Romans 12:1,2
Romans chapter 12 opens with an appeal to believers. “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”. God requires holiness in the believer’s life, service and
worship. The message on consecration and non-conformity to the world is only
for believers who are justified. Generally, the epistle to the Romans talks
about the believer’s justification by faith. It reveals our salvation and
reconciliation with God through His grace.
In the build up to the message on consecration and non-conformity
to the world, chapters 1, 2 and 3 of Romans discuss the guilt and condemnation
of both the Jews and Gentiles; chapters 4 and 5 reveal the redemption of both
Jews and Gentiles only by faith in Christ. Chapter 6 talks about our
sanctification: the crucifixion and removal of the adamic nature of sin from
the believer’s heart. While chapter 7 highlights the wretched and helpless
state of sinners, chapter 8 shows the provision of forgiveness through Christ’s
death and the possibility of a new life in the Spirit. Chapters 9, 10 and 11,
reveal how the Jews who are children of the covenant are at present under
dispensational blindness. While the Jews are blind to the light of the gospel
now, the Gentiles receive the light of the gospel and enjoy all the privileges
of redemption through Christ. This redemption puts on us, as beneficiaries, the
responsibility to consecrate our lives to Him and refuse any tendency to
conform to the world.
1. BLAMELESS AND
ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD
Romans
12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 3:16,17; Psalm 50:5; 1 Timothy 5:1,2,22.
“I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD…” Apostle Paul addresses “brethren”,
people who are already saved from their sins. Called out of the world, they are
now reconciled to God. Thus, their ambition and desire are in contrast with the
world; their goal in life is to obey and please the Lord. The “mercies”
that brings salvation, sanctification, healing, deliverance and makes us sons
and daughters in the Kingdom should make us to be consecrated to the Lord. Some
professing Christians in our society erroneously believe that God has nothing
to do with their bodies, as He is only concerned about their soul and spirit.
Thus, they do all sorts of abominable things with their bodies contrary to the
admonition for us to present our bodies a blameless and acceptable sacrifice to
the Lord. But the Lord will not accept any sacrifice that is contaminated with
disobedience.
Why do we need to present
our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord? “For ye are bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”.
Christ, having paid the ultimate price for our redemption, the believer no more
has power over his body. Bought and brought into the Kingdom by Christ’s Blood,
he must “glorify God”, not self, man or the world, in his
body. The body he offers to the Lord to reside in as His temple must be pure.
The Lord can make a sinner a saint while he is still here on earth contrary to
the erroneous belief of false teachers. This He does by cleansing the sinner
with the Blood of Jesus Christ and giving him the power to live above sin.
Freed from sin, his new life in Christ affects his disposition, lifestyle,
language, dressing, interaction with others, etc. The Lord demands purity and
non-conformity with the world.
2. BLESSED AND ABSOLUTE
SURRENDER UNTO THE LORD
Romans
12:1,2; 2 Samuel 15:15; 1 Kings 20:4.
As a representative of
Christ, Apostle Paul appeals to believers to “present [their] bodies
a living sacrifice… unto God”. Presenting our bodies to the Lord
means to consecrate and surrender our lives to Him. Satan will not be happy
whenever we want to offer our time, talent, treasure, life, skill, ability,
etc. to the Lord. When Mary anointed the feet of our Lord with a very costly
ointment of spikenard, Judas Iscariot was not happy. As we lay our lives on the
altar of service, we should not be distracted by Satan and his human agents but
be firm in our decision to serve Him. A songwriter succinctly put it thus: I
have decided to follow Jesus… No turning back, No turning back! Though no one
joins me, still I will follow… No turning back, No turning back! The world
behind me, the Cross before me… No turning back, No turning back! The world
will try to entice us to conform to its system and standard; it will try to
distract us from preaching the gospel by engaging us with sports, games,
politics, traditions, etc., but we must be watchful and diligent in our
commitment to please the Lord who owns our body, soul and spirit. If we accept
Christ as our Saviour, we must obey all His commands and surrender to Him
without reservation.
3. BIBLICAL AND APPROVED
SERVICE UNTO THE LORD
Romans
12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; John 12:24-26; Philippians 2:5-8; 3:7-10;
Matthew
6:24; John 13:13,15.
Believers need to
appreciate Christ’s love and sacrifice by willingly rendering acceptable
service to Him. Our service will be acceptable if we are not conformed to the
world in fashion, politics, duplicity, deception and diplomacy. For our service
to be fruitful and rewarded in time and eternity, it must be selfless. Seeking
pleasure and men’s praise will render our labour and service to the Lord
worthless. But when we seek His glory and exaltation in everything we do, the
Lord will surely reward us. We must be as selfless and faithful in our
commitment to serving God as Christ, our Lord did. “Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. And like Apostle Paul, we should
always “count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord”. If we remain unwavering in loyalty and
consecration in serving the Lord till the end, He will surely reward us.
"I have decided to follow Jesus"
Have you decided to follow Jesus?
I pray that we follow Jesus no matter the circumstances surrounding us in Jesus' name!
Be blessed,
-Charity
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