"Being Transformed To Be More Like Jesus As Worshipper Of God”

“Being Transformed to be more like Jesus as Worshipper of God” (Romans 12:1-2)

V.1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

V. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

V.1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

Paul is urging us here to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. But, his appeal starts with a conjunction word "therefore" because his appeal is based on what God has done as explained in the previous chapters, Romans 1-11.

That’s why Paul said, his appeal is based on the mercies of God as he said, “ by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice”

As we studied Romans 1 through 11, we have learned all the blessings in Christ: We received God’s forgiveness, we received eternal life, His peace, His love, hope; we received the right to become God’s children; we received being in union with Christ; We received reconciliation with God; We received the Holy Spirit. We received salvation and we received all these blessings even though we don’t deserve them because “Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood” for us. (Rom 3:25)

Since we received such mercies of God, Paul is urging us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; our spiritual worship. In fact, offering sacrifice and worship are not unique to Christianity. Every religion demands its followers some kind of sacrifice and worship. But the difference is that they offer sacrifice so that they may receive mercy and forgiveness or salvation from their god. They are begging for mercy from their gods. But, we Christians offer sacrifice and worship as thanksgiving because we already have forgiveness and salvation from God.

I read a story about pastor David Platt, (i don’t know if anyone knows him) He is well known young pastor. He served as director of the international mission board in his 30s. Years ago he visited a Buddhist temple in Indonesia. There he was engaged in a conversation with a Buddhist leader and a Muslim leader in this particular community. They were discussing how all religions are fundamentally the same and only superficially different. One of them said, "We may have different views about small issues, but when it comes down to essential issues, each of our religions is the same."

David listened for a while, and then they asked him what he thought. So David answered, saying, "It sounds as though you both pictured God (or whatever you call God) at the top of a mountain. It seems as if you believe that we are all at the mountain, and I may take one route up the mountain, you may take another, and in the end, we will all end up in the same place." They smiled as David spoke. Happily, they replied, "Exactly! You understand!"

Then David Platt leaned in and said, "Now let me ask you a question. What would you think if I told you that the God at the top of the mountain actually came down to where we are? What would you think if I told you that God doesn't wait for people to find their way to him, but instead he comes to us" They thought for a moment and then responded, "That would be great." So David introduced Jesus to them.

God knows no one can climb up to the top of the mountain where God is. No matter how hard you try, no one will be righteous enough before God because Bible tells us, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.” (Rom 3:23 NLT) No matter how hard you try, no one can meet the righteous standard of God and no one can ever be made right with God by his own efforts. Then, the following verses say what God has done,“Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. ” (Romans 3:24-25NLT)

Let me repeat verse 25 “Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood” This is what God has done. When no one could reach God, God came to us in Christ.