The Why and How of Sacrifical Living - Romans 12:1-3

When I think about the sentimental conclusion of Avengers Endgame one thing that comes to mind is how Tony Stark's character has changed throughout the Avengers movies. He started off as a sarcastic prideful millionaire, and became a superhero, and developed into a thoughtful, compassionate hero. The reason for his change is because he understood his responsibilities. He wasn’t born as Ironman - But after becoming him, he knew he had to live and think according to his new version of himself. The high point of his transformation is witnessed in sacrificing; and as we just watched, Tony does just that, and saves the world. Perhaps, with the intention of influencing peace among the occupants of earth, and the darkness in the world.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he writes to clarify important aspects that come with being a Christ follower. He covers a lot of this material in chapters 1 through 11. The highpoint begins in chapter 12, and is unpacked through the remainder of the letter. In Romans 12:1-3, Paul writes,

Read Romans 12:1-3, slowly; possibly together

“12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned”

Brief explanation of the passage.

In this passage the apostle is pleading for the Christ following Gentiles to present themselves as a living sacrifice, and he explains how to do it.

Breakdown the reason for Paul’s appeal.

Paul simplifies the process by explaining the reason, “by the mercies of God” for sacrificial living, which influences the response to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice”, and when applied demonstrates the result “holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship”, and illustrates the routine “Do not be conformed”; “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”; “by testing you may discern what is the will of God”; and “but to think with sober judgement”.

1. Romans 6:17-18; 3:9-18 Mercy (The Reason)

17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11  no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13  “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14  “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16  in their paths are ruin and misery, 17  and the way of peace they have not known.” 18  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

What does mercy mean? Mercy is God’s attitude of pity toward the miserable (or those in distress).

Mercy and compassion denote care, concern, and empathetic feeling for another person. In the Bible, mercy and compassion are most perfectly demonstrated and characterized by God’s own merciful and loving care for his people, and in particular by the gift of mercy through Jesus Christ. Paul writes about God’s mercy in the first eleven chapters of his letter to the churches in Rome by his clear explanation and reflection of the Gospel, his use of the word “Therefore” is the reason for his writing the last chapters on how to apply the knowledge learned to everyday day life..

One of the highpoints is Paul’s disclosure of the Christ followers' transformation from slave to sin to slave of righteousness (Romans 6:18). Manifested in this transformation is the indication to live morally righteous lives dedicated to God, and also conveys God’s mercy towards people that don’t deserve it.

In Romans 6:18 what are his hearers free from when they follow Christ? Answer: Slave to sin.

In Romans 6:17 what kind of standard was kind of standard of teaching were they committed to? Answer to be like Christ, righteousness implied.

In Romans 3:9-18 does Paul’s hearers deserve God’s mercy? Answer: No

Paul’s appeal to hearers to sacrificial living is clearly influenced by God’s mercy - which means that obedience to the command should be obligatory.

2. Romans 6:11-13 (The Response)

11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 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

What does Paul tell his hearers not to do in Romans 6:13? Answer: Do not present your members to sin as unrighteousness.

What does Paul tell his hearers to do in Romans 6:13? and why? Answer: Present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.

Paul is very clear here. Now that the Gentiles are a new creation, they are to live righteously and not as they did before. Righteous living is a form of worship to God.

3. Romans 8:5,8 (The Result)

. 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. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

What does Paul say to set their minds on in Romans 8:5? Answer: Things of the Spirit.

What is assumed if the mind is set on the Spirit? The opposite result of Romans 8:8? Answer: Pleasing God.

Worship to God in the Old Testament consisted of sacrificing animals for repentance, which was the holy and acceptable way to have fellowship with God. In the New Testament, Christ was/is the ultimate sacrifice that abolished animal sacrifice, Christ followers then/now worship God spiritually and with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When the Gentiles live in this sacrificial way they are demonstrating Spiritual Worship, which is the new holy and acceptable way to have fellowship with God. So, how is presenting oneself as a living sacrifice done?

4. Romans 12:2-3 (The Routine)

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

“Do not be conformed”

Paul says do not let the world conform you like it did before. The word conform means to take the form as another. When Gentiles were an old creation, they lived according to the desires of their hearts, and the desires of the world - which is not God’s call on their life (1 Peter 1:14). In other words, the Gentiles old way of thinking actually didn’t take much thinking at all, they followed their heart, and let the world shape them - no questions asked.

“Be transformed by the Renewal of the Mind”

Instead, Paul want’s the Gentiles to think for themselves. Now that they are a new creation created for good works - they must transform. Transform means to change form, having an effect on the whole person. When Tony Stark transformed into Ironman everything about him was changed and effected. Paul say’s that this change requires a new way of thinking [mind], and implies it is by the work of the Holy Spirit, not by the world.

“Testing You May Discern What is the Will of God”

Paul says that when thinking is transformed, the Gentiles will be able to view life with Biblical glasses. The Gentiles will be able to test life situations and pressures to conform to the world with that of God’s will. The result is righteous thinking, and living - all of which are good and acceptable and perfect in their spiritual fellowship with God.

Sober SelfAwareness

With all this, Paul warns the Gentiles of the potential for prideful thinking, and/or comparing their faiths. He explains that they should not let their thinking cloud the fact that all of God’s mercies come from God, and are not by their own doing. God is the giver of the measure of their faith, not man.

5. Re-Cap

What was the reason for Paul’s appeal?

Why was the response to present oneself important to the Gentiles?

How do the Gentiles live out sacrificial living?

What is the danger of not thinking about God’s grace in living a life dedicated to Him?