Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons: By the Mercies of God - Romans 12:1
I Beseech You Therefore, Brethren - Romans 12:1-2
Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.”
What kind of sacrifice are you making for the Lord? Many of God’s people, yea so very many of God’s children, are not willing to make any kind of sacrifice for the Lord at all. Their goal in life is to live in comfort and convenience; and making a sacrifice of any kind, even for the Lord, is not comfortable or convenient. Yet in Romans 12:1 the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to make a sacrifice unto the Lord our God. The Holy Spirit of God pleads with us on the basis of “the mercies of God” toward us. He would have us to remember the infinite guilt, the infinite punishment, and the infinite wrath from which the Lord our God saved us. He would have us to consider the horrible, miserable, wretched pit of darkness out of which God our heavenly Father delivered us through Jesus Christ our Lord. He would have us to meditate upon the infinite sacrifice that God the Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, made for us when He bore our sins upon Himself on the cross, becoming a curse for us and laying down His own life to pay the penalty and suffer the punishment of our sins. On the basis of Christ’s sacrifice for us, the Holy Spirit of God would move us and motivate us to make a sacrifice for the Lord.
Through the inspiration of the apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit of God pleads with every child of God, saying, “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.” Let us take notice of the three words “acceptable unto God.” Yes, brethren, we are to make a sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Yet it must be an acceptable sacrifice. There are two kinds of sacrifices made unto God – those that He accepts and those that He does not accept. Even so, in Genesis 4:4b-5a we read, “And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect.” In Jeremiah 6:20 the Lord declared unto His people in Jeremiah’s day, “To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.” Many believers do not make any sacrifice unto the Lord at all. Others do many things that they view as sacrifices and offerings unto the Lord, but the Lord does not receive them. They are not acceptable unto God. God does not have respect unto them.
Indeed, the Holy Spirit pleads with us to make a sacrifice unto the Lord. Yet He pleads with us to make a sacrifice that is “acceptable unto God.” Even so, in Philippians 4:18 the apostle Paul gave report to the believers at Philippi, saying, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” So then, what kind of sacrifice is acceptable unto God and well pleasing in His sight? The answer to this question is found in Romans 12:1.
This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons: By the Mercies of God - Romans 12:1
I Beseech You Therefore, Brethren - Romans 12:1-2
Romans 12:1-2 reads, “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.”
What kind of sacrifice are you making for the Lord? Many of God’s people, yea so very many of God’s children, are not willing to make any kind of sacrifice for the Lord at all. Their goal in life is to live in comfort and convenience; and making a sacrifice of any kind, even for the Lord, is not comfortable or convenient. Yet in Romans 12:1 the Holy Spirit of God pleads with us to make a sacrifice unto the Lord our God. The Holy Spirit of God pleads with us on the basis of “the mercies of God” toward us. He would have us to remember the infinite guilt, the infinite punishment, and the infinite wrath from which the Lord our God saved us. He would have us to consider the horrible, miserable, wretched pit of darkness out of which God our heavenly Father delivered us through Jesus Christ our Lord. He would have us to meditate upon the infinite sacrifice that God the Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, made for us when He bore our sins upon Himself on the cross, becoming a curse for us and laying down His own life to pay the penalty and suffer the punishment of our sins. On the basis of Christ’s sacrifice for us, the Holy Spirit of God would move us and motivate us to make a sacrifice for the Lord.
Through the inspiration of the apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit of God pleads with every child of God, saying, “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.” Let us take notice of the three words “acceptable unto God.” Yes, brethren, we are to make a sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Yet it must be an acceptable sacrifice. There are two kinds of sacrifices made unto God – those that He accepts and those that He does not accept. Even so, in Genesis 4:4b-5a we read, “And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect.” In Jeremiah 6:20 the Lord declared unto His people in Jeremiah’s day, “To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.” Many believers do not make any sacrifice unto the Lord at all. Others do many things that they view as sacrifices and offerings unto the Lord, but the Lord does not receive them. They are not acceptable unto God. God does not have respect unto them.
Indeed, the Holy Spirit pleads with us to make a sacrifice unto the Lord. Yet He pleads with us to make a sacrifice that is “acceptable unto God.” Even so, in Philippians 4:18 the apostle Paul gave report to the believers at Philippi, saying, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” So then, what kind of sacrifice is acceptable unto God and well pleasing in His sight? The answer to this question is found in Romans 12:1.
