Of
course, every believer knows that Jesus is the Lamb of God who was
sacrificed for our sins. But what if we are also called the 'living
sacrifice' too? What does it mean? Does it mean that we will die like
Christ too? Probably? In the spiritual sense? But are there any other
physical implication, examples, spiritual lesson, doctrine, or
principle? Have we found out what it really means? I believe that the
Bible has shown us how to walk or present ourselves as a 'living
sacrifice'.
Rom 12:1-3 KJV 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. (2) And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God. (3) For I say, through the grace given
unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God
hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
If we are the great
supporters of the radical grace or hyper grace preachers who say that
the gospel is all about grace (the finished work of Jesus Christ), that
grace is not a doctrine, and therefore, the gospel has no doctrine, no
law, .., and etc, this is a good question for us. If Paul would say that
the gospel has no doctrine, what would Paul mean when he said that we
are to present our bodies as a 'living sacrifice'?
(Before I
answer the question, I am quite curious about what the radical grace
preachers would say about them as a 'living sacrifice'? I will let it
remain as an open question for a while here before I will answer it.)
I know that I have to answer it myself. So, after a short while, I will continue and answer the question ..
What do I know about we being the 'living sacrifice'?
I
don't think Jesus wants us to offer ourselves as 'living sacrifice'
like Himself, for God or for others. Of course, He is the only sacrifice
that is worthy and able to save others. So, what is the purpose of we
being the 'living sacrifice' as a believer? Can we do like Him?
The
answer is 'Yes': we can do like Jesus Christ, and we can also please God
as much as (or even more than) giving ourselves as sacrifice? What is
the thing that we can do to achieve this? What is it?
1Sa 15:22 KJV
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Heb 5:8-9 KJV Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience
by the things which he suffered; (9) And being made perfect, he
became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Php
2:5-8 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
(6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being
found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Paul
has actually hinted to us in Rom 12:1 that being a living sacrifice is a
'reasonable service' which involve our obedience to serve Him, not just
in our deeds and words; but also in our hearts and minds too (being
renewed in the will of God Rom 12:2).
Although Jesus did not have
to obey as a Son or obey being in the form of God, 'yet learned He
obedience by the things which He suffered', but what do we learn from
Him?
We learn: Who are we to tell others that we no longer have to
obey God and keep His commandments? We learn that we are fools if we say
this !
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