.” Does this remind you a passage in the Bible? Turn to Matthew 19.
Matthew 19:16, 21-22
16 And, behold, one came and said unto
him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal
life? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Now is this an example to all Christians to sell all they have and give it to the church? Actually it is much more. It is speaking to an attitude…the same one we read of in Luke 14:26
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
We know this to mean, “love less” and surely we know God is not telling us to cut off all contact with our families. In the same way, in Matthew 19, Jesus is telling the would-be disciple to mentally, emotionally and spiritually disengage from his riches and possessions.
For us, this means that we must give up or “sell” our attachment to anything that would come between us and being that living sacrifice.
Once again in Matthew 19:21, we see the phrase, “if thou be perfect”. Do we know what this means? It is NOT talking about being sinless, though this is a lofty goal. It is talking about being complete in all your parts. This means your righteousness must be present in your private life, public life, your career, your marriage, your family, as well as in the church or the Work. No part of your life can be neglected when it comes to your faith and righteousness and application of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, this idea of being a “Living Sacrifice”, as you are about to see, has much to do with what is going on in your heart, mind and soul rather than just what your hands are doing.
Immersing ourselves into Romans 12 and verses 1 & 2
To do this, we will dive into a couple of commentaries to get word and phrase meanings within the given context.
Romans 12:1 [A living sacrifice] A sacrifice is an offering made to God as an atonement for sin; or any offering made to him and his service as an expression of thanksgiving or homage. It implies that he who offers it presents it entirely, releases all claim or right to it, and leaves it to be disposed of for the honor of God. In the case of an animal, it was slain, and the blood offered; in the case of any other offering, as the first-fruits, etc., it was set apart to the service of God; and he who offered it released all claim on it, and submitted it to God, to be disposed of at his will. This is the offering which the apostle entreats the Romans to make: to devote themselves to God, as if they had no longer any claim on themselves; to be disposed of by him; to suffer and bear all that he might appoint; and to promote his honor in any way which he might command. This is the nature of true religion.
[Living] zoosan (NT:2198). The expression probably means that they were to devote the vigorous, active powers of their bodies and souls to the service of God. The Jew offered his victim, slew it, and presented it dead. It could not be presented again. In opposition to this, we are to present ourselves with all our living, vital energies. Christianity does not require a service of death or inactivity. It demands vigorous and active powers in the service of God the Saviour. There is something very affecting in the view of such a sacrifice; in regarding life, with all its energies, its intellectual, and moral, and physical powers, as one long sacrifice; one continued offering unto God. An being presented to him; presented voluntarily, with all his energies, from day to day, until life shall close, so that it may he said that he has lived and died an offering made freely unto God. This is religion.
[Holy] This means properly without blemish or defect. No other sacrifice could be made to God. The Jews were expressly forbid to offer what was lame, or blind, or in anyway deformed. If offered without any of these defects, it was regarded as holy, that is, appropriately set apart, or consecrated to God. In like manner we are to consecrate to God our best faculties; the vigor of our minds, and talents, and time. Not the feebleness of sickness merely; not old age alone; not time which we cannot otherwise employ, but the first vigor and energies of the mind and body; our youth, and health, and strength. Our sacrifice to God is to be not divided, separate; but it is to be entire and complete. Many are expecting to be Christians in sickness; many in old age; thus purposing to offer unto him the blind and the lame. The sacrifice is to be free from sin. It is not to be a divided, and broken, and polluted service. It is to be with the best affections of our hearts and lives.
[Acceptable unto God] They are exhorted to offer such a sacrifice as will be acceptable to God; that is, such a one as He had just specified, one that was living and holy. No sacrifice should be made which is not acceptable to God. The offerings of the pagan; the pilgrimages of the Muslims; the self-inflicted penalties of the Roman Catholics, uncommanded by God, cannot be acceptable to Him. Those services will be acceptable to God, and those only, which He appoints. People are not to invent services; or to make crosses; or to seek persecutions and trials; or to provoke opposition. They are to do just what God requires of them, and that will be acceptable to God. And this fact, that what we do is acceptable to God, is the highest recompense we can have. It matters little what people think of us, if God approves what we do. To please Him should be our highest aim; the fact that we do please Him is our highest reward.
