A Worshiper Who Draws Near To The Bible

“A worshiper who draws near to the Bible”

Therefore, brothers and sisters, because God’s mercy is so great, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

The passage tells us that our dedication is the worship God accepts.

In fact, dedication is required not only in Christianity but in many religions. Have you seen the KBS documentary “The Tea Horse Road,” part 2, “The Pilgrimage”? A family of five pulls a cart and walks about 2,100 km over seven months from Sichuan, China, to Tibet, risking death to make a pilgrimage. They do not merely walk; after every five steps, they perform full prostration—bowing down so that their two knees, both elbows, and forehead touch the ground. Upon completing the pilgrimage and reaching Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, where Buddha’s relics are kept, they perform 100,000 prostrations—2,000 daily for fifty days.

Every Muslim who is able is obligated to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. They pray five times a day facing Mecca and fast for twenty-seven days during Ramadan annually.

Of course, Christians also visit holy sites, pray, fast, and worship like adherents of other religions. So, what distinguishes Christian dedication from that of other religions?

(Today’s passage answers this question): “Therefore, brothers and sisters, because God’s mercy is so great, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” (12:1) The difference lies in the motive. Dedication arises from the great mercy God has already shown us—not to earn future mercy or approval from God. It is dedication out of gratitude for God’s mercy already given.

David Platt, an American pastor appointed president of the Southern Baptist Mission Board in his 30s, once visited a famous Buddhist temple in Indonesia. There, in a conversation with Buddhist and Islamic leaders, they agreed that although religions differ in form, their essence is the same. When asked his thoughts, Platt said, “I hear you say that God (or the ultimate truth you seek) is at the mountain peak, and whether you take one path or another, ultimately we all reach the same summit.” They smiled and said, “Yes, you understand us well.”

I ask: What if the God at the mountain peak actually came down to find us where we are? What if God did not wait for humans to find the path but came to us? They paused and replied, “That sounds good.” So he introduced them to Jesus.

Yes, as Christians, we do not dedicate ourselves to meet God at the mountain top. The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. No one can reach the summit by their own moral or religious efforts. Because we cannot go to God, God came to us. This is God’s grace, mercy, and the gospel.

Right before today’s passage, Romans 11:35 quotes Isaiah: “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” No one gives to God first and therefore no one earns repayment. It is not that we give first and then God gives salvation and mercy, but that God first gave himself to us—even his only Son—without holding back.

Therefore, the passage begins with “Therefore...” connecting Romans 1–11 with chapter 12. “Because God’s mercy is so great” summarizes chapters 1–11. Dedication is commanded as a response to the great mercy God has already shown. Dedication is loving God because we first received God’s love. The Greek uses “mercies” in plural, referring to the many mercies given throughout salvation: eternal gifts that cannot be earned or bought in this world, such as

A. New relationship: forgiveness, reconciliation, peace with God, restored fellowship, the indwelling Spirit, union with Christ, membership in the church body

B. New nature: new life, rebirth, eternal life, receiving and sealing by the Spirit

C. New identity: children of God, citizens of God’s kingdom, justified saints, transferred to Christ’s kingdom, belonging to Christ, seated with Christ in heaven, chosen in Christ

D. New promise: promise of resurrection, eternal inheritance, freedom from sin and death

Because Jesus died for our sins, those who have received such forgiveness no longer need to offer spotless animals as sacrifices. Instead, we live lives pleasing to God as worship in gratitude.

What does it mean to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God? The Message Bible says: “Offer your daily life—sleeping, eating, working, playing—as a sacrifice to God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) We offer all areas of life—home, church, work, school, society—as a living sacrifice pleasing to God.