Romans 12: 1a
A Response to the Mercy of God

This morning I wish to speak about our presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice which is our reasonable religious duty.  On the surface, it is an easy enough idea to understand.  But when you think of it more seriously and personally, it suddenly becomes more complex.  Is it a mere mental assignment of ourselves to God?  Is it a definitive act like baptism or taking vows, as the monks of the Middle Ages did?  How does one know when he has done this?  Or is it a continuing state and not a once-for-all act?  No doubt, this possible confusion is the reason that Paul goes into great detail as to what he means.

Think with me along four lines of thought:

To present our bodies -- "bodies," in this context seems to be equivalent to our "persons."

To present our body as a living sacrifice.

To present our body as a living sacrifice on account of the mercies of God.

And finally, to present them wholeheartedly unto God as a useful gift to God.

1. And so, we do not take "body" here in too narrow a sense.  Paul often uses the word to describe, not our actual bodies, as distinct from the rest of us, but as the essence of what we are: Ourselves; what one sees as he deals with us.  But also it includes all that abstract and complicated part of you and me which makes us human beings, created in the image of God, as we are, and creatures of profoundly unique character, created, as we are, in the image of God and one of the most unique creatures that ever God created.

2. And that "image of God" is enhanced in every way when it is once again presented to God who originally created it.

Admittedly, in you life -- as well as mine, there are contradictions -- areas, that need to be brought into the realm of the whole "being" which is lived in sacrifice to God.  Perhaps this morning, is an excellent opportunity for you to embark on a new level of sanctification and obedience.  Do you think so?

II. PAUL URGES US TO PRESENT OURSELVES AS LIVING SACRIFICES TO GOD.

1. The idea is that right here God is not asking for you to give yourself as a martyr.  There are other verses in the New Testament for martyrs if you want to be one.

2. And as I said before, God may call you to be a martyr in your life time.  Don't discount the possibility.  But right here and now he exhorts you to give yourself a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God and continues to do that thoughout the totality of your mortal life.

3. This is often seen as a once for all act of consecration, following some crisis point in a person's life. Indeed, Christian experience sometimes comes in that package.  It did to Zinzindorf and it did in his contemporary, John Wesley.  And since that time, there has been a long line of preaching, demanding "absolute surrender," or some sort of thing like it.  Probably we would do well to describe it as "whole-hearted surrender" rather than "absolute surrender."

The idea brings to the memory the account of Alexander Duff, who was one of the early Presbyterian missionaries of the church of Scotland to India.  When he was a small boy and an appeal was being made in a large church meeting, to raise money for the mission to India, and when the usher came by his seat with the big basket, he asked the usher to "pass the basket low," and he stepped into the collection basket and gave himself to the Lord for his service.  In so doing, he no doubt gave the most valuable gift by far, that was given at that meeting.

That kind of thing is perfectly good Christian theology ,as long as (and only as long as) it does not blot out the fact that what Paul is really speaking about here is continuous Christian duty.  There is no possibility of getting it over with, because it is a living sacrifice, not a once-for-all sacrifice.  I might also say that Christian experience shows that there is really no such thing as "absolute" surrender, but only a surrender or a "sacrifice" that continually has to face the issue of what that sacrifice includes.  You can't get it over with, and then go on to other things.  It is always there and it is always God's call to the Christian and his call to you.  It may be small or great, but it is there.

Now, certainly, in your life, today, there is a call of God for a "living sacrifice."  It may be a point of obedience that you have had to face over and over again.  Or it may be a new issue, like one yesterday or the day before, but essentially new.

It may be the call to surrender your rights, or a call to obey God in something you really don't want to do.  Could it be a call to hardship or inconvenience in some specific thing relating to your discipleship to Christ?  The answer is easy (intellectually, at least).  God has called you to be a living sacrifice -- one that goes on and on and on, when ever the call comes.

III. FURTHERMORE, PAUL EXHORTS US TO PRESENT OURSELVES AS THIS SACRIFICE, ON THE BASIS OF THE "MERCIES OF GOD."

1. I suppose what he is speaking about in the term "mercies of God," is the whole gospel he has been explaining in Romans, up to this point.  The truth of your lostness, your being beyond the reach of God, God's giving of faith to you, his application of Justification to you and his sanctifying you by the Holy Spirit, who is given to you and his promise of blessedness forever in the life to come.

2. This is often seen as a once-for-all act of consecration, following some crisis point in a person's life.  Indeed, Christian experience sometimes comes in that kind of a situation.  It has done so, time after time.  Others, who have been brought up by dedicated Christian parents, find children just quietly growing in the faith and giving stronger and stronger evidence that they have really come to know the Lord, and to trust him for their salvation.

IV. FINALLY, PAUL EXHORTS US TO PRESENT OURSELVES WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO GOD.

1. You may discover at some point in your spiritual life, the truth of God's invitation to each person who comes under the influence of the gospel.  He wants them, not only to trust Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, but for receiving the work of the dear Holy Spirit in their life and relationships.

And it is inevitable, that, in a person who has had faith in Christ, there will be not only a trust in the Gospel, but a sense of obedience and service and witness to the world around of this individual who has given himself to Christ and has experienced the coming of the Holy Spirit, a true Love for God and trust in the saving work of Jesus, as he bore all of our sins.  And when this happens there is inevitably a serious interest about the meaning of salvation and attention to faithful obedience to God's commandments.

2. And that "presenting of ourselves to God" includes our obedience to the commands of Christ and daily attention to our life, as children of God and servants in his kingdom.

3. And that obedience is followed by a desire to serve Christ and his kingdom and to be an example to our fellow citizens who have not yet come into Christ's kingdom.  Time and time and time again, Christians who are new in the faith are used by God to bring others into the household of the faith, through Bible Studies, through encouraging them to attend a church which is faithful to the gospel.  And time after time you will see a slight interest in such persons, and then a faithful involvement in a congregation or a Bible Study, directed to new Believers.