“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” (Rom. 12:1).
Instead of a command, Paul “beseeches” them “by the mercies of God” to “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” The riches of God’s mercy, as manifested in His provisions for man’s salvation, in and through the gospel, should be a mighty appeal to man to give Him all he has. By using the phrase “a living sacrifice” the Holy Spirit means a full and complete surrender of self to God is required. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33). As we sometimes sing, “None of self and all of Thee.” Paul is a perfect example of what he teaches here. He wrote, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). See also Philippians 3:7-11. This can only be accomplished when we “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).
It is to be holy—set apart to God’s service, consecrated without spot or blemish, having the characteristics of godliness. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). The “old man” of sin is to be replaced with the “new man created in righteousness” (Eph. 4:22-24).
It must be “acceptable unto God.” All acceptable service must be by divine appointment, authorized by God, in His divine Word (Col. 3:17; Eph. 5:10). It is a strange thing that men believe that they can obey God (do His will and thus be acceptable unto Him) by doing things He has neither commanded nor authorized (Prov. 14:12; Matt. 7:21f). God has prescribed His will in His Word. If we do that from a holy heart then it will be acceptable unto Him.
It is described as “your reasonable service.” The only pure, rational, and reasonable service that can be rendered to God is that which is authorized in His Word (Col. 3:17). Anything not authorized is a rejected sacrifice (Gen. 4:5; Heb. 11:4; Rom. 10:17). Service and worship to God are more than external pomp or entertainment.
It is a rational devotion of the mind or heart, expressed in divinely appointed acts (John 4:24; Rom. 6:17-18; Acts 2:42). When folks do things in worship for which they have absolutely no sanction or authorization in God’s Word, sin is committed.
How about you and me? Are we following the Holy Spirit’s instructions?
–Paul M. Wilmoth January 18, 1944 – April 5, 2021
