Title: A Life dedicated to God
Scripture: Romans 6:13
By: Antonius Fu
13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. (NIV)
1. To whom we dedicate our lives?
The word "offer" was mentioned three times by Paul in Romans 6:13, which are commands concerning dedication. The first one is a prohibition command: Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness. The last two words "offer" are positive commands: but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
The Apostle Paul here also mentions to whom we offer our lives. There are two different objects. The first is to sin, and the other is to God. The Lord Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34). We should no longer be slaves to sin, don’t let sin take possession of us, but let God own us, influence us, let God use us, and show his glory through us.
We have to make this choice every moment, whether to give ourselves to sin or to God. We cannot be neutral. Humans who have sinned have fallen short of the glory of God, and have dedicated themselves to sin as slaves to sin. Jesus Christ rescued us from this master. However, we must continue to dedicate ourselves and our bodies to God to serve God. This is a deliberate and determined commitment to serve God, and it is also a choice of our will.
2. The dedicated life
Firstly, when we dedicate our lives to God, we count ourselves dead to sin. Because a man who dedicates himself to God is a man who has died to sin. That is, sin has no power in our bodies, no work, no right, and cannot influence us to do what it wants us to do. We die to sin because we, who belong to Jesus Christ, know the value of our own lives, so we don't allow sin to defile our new lives, nor do we need to seek spiritual satisfaction from sin. No longer interested in worldly sins because of the glorious joyful life that comes from God.
What does it mean to count ourselves dead to sin? In fact, we are already dead to sin. The words “count ourselves” here is actually a kind of reminder. I should always remind myself that I am a person who has died to sin and should no longer be controlled by sin.
We need to actively see ourselves dead to sin. Otherwise, even if we are willing to do everything that pleases God, we may still be plagued by sin, think wrong thoughts, and do wrong things. Therefore, we should always actively remind ourselves that we are dead to sin.
Secondly, when we dedicate our lives to God, we see ourselves live unto God in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus means that we live a life that is in union with Christ, as verse 8 says: " if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him." It describes the fundamental reality of the salvation, that we are united to Christ. Our union with the living Christ is the essential truth of our new and eternal existence.
We see ourselves live unto God because Christ lives in us. Just as Paul said in Galatians 2:20: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Our new life in Christ transforms us out of a self-centered world into a God-centered world. Our first thought is not what pleases us, but what would please God. We are willing to forego what we would like if it clashes with what God likes. God is now on the throne of our life. He is Lord and Master. Making Him happy is the essence of our existence.
Seeing ourselves live unto God also means to live a life full of all the fullness of God. We receive the fullness of God precisely and only because we receive Christ. whatever grace, righteousness, life, peace, and salvation there is in me is all Christ’s.
3. The method of dedicating our lives.
The way we dedicate our lives is to offer any part of ourself to God. A man who does not consecrate his life gives his body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, and he completely allows sin to dominate his body. But a Christian who dedicates his body to God will no longer be ruled by sin, he will be guided and protected by the grace of God.
To offer any part of ourself to God is to allow God to use our bodies. Every parts of our body are completely in God's hands, and we will no longer do things that are not pleasing to God. Like our tongues, as James said: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” The tongue dedicated to God is only used to praise God, and never ever again to curse others.
4. The result of our dedication
After dedicating ourselves to God, now God is the Lord of our life, and God has the first place in our life. He will give us a strong life, and a proper view of ministry, and our inner person wants to worship God. When our bodies are being dedicated to serving ourselves instead of God, we aren’t going to be happy in the long term – not if we have truly been made new. When our body is dedicated to God, it’s like matching up the outside with who we really are on the inside. Instead of focusing on pleasing ourselves with our bodies, we are focused on pleasing God.
5. Conclusion
If you want to experience the fullness of your new life in Christ, you need to offer to God your body: your hands and feet, your mouth and eyes, your mind. This is important in the Christian life, because offer our bodies to God is evidence that we have really been changed by Christ. By offering your body to God, you are now totally belonging to God, and you will enjoy a confidence that you truly have become a new person in Christ. And you will be used by God to accomplish his plan for your life.
