Sunday, July 1, 2012

A living sacrifice


Under the Law of Moses, sacrifices were made for atonement of sin on a regular basis. Since one could not keep the Law perfectly, bulls, goats and sheep had to be offered as a sacrifice to God. Christ became the lamb without spot and blemish to save us from our sins so that we would no longer have to offer animal sacrifices (1 Corinthians 5:7). We can be justified by faith (Ephesians 2:8) and have our sins forgiven by obeying the gospel (Romans 10:10; Acts 2:38). But just because we don’t offer animal sacrifices doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make sacrifices. Not of animals, but of ourselves.

Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Of course, this is not a literal sacrifice as done under the Law, but it is spiritual devotion of us to God. This could include what we do and don’t do. Notice Paul says to present our bodies a living sacrifice. Keeping from certain things that can dishonor our body like drugs, alcohol, fornication (1Corinthians 6:18-20) etc. can help our bodies be a living sacrifice. On the other hand, if we use our bodies for worship, prayer, teaching, and helping others, this can also be a way of presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice.

We have to use both ways in in our life if we want to be holy and acceptable to God. The only thing that can keep us doing this is selfishness and missing the fact that we are to be devoted to God. When we do this, we open the door for ways we can dishonor our body. Instead, value yourself and your body, for you were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

Jonathan Glaesemann

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home