The Wisdom of Sacrifice Romans 12:1-2

We live out the Gospel as living sacrifices with renewed minds.

A while back on "The Merv Griffin Show," the guest was a body builder. During the interview, Merv asked "Why do you develop those particular muscles?" The body builder simply stepped forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf. The audience applauded. "What do you use all those muscles for?" Merv asked. Again, the muscular specimen flexed, and biceps and triceps sprouted to impressive proportions. "But what do you USE those muscles for?" Merv persisted. The body builder was bewildered. He didn't have an answer other than to display his well-developed frame.

I. The What of Gospel Living v. 1

In v. 1, we see a shift in focus, from the nature of the Gospel to the outworking of that truth.

In light of the Gospel, how should we live?

Paul is clear here: Belief and behavior go together

He describes our life as one of “living sacrifice”

This sacrifice is driven by the mercies of God

We do not live a life of dedication so that we may receive mercy

Instead, we live a life of dedication to God because we have received mercy

This sacrifice is a bodily sacrifice

This is not less than a spiritual act or less than an act of the will

It does recognize, however, that know true act of worship is fulfilled without a bodily act: Where the spirit and the mind go, the body follows!

This sacrifice is a sign of total devotion

The burnt offering is presented and we see in its burning a death to sin

However, in its giving, it is now fully alive to God: it is His

This sacrifice is marked by holiness

It cannot be acceptable to God if its primary character is unholy

This holiness is two-fold: insured by Christ’s redeeming work, yet pursued as part of the new life

This sacrifice is reasonable

While this total devotion may seem radical or extreme, it is the only logical level of commitment

Christ’s gift and His position call us to complete devotion: He cannot be mostly Lord or sometimes Lord or somewhat Lord!

David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary and explorer who spent thirty-three years in the heart of Africa. He endured much suffering as he labored to spread the Gospel and open the continent to missionaries. This godly missionary once remarked:

“People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay?...It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger now and then with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink, but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk, when we remember the great sacrifice which HE made who left his Father’s throne on high to give himself for us.”

II. The How of Gospel Living v. 2

The life of the living sacrifice requires a radical reorientation of perspective

It is not conformed to the world:

It does not find its loyalty to a culture, but to Christ

Further, it is not driven by the spirit of the age that we are living in; it does not go along to get along with the prevailing winds of the times

This is because it is not shaped by carnality

The problem with the carnal mind is that it views the flesh as the immediate need and ultimate end

The outworking of this may look drastically different in the lives of different individuals, but the source is the same

This life denies the supremacy of God and it cannot please Him; its end is death!

Romans 8:5–8

[5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (ESV)

Matthew 10:28

[28] And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (ESV)

3. Instead, it is transformed!

This is a life of non-conformity

It consistently goes against the flow of the culture

However, it is marked by distinction from the world rather than antagonism against the world

This is marked by the renewal of the mind

The focus of the renewed mind is no longer carnal, but spiritual in its orientation

The renewed mind goes further and sees things as they are in light of the Gospel of Jesus as the grounds for values and judgment

This mind is able to discern the Will of God

When the mind changes the body will follow

This is founded in knowledge of God, so that we will know His will through Scripture, the leadership of the Spirit in prayer, and in the counsel of the wise

This is also founded in the wisdom of God: It understands the value in the will of God and treasures it as good and acceptable and perfect

Appetite says, “Be sensuous, enjoy yourself.”

Education says, “Be resourceful, expand yourself.”

Materialism says, “Be satisfied, please yourself.”

Psychology says, “Be confident, fulfill yourself.”

Pride says, “Be superior, promote yourself.”

Humanism says, “Be capable believe in yourself.”

God says, “Be wise, humble yourself.”