A living Sacrifice Romans 12: 1-3
Living-Sacrifice. Now those two words, living sacrifice, compose in English what is called an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a combination of two seemingly contradictory words. It seems contradictory to say a living sacrifice. When we think of a sacrifice we usually think of something that is dead. A living sacrifice means that we are dead to sin, and alive to God.
In our text this morning, we find Paul giving us guidelines for living as a redeemed people in a fallen world. We can be assured that if you are in Christ, that this world is not your home. We are just strangers down here traveling through this barren land.
In the first 11 chapters of Romans, Paul explained the Gospel of God. He explained how the whole world is guilty before God and how man, through Jesus, could be reconciled to God.
In chapters 1-8 it tells us of God’s wonderful doctrines: We are not ashamed of it. How no one is exempt from it. It let’s us know that we’ve all fallen short of it. And that all things work together for good because of it.
In chapters 9-11 it gives God’s dealings with Jews & Gentiles; It lets us know that salvation is not based on our works, but his grace. It also lets us know how easy it is to be saved that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God has raised Jesus from the dead, we can be saved. Then in the chapter of this text, it gives us practical application of the gospel for mankind and how the “mercies of God” according to his forgiving power, tells us what we ought to do.
The theme of Romans is the Gospel of God, more specifically’ the righteousness that is from God. This righteousness from God is first the righteousness that God Himself possesses and manifests in all His actions; and second, it is the righteousness that God gives to each and everyone of us by grace through faith.
Paul begins his statement in Chapter 12. Listen to what he said, He said: I beseech you therefore.” In other words, I urge you therefore. I had a professor in ì¥Á 7 ð ¿ eptable unto man, but I’m want to be acceptable unto God. I’m not worried about what man thinks about me, I’m worried about what God thinks about me. I can say, I’m yours, Lord, I’m yours Lord. Everything I am and everything I’m not. I’m yours Lord, try me and see if I can be completely yours.
Paul ends this by saying that it is your reasonable service. God is not requesting anything that is beyond reason. Based on what he has already done we ought to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.
I don’t know about you but when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that he’s done for me. I realize that all to Jesus I truly give. I will ever love and trust him and in his service daily live.
That’s why I can sing today. I cannot sing sopranor. I May not be able to sing Alto. I may not be able to sing Tenor. I don’t sing Bass. I sing Because. I said, I sing because. I can sing because I’m happy. I can sing because I’m free.
I sing because he loved me. I sing because He gave himself for me
I sing because he saved me. I sing because He washed me
I sing because he redeemed me I sing because He healed me
I sing because he filled me I sing because He Went to Calvary for me
because they stretched him wide I sing because they hung him high
they crowned him with thorns They pierced him in his side
Because the blood that will never loose it’s power came streaming down
He died He stayed in the grave all night Friday
All day Saturday All night Saturday
Because the grave couldn’t hold him
Early, Early, Early, Sunday Morning, he got up
My faith is fixed, My salvation is secure