[Which is your reasonable service] The word rendered "service" latreian (NT:2999) properly denotes worship, or the homage rendered to God. The word logikeen (NT:3050) “reasonable” denotes what pertains to the mind, and a reasonable service means what is mental, or pertaining to reason. It stands opposed, nor to what is foolish or unreasonable, but to the external service of the Jews, and such as they relied on for salvation. The worship of the Christian is what pertains to the mind, or is spiritual; that of the Jew was external. One commentator renders this phrase "your spiritual ministry." Another commentator renders it, "That ye present your bodies, etc., by a rational ministry." ~Barnes Notes
Romans 12:1 We may learn from this verse,
(1) That the proper worship of God is the free homage of the mind. It is not forced or constrained. The offering of ourselves should be voluntary. No other can be a true offering, and none other can be acceptable. What Christ did was voluntary.
(2) We are to offer our entire selves, all that we have and are, to God. No other offering can be such as He will approve.
(3) The character of God is such as should lead us to that. It is a character of mercy; of long-continued and patient forbearance, and it should influence us to devote ourselves to Him.
(4) It should be done without delay. God is as worthy of such service now as he ever will or can be. He has every possible claim on our affections and our hearts.
Romans 12:2 [Be ye transformed] The word from which the expression here is derived means "form, habit" morfee (NT:3444). The direction is, "put on another form, change the form of the world for that of Christianity." This word would properly refer to the external appearance, but the expression which the apostle immediately uses, "renewing of the mind,." shows that he did not intend to use it with reference to that only, but to the charge of the whole man. The meaning is, do not cherish a spirit devoted to the world, following its vain fashions and pleasures, but cultivate a spirit attached to God, and his kingdom and cause.
[By the renewing] By the making new; the changing into new views and feelings. The Christian is often represented as a new creature; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Peter 2:2.
[Your mind] The word translated "mind" properly denotes intellect, as distinguished from the will and affections. But here it seems to be used as applying to the whole spirit as distinguished from the body, including the understanding, will, and affections. As if he had said, Let not this change appertain to the body only, but to the soul. Let it not be a mere external conformity, but let it have its seat in the spirit. All external changes, if the mind was not changed, would be useless, or would be hypocrisy. Christianity seeks to reign in the soul; and having its seat there, the external conduct and habits will be regulated accordingly.
[That ye may prove] The word used here dokimazoo (NT:1381) is commonly applied to metals, to the operation of testing, or trying them by the severity of fire, etc. Hence, it also means to explore, investigate, ascertain. This is its meaning here. The sense is, that such a renewed mind is essential to a successful inquiry after the will of God. Having a disposition to obey Him, the mind will be prepared to understand His precepts. There will be a correspondence between the feelings of the heart and His will; a nice tact or taste, which will admit His laws, and see the propriety and beauty of His commands. A renewed heart is the best preparation for studying Christianity; as a man who is temperate is the best suited to understand the arguments for temperance; the man who is chaste, has most clearly and forcibly the arguments for chastity, etc. A heart in love with the fashions and follies of the world is ill-suited to appreciate the arguments for humility, prayer, etc. "If any man will do God’s will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God," John 7:17. The reason why the heart is renewed is that we may do the will of God: the heart that is renewed is best suited to appreciate and understand God’s will.
Note: What this all means is that the best way to ascertain and prove the will of God or doctrines or decisions you have to make is to be immersed in the Word of God and to be in the process of developing the character of Jesus Christ.
[That good ...] This part of the verse might be rendered, that ye may investigate the will of God, or ascertain the Will of God, what is good, and perfect, and acceptable. The will of God relates to His commands in regard to our conduct, His doctrines in regard to our belief, His providential dealings in relation to our external circumstances. It means what God demands of us, in whatever way it may be made known. They do not err from God’s ways who seek His guidance, and who, not confiding in their own wisdom, but in God, commit their way to Him. "The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His way," Psalm 25:9. The word "good" here is not an adjective agreeing with "will," but a noun. "That ye may find the will of God, what is good and acceptable." It implies that that thing which is good is His will; or that we may find His will by finding what is good and perfect. That is good which promotes the honor of God and the interests of His universe.
Note: Clearly the will of God is revealed in the Word of God. Therefore, the more we are immersed in the Word of God, the more we know and understand the “good”----the will of God.
[Perfect] Free from defect, stain, or injury. That which has all its parts complete, or which is not disproportionate. Applied to religion, it means what is consistent, which is carried out; which is evinced in all the circumstances and relations of life.
[Acceptable] That which will be pleasing to God. or which He will approve. There is scarcely a more difficult text in the Bible than this, or one that is more full of meaning. It involves the main duty of religion to be separated from the world; and expresses the way in which that duty may be performed, and in which we may live so as to ascertain and do the will of God. If all Christians would obey this, religion would be everywhere honored. If all would separate from the vices and follies, the amusements and gaieties of the world, Christ would be glorified. If all were truly renewed in their minds, they would lose their relish for such things, and seeking only to do the will of God, they would not be slow to find it. ~Barnes Notes
1. Bodies. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
The point here is not to present to God your bodies and not your mind or heart or spirit. He is going to say very clearly in verse two: “Be transformed in the renewal of your mind.”
