Present And Prevent: In View Of The Lord’s Mercies

Introduction: Paul’s letter to the Romans is a classic piece of Scripture. Alva J, McClain and perhaps others noted how Paul made four basic divisions: condemnation, salvation, vindication, and exhortation. Chapter 12 begins the final section and indeed begins with a word of exhortation to these believers—and us, too, by extension.

First, he’ll tell us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. Let’s take a look at the first two verses of this chapter:

1 Present bodies

Text, Romans 12:1-2, NASV: 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Sometimes we forget that Paul was, and had been, a thoroughly orthodox Jew and most likely had contributed his share of offerings, sacrifices and so forth. At the least, he knew the Old Testament and the demands of the Law.

He knew also, secondly, that every animal sacrifice was to be killed. Sometimes, the LORD had even given instructions as to what parts of the animal were to be offered in fire, or if the entire animal (such as a bull, goat, ram, turtledove, etc.) was to be totally consumed. The Book of Leviticus has the LORD’s clear directives on this and other matters.

Paul also knew that these sacrifices were not enough for anyone to receive salvation. There were a good number of saints in the Old Testament (Moses, David, Elijah, and Jeremiah come quickly to mind) but the stories of how these men and others ever became believers. Abram/Abraham is one of the few whose story is written for us: he believed God, and it was counted for him as righteousness (Genesis 15:5, paraphrased and Romans 4:2).

More ominously, Paul probably knew about human sacrifices also. There are a number of times in the Old Testament where people literally burned a child or more than one child as an offering (!) to Moloch/Molech/Milcom (all names for the same pagan deity). How that sacrifice or offering took place is really too gruesome to describe in detail (some commentators have additional information if anyone wants to search this out).

The common thread in all of this is that the offerer or worshiper chose something and presented it as a sacrifice. This offering was not in itself a means to receive salvation—salvation has always been by grace through faith. Nothing we do will ever be enough to “earn” salvation and Paul even said as much in Ephesians 2:8-10.

So, then, what are we really supposed to do? Paul gave a strong exhortation, if not a command, for each believer (he seldom calls unbelievers “brethren”) to present his or her body as a living sacrifice. There are several aspects or angles about this, but the two that a good number of commentators agree on is that first, this offering is a “once and for all” offering. The Old Testament sacrifices had to be repeated with even the High Priest making an offering on the Day of Atonement every year (Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 16:2-34, 23:27-32; Numbers 29:7-11, e.g.) But when Jesus died on the cross, all sins were (and are) forgiven for those who accept the gift of salvation (Colossians 2:14)! There isn’t any need, then, for additional sacrifices!

How could anyone or anything improve on what Jesus did?

But secondly, this is an ongoing, living, sacrifice. I think this means that I give up my choices, my desires, my everything so that I might be doing what our Lord wants me to do.

This is, of course, impossible to do all the time. I sin, and when that happens, my fellowship with the Lord is broken and it’s up to me to make things right with Him. That also means I need to confess my sins and face whatever discipline and/or punishment the Lord feels I deserve.

Even more so, then, I need to find and be aware of the Lord’s will and plan is for my life. If He wants me to be a preacher, I’d be wrong to seek a career as a plumber—even though there is a tremendous need for tradesmen of all kinds! No, if I willingly reject God’s will and plan for my life, there’s no way I’ll ever complete of fulfill any of that for my life.

Sobering. I need to keep this in mind every day. God’s way is the best way, period.

And there’s another thing I need to keep in mind. That is prevention. Let’s take a look at that:

2 Prevent corruption, verse 2