Living Sacrifices: True Worship Through Our Bodies
Summary
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul presents a profound call to live a life of worship through the offering of our bodies as living sacrifices. This passage serves as a crucial junction, connecting the rich doctrines of the Christian faith with the practical living of the Christian life. The essence of this call is to live a life motivated by gratitude for God's mercies, presenting our bodies as holy and acceptable sacrifices to God. This is not merely a ceremonial act but a continuous, living offering that is pleasing to God.
The term "reasonable service" is pivotal, indicating that our worship should be rational, spiritual, and mental, rather than merely external or ceremonial. This contrasts with the tendency to externalize worship, which has been a challenge throughout church history. True worship, as Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman, is in spirit and truth, not confined to specific locations or rituals. This inward, spiritual worship is what God desires, and it is the essence of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices.
Practically, this means refraining from sin and not using our bodies selfishly. Our bodies are not our own; they are temples of the Holy Spirit, meant to be used for God's glory. This involves avoiding the abuse of the body through excesses in food, drink, or any other indulgence. Instead, we are to keep our bodies healthy and fit, using every part of them to serve God. This includes our eyes, tongue, hands, and ears, all dedicated to God's service.
The call is to a balanced life where the body is neither neglected nor idolized but used as a vessel for God's purposes. This rational and spiritual offering is a true act of worship, aligning our entire being with God's will. May we strive to live out this calling, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, as our reasonable service.
Key Takeaways:
- Living Sacrifice: Our bodies are to be presented as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. This is not a one-time act but a continuous offering, reflecting a life of worship motivated by gratitude for God's mercies. [02:34]
- Reasonable Service: Worship should be rational and spiritual, not merely external or ceremonial. This inward worship aligns with the true worship that God desires, as explained by Jesus to the Samaritan woman. [07:22]
- Avoiding Externalism: The tendency to externalize worship has been a challenge throughout church history. True worship is not about rituals or locations but about an inward, spiritual relationship with God. [12:32]
- Body as Temple: Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, not our own. We must refrain from sin and selfish use of our bodies, keeping them healthy and fit for God's service. This includes avoiding excesses in food, drink, and other indulgences. [32:01]
- Balanced Life: A balanced life involves neither neglecting nor idolizing the body. Every part of our body should be used for God's glory, reflecting a rational and spiritual offering that aligns with God's will. [39:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Romans 12:1-2
- [00:37] - Importance of Understanding the Passage
- [01:14] - Connecting Doctrine with Life
- [02:04] - Motives for Living the Christian Life
- [02:34] - Presenting Our Bodies as Living Sacrifices
- [03:37] - Understanding Reasonable Service
- [04:13] - Worship as Service
- [05:03] - Sacrifice and Service in Philippians
- [06:11] - Worship and Service as Interchangeable
- [07:02] - Life as Worship
- [07:22] - Meaning of Reasonable Service
- [08:30] - Spiritual and Mental Worship
- [11:00] - Contrast with External Worship
- [12:32] - The Danger of Externalism
- [13:53] - Historical Context of Worship
- [17:22] - Rational Worship vs. Legalism
- [22:51] - Avoiding Irrational Practices
- [32:01] - Using Our Bodies for God's Glory
- [39:05] - Maintaining a Balanced Life
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:1-2
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
- John 4:23-24
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean by presenting our bodies as a "living sacrifice" in Romans 12:1-2, and how does this differ from Old Testament sacrifices? [02:34]
2. How does the sermon describe the term "reasonable service" in the context of worship, and why is it significant? [07:22]
3. According to the sermon, what are some ways people have historically externalized worship, and why is this problematic? [12:32]
4. How does the concept of our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, relate to the idea of living sacrifices? [32:01]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true worship is "inward, mental, and spiritual" rather than external or ceremonial? How does this align with Jesus' teaching to the Samaritan woman in John 4:23-24? [28:52]
2. How does the sermon explain the balance between not neglecting the body and not idolizing it? What practical steps are suggested to maintain this balance? [39:05]
3. What are the implications of viewing our bodies as not our own but as belonging to God, and how does this perspective influence our daily actions and decisions? [32:01]
4. How does the sermon address the issue of excesses, such as in food, drink, or other indulgences, and what is the rationale behind avoiding these excesses? [35:04]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are there areas where you might be externalizing your worship rather than focusing on an inward, spiritual relationship with God? How can you shift your focus? [12:32]
2. Consider your daily habits. Are there any ways you might be using your body selfishly or neglecting its role as a temple of the Holy Spirit? What changes can you make to align more closely with the idea of a living sacrifice? [32:01]
3. Identify one area of excess in your life, whether it be food, drink, or another indulgence. What practical steps can you take this week to moderate this excess and honor God with your body? [35:04]
4. Think about your approach to physical health. Are you maintaining a balanced life where your body is neither neglected nor idolized? What specific actions can you take to ensure your body is fit for God's service? [39:05]
5. Reflect on your understanding of "reasonable service." How can you incorporate more rational and spiritual worship into your daily routine? What might this look like in practical terms? [07:22]
6. Consider the ways you use your eyes, tongue, hands, and ears. Are there specific actions or habits you need to change to ensure these parts of your body are dedicated to God's service? [44:38]
7. How can you cultivate a mindset of gratitude for God's mercies in your daily life, and how might this gratitude motivate you to live as a living sacrifice? [02:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Living Sacrifice as Continuous Worship
Our lives are to be a continuous offering to God, reflecting a life of worship motivated by gratitude for His mercies. This is not a one-time act but a daily commitment to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. The idea of a living sacrifice is profound because it calls us to a life of ongoing dedication and service, where every action and decision is made with the intention of glorifying God. This means that our daily lives, in all their mundane and extraordinary moments, are opportunities to worship God through our actions, thoughts, and intentions. [02:34]
Romans 6:13 (ESV): "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can offer your body as a living sacrifice to God today, in your work, relationships, or personal habits?
