Living Sacrifices!

[Onlybygrace]

Brothers,

I would appreciate some help and perspective on the interpreting of this passage and this phrase in particular in Romans 12:1.

What does the term "LIVING SACRIFICE" really mean and why are we told to present our bodies?

 

[Dr. Walter]

Brothers,

I would appreciate some help and perspective on the interpreting of this passage and this phrase in particular in Romans 12:1.

What does the term "LIVING SACRIFICE" really mean and why are we told to present our bodies?

Paul is a Jew as well as a Jewish scholar trained under Gamalial. Many at Rome were either Jews or had been Jewish proselytes also trained in the Old Testament. They knew that when the priest offered up a sacrifice on the altar he would tie it down to the four horns and then kill it and then offer it up as a burnt sacrifice. The burnt sacrifice pictured total consumation of the life of Christ in the service of God as a sweet offering to God.

However, the offering up of the burnt sacrifice pictured more than Christ but also it pictured the offering up of the lives of God's people in service as well.

The idea of a "living" sacrifice points out the willingess to LIVE for Christ wholly and acceptably whereas Christ was willing to DIE for you.

Romans 1-11 demonstrate how great a salvation God provided for His people and now Paul calls on the saved to show their appreciation through a LIFE of service fully dedicated unto God.

 

[thegospelgeek]

A Sacrifice was something of value that was offered to God.

A living sacrifice in this context would be an offering of our life to God. Living for him. No longer living my way, but how he desires and enables me to.

 

[Onlybygrace]

Does the term sacrifice refer to living sacrificially or dying to self?

 

[Scarlett O.]

Here is what I taught my 6th graders about Romans 12:1-2.

What does that mean to sacrifice our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice? It means that you have to take everything about you that is human – everything – and lay it down on that metaphorical altar. Allow God to take charge of it - your dreams, your heart, your mind, your hobbies, your attitude, your work, your play, your mouth, your actions. Lay it down on the altar and don’t take it back. Sometimes this has to be done several times a day! The best time to do this is every morning. If you have to do it again by lunch time – then do it.

Our sacrifices aren’t in slaughtering animals, but in slaughtering our stubborn will. It isn’t a sacrifice of death, but of life. It’s allowing Jesus Christ to take control and take charge of our daily routine – all of it.

 

[thegospelgeek]

Does the term sacrifice refer to living sacrificially or dying to self?

yes

living sacrificially in that your desire is to please Christ and walk as he walked. Dying to self in the sense that your desire is no longer the please the flesh.

 

[thegospelgeek]

Here is what I taught my 6th graders about Romans 12:1-2.

What does that mean to sacrifice our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice? It means that you have to take everything about you that is human – everything – and lay it down on that metaphorical altar. Allow God to take charge of it - your dreams, your heart, your mind, your hobbies, your attitude, your work, your play, your mouth, your actions. Lay it down on the altar and don’t take it back. Sometimes this has to be done several times a day! The best time to do this is every morning. If you have to do it again by lunch time – then do it.

Our sacrifices aren’t in slaughtering animals, but in slaughtering our stubborn will. It isn’t a sacrifice of death, but of life. It’s allowing Jesus Christ to take control and take charge of our daily routine – all of it.

well said. simple, yet effective:thumbsup:

 

[Jedi Knight]

The problem with living sacrifices is that they sometimes crawl off the altar! :smilewinkgrin: