The Holy Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1-8)
1. The Early Church Christians
During the early church period, the Christians in Rome lived together in the catacombs, the underground cemetery. There were no other places for them to escape from the persecutions by the Roman government. There they praised and worshiped God. They had no beautiful hymn books yet, but they praised God with their lips and hearts by giving thanks to Him for His salvation of them. Their gathering and singing hours were so precious to them. Some of them were from rich families, and some others were from noble families. But they gave up their wealth and positions and went down to the catacombs to follow Jesus Christ.
There were many small hills and mounts at Cappadocia in Asia Minor, now in Turkey. And there were many caves dug on hills and mounts. Some caves were said to be of 8 stories. Early Church Christians dug caves deep into underground. Those Christians in Asia Minor who wanted to keep their faith in Christ came here and lived together inside the caves. Each cave accommodated 20,000 people on an average. At one time around 2 million Christians lived together scattered in many caves at Cappadocia. Although the number seems to be a little bit exaggeration, it is probably true that many Christians tried to keep their faith by escaping from the persecutions of the Roman Empire.
Their only desire was to meet Jesus later in the air or in resurrection.
To do so, they sacrificed their whole worldly lives and gave up all their belongings and social status.
What do you desire to see and expect while you are living your Christian lives?
2. Oldest Examples of Offerings (Genesis 4:2-5, 22:1-14)
In Genesis 4:2-5 we see the offering story of Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer and Abel was a keeper of sheep. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstlings(=first product) of his flock and of their fat portions. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering but He was not pleased with Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry about this and his countenance fell.
The reason why God was well pleased with Abel's offering but not with Cain's offering is not clearly explained in the passage. However, we think that the major crucial difference between their offerings is Cain's "some" offering and Abel's "first" product offering. That is, Abel "distinguished" his offering to God from the first product of his flock, but Cain did not.
The book of Hebrews witnessed Abel's excellent sacrifice in Heb. 11:4, "By faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. ... God bearing witness in respect of his gifts." This explanation centers upon the difference in spirit manifested by the two men.
In Genesis 22:1-14 God told Abraham to offer his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering. And Abraham followed His command. What did God want to see from Abraham's burnt-offering of his only son Isaac? When God saw his mind of loving, fearing and obeying God without withholding even his only beloved son from Him, God provided a ram for him according to his confession of faith before he knew God's providence: "God will provide Himself the lamb for a burnt offering"(Gen. 22:8).
3. A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)
What is a living sacrifice to God which is holy and acceptable? Paul urges us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. Here, the body(σώμα) means not only a physical body but also one's whole being--personality or the whole person's life. Thus, our bodies as a living sacrifice are our God-loving and God-pleasing life. A Christian's worship is not limited within a sanctuary but is extended through his life in a Christian community and in a society to which he or she belongs. Our worship with our bodies, that is, with our lives, is our spiritual worship.
We need to be transformed by the renewal of our mind. By doing so, firstly, we may prove "what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Furthermore, the transformation of ourselves may transform the church--the body of Christ, of which each one of us is a member, and may also transform the society in which we live.
4. Use Our God-given Talents (Gifts) to Transform the Body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8)
When we present our bodies by living and worshiping in accordance with God's good will, we may build up and transform the church--the body of Christ. God has assigned each one of us gifts (talents) according to the measure of faith. We use gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: "if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness" (vv.6-8). Our daily service for God by using our God-given talents is our living sacrifice and spiritual worship, and may transform this world into God-pleasing society where God's will may be realized.
5. Epilogue
The Jews in the Old Testament period presented lambs (or rams) or pigeons or animals from the herd or from the cattle to God as burnt-offering, peace-offering, sin-offering, or guilt-offering. But, Christians in the New Testament period, instead of giving dead animals as a sacrifice, are to present their own bodies(σώματα) to God as a living, holy and acceptable sacrifice.
We need to please God with our daily lives. This is our spiritual worship involving our whole beings and rational powers. Christians are not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of their mind. Then, they will be able to transform the church and the society where they live, according to the will of God. God wants us to offer Him our mind--mind of steadfast love, our spirit-- spirit of fearing of God, and our bodies--bodies as our whole beings and selves.
What do you want to sacrifice in your life for God who gave you His only Son Jesus Christ for your salvation?
Let us give our hands, feet, and whole selves to serve Him more and to please Him better.
