living sacrifices

LIVING SACRIFICESLIVING SACRIFICES

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your acceptable unto God, which is your

reasonable service. And be not reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye conformed to this world: but be ye

transformed by the renewing of your transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, good, and acceptable, and perfect,

will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)


#1#1Urgency of the MessageUrgency of the Message

““I beseech you therefore...”I beseech you therefore...”


Paul teaches that:Paul teaches that: There is urgency connected to There is urgency connected to

sacrificial living. sacrificial living. Paul uses the term, “beseech”, Paul uses the term, “beseech”,

meaning to beg. meaning to beg. -According to scholar Joseph H. -According to scholar Joseph H.

Thayer, the word translated Thayer, the word translated beseech comes from the Greek beseech comes from the Greek word "parakaleo" (2000, 487).word "parakaleo" (2000, 487).

Urgency of the MessageUrgency of the Message

#2#2Uniqueness of the SacrificeUniqueness of the Sacrifice

““present your bodies a living sacrifice...”present your bodies a living sacrifice...”


Paul teaches that:Paul teaches that:

Our sacrifice is to be living.Our sacrifice is to be living. Our sacrifice is to be active.Our sacrifice is to be active. Our sacrifice is to be holy.Our sacrifice is to be holy. Our sacrifice is to be reasonable.Our sacrifice is to be reasonable.

Uniqueness of the SacrificeUniqueness of the Sacrifice

#3#3Undergoing the MetamorphosisUndergoing the Metamorphosis

““be ye transformed...”be ye transformed...”


This means that:This means that:

We must not be “fashioned” after the We must not be “fashioned” after the world.world.–Fashioned means to be molded in Fashioned means to be molded in

the form of.the form of. We must be transformed from We must be transformed from

worldliness.worldliness.–Transformed means to be changed Transformed means to be changed

like a caterpillar changes into a like a caterpillar changes into a butterfly.butterfly.

Undergoing a MetamorphosisUndergoing a Metamorphosis

How do we become How do we become transformed?transformed?

By renewing our minds:By renewing our minds: Through PrayerThrough Prayer Through Study of God's WordThrough Study of God's Word Through Worship of GodThrough Worship of God Through Serving othersThrough Serving others

Uniqueness of the SacrificeUniqueness of the Sacrifice

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your acceptable unto God, which is your

reasonable service. And be not reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye conformed to this world: but be ye

transformed by the renewing of your transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, good, and acceptable, and perfect,

will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)


Source

I also wrote an article originally published on Suite101.com with the same title. You can access that article at http://suite101.com/article/romans-121-2-living-sacrifices-a382044.

living sacrifices

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