YOU ARE THE SACRIFICE
Romans 12:1-2
Introduction:
1. The apostle had spent 11 chapters on doctrinal subjects, as he
shows the Gentiles and the Jews under the same condemnation --
UNDER SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
2. He now turns to admonitions, exhortations, encouragements, etc.
3. Having shown that the Law of Moses was insufficient, thus
removed, he now admonishes them to.....
I. "PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE"
1. Under the law a living animal was offered, but its life was
taken in the offering -- thus "blood of bulls and goats."
2. Sacrifice -- "giving up one thing for another."
3. Gal. 2:20 -- "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no
longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me...."
4. Thus, the apostle illustrates the act of sacrifice in himself
II. OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICE:
1. ABRAHAM -- desired a son, prayed constantly for one, so...
(1) God gave Isaac, Abraham rejoiced in his old age.
(2) Yet, Gen. 22:2 -- "Take thy son....offer him...."
(3) He loved the boy dearly. Yet, through eyes filled with
tears, he obeyed Jehovah.
(4) A man willing to give up promised son as a sacrifice.
(5) Gen. 22:7-8, 12. Oh, the anguish that must have been felt
by this great man of faith. No doubt Abraham could have
come up with many reasons why this should not be done.
2. HANNAH -- Prayed earnestly for a son -- 1 Sam 1:10-11.
(1) God gave her Samuel.
(2) Here is a mother who tenderly cared for her son, yet when
he was old enough, she carried him to the house of God
and offered him unto God. 1 Sam 1:27-28.
(3) What an expression of love, She remembered the vow which
she had made concerning her son.
(4) NOTE: How often we need to remember the vows, promise we
made unto Jesus when we obeyed the gospel.
III. THE SUPREME SACRIFICE:
1. Jesus was willing to leave heaven (Phil. 2), be fashioned as
a man, live in the flesh, without a home of his own, and then
finally to be sacrificed between two thieves. 1 Pet. 2:21ff.
2. Here is the supreme example of sacrifice. He died, not for
his own misgivings, sins, but for ours; while we were yet in
our sins, enemies of God
3. Jehovah sacrificed Christ, his Lamb, upon the cross of Gol.
4. In the hope that men might be drawn to Heaven.
5. Christ gave His all, spent Himself, doing the Father's will.
6. He pleased not Himself.
7. Nothing too valuable, too precious, to detain Christ from
obeying the wishes of His Father.
8. Matt. 4:1 -- Tempted, but refused them all.
9. Matt. 16:23-26 -- Nothing in this world is worth the loss of
your soul.
10. All of the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17) is of no value to Christian.
11. Christ calls upon US to make the sacrifice, give up all that
might stand between us and the Father. HE GAVE IT ALL.
12. How much as I willing to Give????
IV. NOTE THE CONTEXT -- Romans 12:1-2.
1. Note the MOTIVE of this sacrifice--"By the mercies of God."
The SUM of the provisions which God has made for salvation.
God's love for us should lead us to sacrifice for Him.
We MUST express our gratitude, thanksgiving, TO GOD, for His
Grace, His unmerited gift, His mercy.
We come to God, not to gain His love, but because He loves us
from the beginning.
Plan of salvation---God's grace, mercy.
2. "YOUR BODIES" --
Our bodies are to be instruments of service, of toil. With
the body, more than other things, we serve the law of sin.
Whereas, with IT, WE SHOULD SERVE GOD.
1 Cor. 6:19-20 -- "glorify God therefore in your body"
We MUST be the master of our activities. Control self.
Daily, hourly, every moment. Not just on Sunday Mornings.
3. "SACRIFICE"
Under the Law, the first went to God.
(1) First born of animals.
(2) First sheave of the harvest.
(3) First child was redeemed with animal.
(4) Malachi 3:8 -- "Will a man rob God....."
God demands the FIRST of all that we possess.
Heb. 13:15 -- "offer up a sacrifice of praise to God
continually" NOT A HIT AND MISS SITUATION.
Not on one day and off the next.
4. "LIVING"
Not brute animal, blood of bulls and goats, but OWN BODY.
Our very self, our living nature.
Gratefully, willingly, to lay this sacrifice upon the altar
of God's service.
We offer ourselves when we do His Will.
WORSHIP -- The world has a gross misconception of worship.
Many think their worship is to make them feel good, thus,
the emotional impact which they seek, clapping hands,
shouting, jumping, etc. Uncontrolled feelings.
Our worship is the submission of self to Jehovah God, we
are brought before the throne of God.
5. "HOLY"
Animals under the law were free from blemish, THE BEST, HOLY.
All who participated in worship were ceremonially clean. Many
rituals to keep themselves without blemish.
We must have a "PURE HEART" Mt. 5:8; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Pet. 1:22
1 Pet 1:15--"be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of
living."
6. "ACCEPTABLE (KJ-well pleasing) TO GOD"
This MUST be our aim in life.
Not what please "ME," but, what pleases Jehovah God.
HOW? By doing His will.
Cf. there is no greater feeling of joy than when a child
obeys the parent.
7. "SPIRITUAL (KJ. reasonable) SERVICE" (WORSHIP)
Worship under the Old Testament "called service" Heb. 9:4;
Heb. 9:1, 6; Jn. 16:2.
So, also, our service involves our worship to Jehovah.
Nothing Neutral in this service: Our brain, tongue, hands,
feet, our ALL, must be governed by the great controlling
purpose to please God and to do His will. All else pales
in comparison to this.
8. Thus, "Be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of
God."
CONCLUSION:
1. Yes, truly, God demands a sacrifice of you, living, holy,
acceptable.
2. Christ gave Himself, left us an example.
3. Can we do any less????
4. Reminded of a story of a shepherd in France, who climbed a
mountain one day in search of a better pasture. Flock was
grazing on short grass; shepherd found better grass and water
higher up the slope. Returned, attempted to drive the sheep,
but could not. Finally, in desperation, he picked up a little
lamb, climbed the mountain trail again. Reached the top, place
the lamb down, the sheep had followed. The mother of the lamb
had followed and others followed her.
5. God looks upon this earth; He assures man that there is a
better pasture in the everlasting hills. He took the spotless
Lamb, His Son, offered Him as a sacrifice, upon the cross in
the hope that YOU MIGHT BE DRAWN CLOSER to Him and gain Heaven.
6. Surely, when one thinks of everlasting life made possible by
the gift of God, he can say of Christ.....
"I'LL LIVE FOR HIM WHO DIED FOR ME."
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