During the early church period, the Christians in Rome lived together in the catacombs, the underground cemetery. There were no other places for them to escape from the persecutions by the Roman government. There they praised and worshiped God. They had no beautiful hymn books yet, but they praised God with their lips and hearts by giving thanks to Him for His salvation of them. Their gathering and singing hours were so precious to them. Some of them were from rich families, and some others were from noble families. But they gave up their wealth and positions and went down to the catacombs to follow Jesus Christ.
There were many small hills and mounts at Cappadocia in Asia Minor, now in Turkey. And there were many caves dug on hills and mounts. Some caves were said to be of 8 stories. Early Church Christians dug caves deep into underground. Those Christians in Asia Minor who wanted to keep their faith in Christ came here and lived together inside the caves. Each cave accommodated 20,000 people on an average. At one time around 2 million Christians lived together scattered in many caves at Cappadocia. Although the number seems to be a little bit exaggeration, it is probably true that many Christians tried to keep their faith by escaping from the persecutions of the Roman Empire.
Their only desire was to meet Jesus later in the air or in resurrection.
To do so, they sacrificed their whole worldly lives and gave up all their belongings and social status.
What do you desire to see and expect while you are living your Christian lives?
2. Oldest Examples of Offerings (Genesis 4:2-5, 22:1-14)
In Genesis 4:2-5 we see the offering story of Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer and Abel was a keeper of sheep. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstlings(=first product) of his flock and of their fat portions. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering but He was not pleased with Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry about this and his countenance fell.
The reason why God was well pleased with Abel's offering but not with Cain's offering is not clearly explained in the passage. However, we think that the major crucial difference between their offerings is Cain's "some" offering and Abel's "first" product offering. That is, Abel "distinguished" his offering to God from the first product of his flock, but Cain did not.
The book of Hebrews witnessed Abel's excellent sacrifice in Heb. 11:4, "By faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. ... God bearing witness in respect of his gifts." This explanation centers upon the difference in spirit manifested by the two men.
In Genesis 22:1-14 God told Abraham to offer his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering. And Abraham followed His command. What did God want to see from Abraham's burnt-offering of his only son Isaac? When God saw his mind of loving, fearing and obeying God without withholding even his only beloved son from Him, God provided a ram for him according to his confession of faith before he knew God's providence: "God will provide Himself the lamb for a burnt offering"(Gen. 22:8).
3. A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)
What is a living sacrifice to God which is holy and acceptable? Paul urges us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. Here, the body(σώμα) means not only a physical body but also one's whole being--personality or the whole person's life. Thus, our bodies as a living sacrifice are our God-loving and God-pleasing life. A Christian's worship is not limited within a sanctuary but is extended through his life in a Christian community and in a society to which he or she belongs. Our worship with our bodies, that is, with our lives, is our spiritual worship.
We need to be transformed by the renewal of our mind. By doing so, firstly, we may prove "what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Furthermore, the transformation of ourselves may transform the church--the body of Christ, of which each one of us is a member, and may also transform the society in which we live.
4. Use Our God-given Talents (Gifts) to Transform the Body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8)
When we present our bodies by living and worshiping in accordance with God's good will, we may build up and transform the church--the body of Christ. God has assigned each one of us gifts (talents) according to the measure of faith. We use gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: "if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness" (vv.6-8). Our daily service for God by using our God-given talents is our living sacrifice and spiritual worship, and may transform this world into God-pleasing society where God's will may be realized.
5. Epilogue
The Jews in the Old Testament period presented lambs (or rams) or pigeons or animals from the herd or from the cattle to God as burnt-offering, peace-offering, sin-offering, or guilt-offering. But, Christians in the New Testament period, instead of giving dead animals as a sacrifice, are to present their own bodies(σώματα) to God as a living, holy and acceptable sacrifice.
We need to please God with our daily lives. This is our spiritual worship involving our whole beings and rational powers. Christians are not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of their mind. Then, they will be able to transform the church and the society where they live, according to the will of God. God wants us to offer Him our mind--mind of steadfast love, our spirit-- spirit of fearing of God, and our bodies--bodies as our whole beings and selves.
What do you want to sacrifice in your life for God who gave you His only Son Jesus Christ for your salvation?
Let us give our hands, feet, and whole selves to serve Him more and to please Him better.
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