A Personal Sacrifice
In the opening portion of Romans 12:1, God the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Take note of the personal pronouns “ye” and “your.” With these personal pronouns, God the Holy Spirit is approaching each of us individually, as individual children of God. With these personal pronouns, God the Holy Spirit is pleading with each of us individually to make an individual, personal sacrifice unto the Lord our God. No one else can do it for you. It is a individual matter, a personal decision from your own heart for yourself. Just as in the matter of salvation an individual must personally receive the Lord through faith as Savior, even so in the matter of this sacrifice an individual believer must personally make the choice. Your pastor (no matter how much he may desire for you to make the sacrifice, and no matter how much he may grieve if you do not) cannot do it for you. Your husband or your wife cannot do it for you. Your parents or your children cannot do it for you. Your friends cannot do it for you. Your fellow believers cannot do it for you. Even God the Holy Spirit will not do it for you. He will plead with you, and beseech you, and even convict you to make this sacrifice unto the Lord your God. Yet He will not do it for you. You personally must personally choose to make this personal sacrifice unto the Lord your God.
A Willing Sacrifice
Again in the opening portion of Romans 12:1, God the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Take note of the verb “present.” We must personally present this sacrifice to the Lord. Herein God the Holy Spirit is pleading with us to make a willing presentation unto the Lord our God. It is not to be pried from our tight fisted grip. It is to be presented with our own open hands and our own willing heart. Brethren, since this sacrifice unto the Lord must be personal, since no one can do it for us, it must be a willing sacrifice. In like manner, Romans 6:13 proclaims, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” We are to yield ourselves unto God. Our Lord is not seeking for the sacrifice and offering of a forced slavery. Rather, our Lord is seeking for the sacrifice and offering of a willing servant. He is seeking for us to yield ourselves, to willingly surrender ourselves, unto Him. It must be a willing sacrifice.
A Complete Sacrifice
Yet again in the opening portion of Romans 12:1, God the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Take note of the phrase “your bodies.” Herein God the Holy Spirit is pleading for us to yield up and lay down ourselves, our bodies, as this sacrifice and offering unto the Lord our God. We are not to present some thing or things from among what we own. We are to present our very selves. We are not simply to sacrifice some of our time, some of our wealth, some of our talent, and some of our effort unto the Lord. We are to sacrifice our whole selves unto the Lord – not some part of ourselves, but our whole selves. Again in like manner, Romans 6:13 commands us, saying, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Here we find a two-fold reference to our individual members.
Brethren, the Lord our God is concerned about each and every one of our individual members. He is concerned about our ears, and that to which we listen. He is concerned about our eyes, and that which we watch and read. He is concerned about our mouths, and what and how we speak. He is concerned about our lips, and when and why we smile or frown. He is concerned about our nose, and where we stick it. He is concerned about our hands, and what we do and make with them. He is concerned about our arms, and to what cause we give their strength. He is concerned about our feet, and how and where we walk. He is concerned about our legs, and that for which we stand, as well as how we stand for it. He is concerned about our bodies, and how we clothe them. He is concerned about our various members, and the sensual and sexual activities in which we might use them. He is concerned about our minds, and that which we think and that which we learn. He is concerned about our hearts, and that which we feel and that which we desire. The Lord our God is concerned about each and every one of our individual members; and He is seeking for us to present our bodies, each and every one of our members, unto Him. Our Lord is seeking for a complete sacrifice.
A Living Sacrifice
Yet for a fourth time in the opening portion of Romans 12:1, God the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” In our concept of a sacrificial offering, we normally think of an animal that is killed and burned upon an altar. Yet the sacrifice that God the Holy Spirit is pleading for us to make unto the Lord our God is “a living sacrifice.” Indeed, the Lord our God desires that we sacrifice our living unto Him. He desires for us to live, day-by-day, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment, unto Him, and not unto ourselves. Even so, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 proclaims, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit is pleading with us to yield up and lay down our desire to live unto ourselves. He is pleading with us to deny ourselves daily and to live unto the Lord our God and Savior. It is to be a living sacrifice, a sacrifice of our living.