Peter makes this really clear in 1 Peter 2:5 where he says something similar to Romans 12:1: “Offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God”—then he adds these words: “through Jesus Christ.” It's because of Jesus that our sacrifices to God are acceptable.
2. Living. "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
A life of visible, lived-out, physical actions of mercy might result in the death of a believer. There have always been martyrs. But that is not mainly what Paul has in mind here. Here he has in mind a lifestyle. Present your bodies a living sacrifice. It is your living that is the act of worship.
Let every act of your body in living be an act of worship. That is, let every act of your living body be a demonstration that God is your treasure. Let every act of your living body show that Christ is more precious to you than anything else. Let every act of your living body be a death to all that dishonors Christ.
3. Holy. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Probably the best explanation of holy bodies comes from Romans 6:13 where Paul said almost the very same thing he says here, using the very language of “presenting” our bodies to God, only he refers to our bodily “members” and not just our bodies. “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life [i.e., a living sacrifice], and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”
“Present a living holy body to God” means give your members—your eyes, your tongue, your hands and feet—give your body to do righteousness, not sin. That's what would make a body holy. A body is holy not because of what it looks like, or what shape it's in, but because of what it does. Is it physical “instrument” of a hunger for righteousness? Is it the physical instrument of meekness and mercy and peace?
4. Acceptable to God. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Does this add anything to the word “holy”? If the sacrifice of our bodily life is holy, then it is acceptable to God. So what do these words add? They add God. They make God explicit. They remind us that the reason holiness matters is because of God. They remind us that all of these words are describing an act of worship—“which is your spiritual worship”—and God is the center of worship.
So now, let us wrap up this portion of our discussion—our immersing of ourselves into these two verses of Romans 12.
God wants something specific from us…to be a living sacrifice. Like that bullock on the altar I spoke of at the beginning of this sermon, God wants someone totally committed to Him and giving everything. This means there is no aspect of our lives where He does not have the preeminence. Even more than just our bodies and physical actions, God is looking to having your mind, heart and soul.
Examples of Giving Sacrifice.
The first place to look for examples of what God wants in sacrifice is to look at the rest of Romans 12. Notice as we do this, that God is going to the depths of your mind and attitude and heart and what you are “spring loaded to do”.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
A sacrifice of Praise: Turn to Hebrews 13:15
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
A sacrifice of Thanksgiving: Go to Psalms 107:22
Psalm 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
A sacrifice of justice and judgment: Turn to Prov. 21:3
Proverbs 21:3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
The sacrifice of Good Deeds: Refer to Hebrews 13:16
Hebrews 13:16
But to do good and to communicate forget
not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
The sacrifice of Obedience:
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
“A husband is instructed to love his wife as Christ loves the church—that is, to be willing to sacrifice himself for her in every way, for her benefit (Eph. 5:25).”
Your Life to God: A statement from our doctrine on tithing and giving:
“One has to be willing to sacrifice everything, even one's own life, if necessary, in the service of God.”
I could, of course, go on and on. You can see that it is obvious that God wants everything from us. Is anyone here beginning to see who are example is for all this sacrifice? Of course, I am speaking of Jesus Christ. He is our elder brother and the example we are to follow. He FREELY gave Himself a sacrifice for sin and for the whole world. We are to give ourselves in sacrifice IN CHRIST or Christ through us.
Notice something about this idea of FREEWILL: (turn to Psalms 54 and verse 6)
Psalm 54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.
And now from the commentary…
[I will freely sacrifice unto thee] The Hebrew words rendered "freely," mean with "willingness, voluntariness, spontaneousness." The idea is, that he would do it of a free or willing mind; without constraint or compulsion; voluntarily. The reference is to a free-will or voluntary offering, as distinguished from one, that was prescribed by law. The idea is, that as the result of the divine interposition which he prayed for, he would bring voluntary offerings to God in acknowledgment of his goodness and mercy.
So though being a “living sacrifice” is our reasonable service, God wants us to proceed by freewill. This means that there is no limit to your sacrifice. Give everything you have.
Now just a moment ago, I was speaking of Christ being our example of how to be a sacrifice before God. Jesus sacrificed Himself for sin. Does God want us to join Him in this death to sin?
Romans 6:1-13 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
So what does God want from you as a Living Sacrifice?
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
So be like the living sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let Jesus Christ be a living sacrifice in and through you. Go and sell and become that Living Sacrifice.
…it is your reasonable service.
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