What is a living Sacrifice?

1. "What is a living sacrifice?" –19th
February 2017
“Therefore do not let sin reignin your mortal body so that youobey its evil desires.”(Romans6:12).
The dictionarydefines sacrifice as“anythingconsecratedandofferedtoGod.” We can learn where Paul
saysin Romans12:1, “Ibeseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies ofGodto present your bodies
a livingsacrifice,holy,pleasingtoGod,which isyour reasonableservice.” Paul’sadmonitiontothe
believersinRome wastosacrifice themselvestoGod.Thiswas not as a sacrifice onthe altar, as the
Mosaic Law requiredthe sacrifice of animals,butas a livingsacrifice. Thenthe questionarisesasto how
do we consecrate andofferourselvestoGodas a livingsacrifice?
Under the OldCovenant,Godacceptedthe sacrificesof animals.Butthese were justaforeshadowingof
the sacrifice of the Lamb of God,JesusChrist.Because of Hisultimate,once-for-all-time sacrifice onthe
cross, the OldTestamentsacrificesbecameobsolete andare nolongerof any effect.We canlearnthis
fromHebrews 9:11-12, “But when Christcame as highpriest of the goodthingsthat are nowalready
here, he went throughthe greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not madewith humanhands,
that is to say,is not a part of thiscreation. 12
He did notenter by means ofthe bloodofgoats and
calves; but he entered the Most HolyPlace once for all by his ownblood,thus obtainingeternal
redemption.”
Therefore forthose whoare in Christbyvirtue of savingfaith, whichis the onlyacceptable worshipisto
offerourselvescompletelytothe Lord.Under God’scontrol,the believer’syet-unredeemedbodycan
and mustbe yieldedtoHimas an instrumentof righteousness whichisinview of the ultimatesacrifice
of Jesusforus,thisis only“reasonable.”We can learnthisfrom Romans6:12-13, “Therefore do not let
sinreign in your mortal body sothat you obey its evil desires. 13
Do not offer anypart of yourselfto sin
as an instrumentof wickedness,but rather offer yourselvesto Godas those who have been brought
from deathto life;and offerevery part of yourselfto himas an instrumentof righteousness.”
What doesa livingsacrifice looklike inthe practical sense?The followingverse helpsustounderstand
this. “Donot conformto the pattern of thisworld, butbe transformedby the renewing of yourmind.
Then you will be able to test andapprove whatGod’swill is—hisgood,pleasingandperfect
will.”(Romans12:2).We are a livingsacrifice forGodbynot beingconformedtothisworld.The worldis
definedforus asthe lustof the flesh,the lustof the eyes,andthe pride of life.We can learnthisfrom 1
John2:15-16, “Do not love the worldor anythinginthe world. If anyonelovesthe world,love for the
Father is not inthem. 16
For everythingin the world—thelust ofthe flesh,the lust ofthe eyes, and the
pride oflife—comesnot fromthe Father butfrom the world.”
All thatthe worldhasto offercan be definedas these three things. The lustof the fleshincludes
everythingthatappealstoourappetitesandinvolvesexcessive desiresforfood,drink,sex,andanything
else thatsatisfiesphysical needs.Lustof the eyesmostlyinvolvesmaterialism, covetingwhateverwe
see that we don’thave andenvyingthose whohave whatwe want.The pride of life isdefinedbyany
ambitionforthatwhichpuffsusup and putsus on the throne of our own lives.
But one will wonderhowcanbelieversNOTbe conformedtothe world? We needchange from whatwe
were towhat we desire tobe. To be “transformedbythe renewingof ourminds.”We do thisprimarily
throughthe powerof God’sWord to transformus. We can get a betterunderstandingwhenwe hear,
read, study,meditate andmemorize Godgiventeachingsfromthe bible. We needtohearwhich

2. developsfaithasstatedin Romans10:17, “Consequently, faithcomes fromhearingthe message,and
the message is heard throughthe word aboutChrist.” Whenwe read andtake itto heart,we are
blessedasstatedin Revelation1:3, “Blessed is the one who reads aloudthe words ofthis prophecy,
and blessedare those who hear it and take to heart whatis written in it, becausethe time isnear.”
We needtostudy because itgivesusclarityinsteadof simplybeingaresoundinggong.We can learn
and examine the importance of studyingthe bible whenwe read Acts17:11, “Nowthe Berean Jews
were of more noblecharacter than those in Thessalonica,forthey received the message with great
eagerness andexamined the Scriptures every day to see ifwhat Paul saidwas true.” We alsoneedto
memorize Godsteachingsinourheartsso thatwe will be constantlyremindedwhenwe strayfromHis
teachings.We can learnthisfrom Psalm119:9-11, “How can a youngperson stay onthe pathof purity?
By livingaccordingto your word. 10
Iseek you withall my heart; do not let me stray from your
commands.11
Ihave hiddenyour word in my heart that I might notsin against you.” We needto
meditate onScripture because ithelpustostray strongwithoutallowingourmindstowither and
whateverwe dowill prosper.We canlearnthisfrom Psalm1:2-3, “…but whose delightis in the lawof
the LORD, and whomeditates on hislaw dayand night.3
Thatpersonis like a tree plantedby streams
of water, whichyieldsits fruit inseason andwhose leaf doesnot wither—whatever they do prospers.”
The Word of God, ministeredinourheartsbythe HolySpirit,isthe onlypoweronearththat can
transformus fromworldlinesstotrue spirituality.Infact,itisall we needtobe made “complete and
thoroughlyequipped”foreverygoodwork thatwe are calleduponas Christiansthroughthe scriptures!
We can readin 2 Timothy3:16,”All Scripture is God-breathedandisuseful for teaching,rebuking,
correcting andtrainingin righteousness…”.The endresultisthatwe will be “able totestandapprove
whatGod's will is—hisgood,pleasingandperfectwill” asstatedin Romans12:2, “Do not conformto
the pattern of this world,but be transformedby the renewingof your mind.Then you will be able to
test and approve whatGod’swill is—hisgood,pleasingandperfect will.” AsChristianswe mustbearin
mindthat itis the will of Godfor everybelievertobe a livingsacrifice forJesusChrist.