A Holy Sacrifice
Inn Romans 12:1 the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “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.” If our sacrifice is to be acceptable unto God, it must be “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” Indeed, we are to make a sacrifice of our living. We are to live unto the Lord our God; and the way that we are to live unto the Lord our God is to live “in righteousness and true holiness.” We are to live holy lives. Even so, 1 Peter 1:15-16 gives the instruction, saying, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Yet what does it mean to live a holy life? What does it mean to live in holiness? The word “holy” means “to be separated, to be consecrated.” Yea, it means “to be separated from ungodliness and unrighteousness, and to be separated unto God and His righteousness.” This is best revealed in Romans 6:12-13 – “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” We are not to allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies. We are not to obey the lusts of sin in our daily living. We are not to yield our bodies, our individual members, unto sin to be instruments of unrighteousness. We are to live a holy life, a life that is separate from sin and unrighteousness. On the other hand, we are to yield ourselves as living sacrifices unto God. We are to present ourselves as a sacrifice to live unto God. We are to yield our bodies, our individual members, unto God to be instruments of righteousness. We are to yield our individual members into God’s hands that He may use each and every one of those members for His own righteous purpose. We are to live a holy life, a life that is separated unto God and His righteousness.
What kind of sacrifice are you making for the Lord? Are you making a sacrifice unto the Lord at all? Is your sacrifice unto the Lord an acceptable sacrifice? Is your sacrifice a personal, willing, complete, living, holy sacrifice unto God? Each day are you making the personal and willing decision from your own heart to present yourselves completely, each and every part, unto the Lord your God, to live a holy life unto Him? Now, if anyone might think that such a complete living sacrifice is unreasonable, God the Holy Spirit makes clear at the end of Romans 12:1 that this is our “reasonable service.” Certainly we do not come to the truth of God through human reasoning. However, even in the realm of human reasoning, this is our “reasonable service.” It is only reasonable that we should live unto Him who died for us. Considering that God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, laid down His own life as a complete sacrifice to save us sinners, it is only reasonable that we saved sinners should present ourselves as a complete living sacrifice to live unto Him. It is the way that we serve our Lord. It is our “reasonable service.”
In the opening portion of Romans 12:1, God the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Take note of the personal pronouns “ye” and “your.” With these personal pronouns, God the Holy Spirit is approaching each of us individually, as individual children of God. With these personal pronouns, God the Holy Spirit is pleading with each of us individually to make an individual, personal sacrifice unto the Lord our God. No one else can do it for you. It is a individual matter, a personal decision from your own heart for yourself. Just as in the matter of salvation an individual must personally receive the Lord through faith as Savior, even so in the matter of this sacrifice an individual believer must personally make the choice. Your pastor (no matter how much he may desire for you to make the sacrifice, and no matter how much he may grieve if you do not) cannot do it for you. Your husband or your wife cannot do it for you. Your parents or your children cannot do it for you. Your friends cannot do it for you. Your fellow believers cannot do it for you. Even God the Holy Spirit will not do it for you. He will plead with you, and beseech you, and even convict you to make this sacrifice unto the Lord your God. Yet He will not do it for you. You personally must personally choose to make this personal sacrifice unto the Lord your God.
A Willing Sacrifice
Again in the opening portion of Romans 12:1, God the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Take note of the verb “present.” We must personally present this sacrifice to the Lord. Herein God the Holy Spirit is pleading with us to make a willing presentation unto the Lord our God. It is not to be pried from our tight fisted grip. It is to be presented with our own open hands and our own willing heart. Brethren, since this sacrifice unto the Lord must be personal, since no one can do it for us, it must be a willing sacrifice. In like manner, Romans 6:13 proclaims, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” We are to yield ourselves unto God. Our Lord is not seeking for the sacrifice and offering of a forced slavery. Rather, our Lord is seeking for the sacrifice and offering of a willing servant. He is seeking for us to yield ourselves, to willingly surrender ourselves, unto Him. It must be a willing sacrifice.