Day 2: Rational and Spiritual Worship
Worship should be rational and spiritual, aligning with the true worship that God desires. This means moving beyond external rituals and embracing an inward, spiritual relationship with God. True worship is not confined to specific locations or ceremonies but is a heartfelt response to God's love and mercy. It involves engaging our minds and spirits in a way that is thoughtful and intentional, seeking to honor God in all aspects of our lives. This kind of worship is what God desires, as it reflects a genuine connection with Him. [07:22]
1 Corinthians 14:15 (ESV): "What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also."
Reflection: How can you incorporate both your mind and spirit in your worship today, ensuring it is both rational and heartfelt?
Day 3: Avoiding the Trap of Externalism
Throughout history, there has been a tendency to externalize worship, focusing on rituals and locations rather than the heart. True worship is about an inward, spiritual relationship with God, not about external appearances or practices. This means that our worship should not be limited to church services or religious activities but should permeate every aspect of our lives. It is about living in a way that reflects God's love and truth, regardless of where we are or what we are doing. [12:32]
Matthew 15:8-9 (ESV): "‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’"
Reflection: In what ways might you be focusing on external aspects of worship rather than cultivating a genuine, inward relationship with God?
Day 4: Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit
Our bodies are not our own; they are temples of the Holy Spirit, meant to be used for God's glory. This involves refraining from sin and avoiding the selfish use of our bodies. Instead, we are called to keep our bodies healthy and fit, using every part of them to serve God. This includes being mindful of how we treat our bodies in terms of diet, exercise, and overall well-being, recognizing that they are sacred vessels for God's purposes. [32:01]
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV): "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to honor your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit?
Day 5: Living a Balanced Life for God's Glory
A balanced life involves neither neglecting nor idolizing the body but using it as a vessel for God's purposes. Every part of our body should be used for God's glory, reflecting a rational and spiritual offering that aligns with His will. This means living in a way that honors God in all aspects of our lives, from our physical health to our spiritual well-being. It is about finding harmony in how we live, ensuring that our actions and choices reflect our commitment to God. [39:05]
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV): "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you strive for balance in your life today, ensuring that every aspect of your being is dedicated to serving and glorifying God?
Quotes
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 and be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that he may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [00:00:13]
The Apostle goes on to say this father thing he says which is you our reasonable service now here's the most interesting statement and we must be clear about this we've got to look at both of us service and reasonable service now what does he mean by service well again again is one of these technical terms that are used in the scripture. [00:03:25]
The whole of our life is to be a worship of God and that's the point that he's making here but now that he goes on to describe it as a reasonable service what does this mean well it's again as I say a very interesting term if you just take it as it is here in the authorized version you might come to the conclusion that we that what he's saying is this now what I'm asking you to do is something which is very reasonable. [00:07:16]
He says it is your spiritual it to be a spiritual or a mental service or worship of God now you see the significance of this again he uses these words in order to present us with the contrast he did that we saw in connection with the word living not a dead animal not a dead body it's got to be lived and it goes on not once and then that's the end with no no it's perpetual. [00:11:19]
There is undoubtedly a tendency for people to multiply the external forms in connection with religion people always like the natural men always like something spectacular something visible something external this has been the great fight that the Christian faith is had to fight from it's very beginning the perpetual tendency to externalize worship as over and against this inner spiritual worship. [00:12:37]
The Apostle is fighting against the legalistic attitude towards the worship of God and this is still I think it's one of the major fights today and will certainly be in these coming years you are aware of all these trends the new interest in Rome isn't Rome changing and so on and she is of course she's trying to bring these ceremonies of hers to us in a manner that will be more appealing. [00:17:43]
The same applies to drink any sort of drink if you like but drink in particular can be a terrible abuse of the body not in surfeiting and drunkenness that's the opposite of what the Apostle is telling us here if you drink too much alcohol you violate your body you knock out the highest part of it that God has given you your higher centers and control and you're abusing your body. [00:36:14]
The body is not to be worshipped the body is to be presented to God and used entirely to his glory and to his praise in other words let me put it bluntly and plainly sex I say is given to you by God but if you use your body and your sex to indulge yourself in your own appetites you are not only violating this you're violating the constitution of men. [00:37:17]
We keep our bodies in as healthy and the spitter condition as weekend it is not to be ultra spiritual to neglect the body many Saints have done their and their work of their ministry have suffered and the result of it the body is Robert Louis Stevenson put it is regarded as brother ass and he's been treated as such that's wrong you mustn't regard your body with contempt. [00:39:05]
Let the eye look on no even and it is a sacrifice it is isn't it our eyes have become accustomed to look at evening as we walk about the streets and see people and see Harding as you pick up your newspapers the eye has become accustomed to look of evil and by nature men enjoys them so when you see the eye looks on no evil it is a sacrifice. [00:43:27]
The mouth blessing limbs of curses and the air ever a pleasure for listening to God that's presenting your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is your service with reason your mental service your spiritual work a truly spiritual offering to God and Francis Ripley have a girl in the hymn we sang just now it's got to say my dear take my hand don't let them move at the impulse of dialogue. [00:46:40]
The Apostle puts all that you see in one word reasonable reason may God give us grace to work it out you know not understandings and then put it into practice in detail in our daily lives oh no how do we do indeed desire to do this very thing we see how small we are and how slow we are and how dull and foolish we are and though we are ever in danger of running to foolish irrational extremes. [00:48:02]
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