Living Sacrifices

LIVING SACRIFICES: Revolutionary Terminology

Rom. 12:1

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: CAN YOU PULL A FAKE ON GOD?

1. A teenage girl tells the story of how she faked report card. “I failed the first quarter of a class in middle school, so I made a fake report card. I did this every quarter that year.”

2. “I forgot that they mail home the end-of-year cards, and my mom got it before I could intercept with my fake. She was furious—at the school for their error.”

3. “The teacher also retired that year and had already thrown out his records, so they had to take my mother’s “proof” (the fake ones I made throughout the year) and “correct” the “mistake.” I’ve never told her the truth.” [true] Do you think you can pull a fake report card on God? No!

B. TEXT

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” Rom. 12:1.

C. THESIS

1. Paul’s statement in Romans 12:1 contains revolutionary terminology; if it’s looked at closely, it may explode with divine meaning.

2. We’re going to look tonight at what it means to be LIVING SACRIFICES; our MOTIVE to be one, WHAT KIND of sacrifice God wants, and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES of how to be one.

3. The title of this message is, “Living Sacrifices.”

I. THE MOTIVE TO SACRIFICE: GOD’S MERCY

A. WE DIDN’T DESERVE IT

1. God’s mercy is one of the greatest wonders. The Creator doesn’t need us, we don’t deserve to be favored, and there is much about us that’s opposed to Him. Yet He still loves us and extends His grace and mercy to us – not to become His sweatshop workers, but to become His own sons and daughters and heirs of all He has!

2. Paul points out in Romans 11:17-24, what a mercy it was for we Gentiles to be grafted into the covenants (stump of Jesse) God made with the Hebrews. Because they didn’t believe, we got to step into their places. Like being on a waiting list for a plane seat, and making it on because someone else failed to show up. It’s a mercy! A Bonus!

B. THE EXTENT TO WHICH GOD WENT

1. God’s mercy is also seen in the great efforts God went to in order to atone for our sins. It was against nature that God help those who were His enemies

2. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Rom. 5:6-8.

3. And God’s mercy wasn’t free, but very costly: it cost Him the tortuous death of His one and only Son, Jesus. He was beaten and crucified so that our sins could be laid on Him. What incredible mercy God has for us!

4. Since God Himself has sacrificed so much for us, we too should be willing to sacrifice for Him!

II. WHAT WE’RE TO SACRIFICE?

A. “OUR BODIES.” WHY?

1. The only acceptable sacrifice in history was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His was the substance, of which all other sacrifices were but shadows. Hebrews 10:3-4 tells us that the O.T. Temple sacrifices could never take away sin but were only an annual reminder of that we were sinners – they pointed to the need of a greater sacrifice. Jesus’ death once and for all atoned and obliterated sins permanently. The “divine switch” transferred our sins to Him and His righteous to us (2 Cor. 5:21). He suffered in His body to atone for us.

2. Under the new dispensation God desires a whole new type of sacrifice. New Testament believers are all “priests unto God” (Rev. 1:6; 5:10) and should have something to ‘sacrifice’ to Him; “You…are…to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. 2:5.

3. In general, it is our bodies we are to offer in sacrifice to God. God doesn’t just want our thoughts or good feelings, He wants the entirety of our beings – including our bodies.

4. Paul says, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” 1 Cor. 6:19-20. Our bodies are “members of Christ” Himself, 1 Cor. 6:15.

5. Is this sacrifice asking too much? In light of what Jesus suffered for us, of course not. As another example, think of times of war; men feel it’s right to fight. Yes, their farm or business will suffer in their absence. Yes, they will miss their wife or husband, and children. But they must defend the nation. All personal considerations take a back-seat to the demand of patriotism & duty. And will not the Christian soldier sacrifice as much for the Savior who died for us? The Lord Jesus Himself set the example of self-sacrifice; “Christ pleased not Himself,” Rom. 15:3.