A Complete Sacrifice
Yet again in the opening portion of Romans 12:1, God the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Take note of the phrase “your bodies.” Herein God the Holy Spirit is pleading for us to yield up and lay down ourselves, our bodies, as this sacrifice and offering unto the Lord our God. We are not to present some thing or things from among what we own. We are to present our very selves. We are not simply to sacrifice some of our time, some of our wealth, some of our talent, and some of our effort unto the Lord. We are to sacrifice our whole selves unto the Lord – not some part of ourselves, but our whole selves. Again in like manner, Romans 6:13 commands us, saying, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Here we find a two-fold reference to our individual members.
Brethren, the Lord our God is concerned about each and every one of our individual members. He is concerned about our ears, and that to which we listen. He is concerned about our eyes, and that which we watch and read. He is concerned about our mouths, and what and how we speak. He is concerned about our lips, and when and why we smile or frown. He is concerned about our nose, and where we stick it. He is concerned about our hands, and what we do and make with them. He is concerned about our arms, and to what cause we give their strength. He is concerned about our feet, and how and where we walk. He is concerned about our legs, and that for which we stand, as well as how we stand for it. He is concerned about our bodies, and how we clothe them. He is concerned about our various members, and the sensual and sexual activities in which we might use them. He is concerned about our minds, and that which we think and that which we learn. He is concerned about our hearts, and that which we feel and that which we desire. The Lord our God is concerned about each and every one of our individual members; and He is seeking for us to present our bodies, each and every one of our members, unto Him. Our Lord is seeking for a complete sacrifice.
A Living Sacrifice
Yet for a fourth time in the opening portion of Romans 12:1, God the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” In our concept of a sacrificial offering, we normally think of an animal that is killed and burned upon an altar. Yet the sacrifice that God the Holy Spirit is pleading for us to make unto the Lord our God is “a living sacrifice.” Indeed, the Lord our God desires that we sacrifice our living unto Him. He desires for us to live, day-by-day, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment, unto Him, and not unto ourselves. Even so, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 proclaims, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit is pleading with us to yield up and lay down our desire to live unto ourselves. He is pleading with us to deny ourselves daily and to live unto the Lord our God and Savior. It is to be a living sacrifice, a sacrifice of our living.
A Holy Sacrifice
Inn Romans 12:1 the Holy Spirit pleads with us, saying, “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.” If our sacrifice is to be acceptable unto God, it must be “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” Indeed, we are to make a sacrifice of our living. We are to live unto the Lord our God; and the way that we are to live unto the Lord our God is to live “in righteousness and true holiness.” We are to live holy lives. Even so, 1 Peter 1:15-16 gives the instruction, saying, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Yet what does it mean to live a holy life? What does it mean to live in holiness? The word “holy” means “to be separated, to be consecrated.” Yea, it means “to be separated from ungodliness and unrighteousness, and to be separated unto God and His righteousness.” This is best revealed in Romans 6:12-13 – “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” We are not to allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies. We are not to obey the lusts of sin in our daily living. We are not to yield our bodies, our individual members, unto sin to be instruments of unrighteousness. We are to live a holy life, a life that is separate from sin and unrighteousness. On the other hand, we are to yield ourselves as living sacrifices unto God. We are to present ourselves as a sacrifice to live unto God. We are to yield our bodies, our individual members, unto God to be instruments of righteousness. We are to yield our individual members into God’s hands that He may use each and every one of those members for His own righteous purpose. We are to live a holy life, a life that is separated unto God and His righteousness.
What kind of sacrifice are you making for the Lord? Are you making a sacrifice unto the Lord at all? Is your sacrifice unto the Lord an acceptable sacrifice? Is your sacrifice a personal, willing, complete, living, holy sacrifice unto God? Each day are you making the personal and willing decision from your own heart to present yourselves completely, each and every part, unto the Lord your God, to live a holy life unto Him? Now, if anyone might think that such a complete living sacrifice is unreasonable, God the Holy Spirit makes clear at the end of Romans 12:1 that this is our “reasonable service.” Certainly we do not come to the truth of God through human reasoning. However, even in the realm of human reasoning, this is our “reasonable service.” It is only reasonable that we should live unto Him who died for us. Considering that God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, laid down His own life as a complete sacrifice to save us sinners, it is only reasonable that we saved sinners should present ourselves as a complete living sacrifice to live unto Him. It is the way that we serve our Lord. It is our “reasonable service.”
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