Romans 12: 3-8

(Romans 12: 3-8)

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.  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

While Romans 1-11 explained the contents of the Gospel, Chapters 12-15 deal with the concrete way of living, that is, the practical part of Christian life.『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. 』 Sacrifices are used for God's sake, not for themselves. A sacrifice refers to an unblemished animal that is put on the altar and killed by bleeding. An unblemished animal must die. When this killed animal is put on the altar and offered to God, this animal is called a sacrifice. The reason for the existence of a sacrificed life is to be presented to God. To live as a Christian, that is, to be a sacrifice to God, means that the purpose of the life of a believer is not with the sacrifice himself, but with God who receives the sacrifice. The sacrifice reminds us that the outcome of a believer's life is not in his own success or in achieving his purpose, but in achieving God's purpose. Those who depart from God because they want to become like God realize their sins, become sacrifices, and release God's wrath.

 

The true meaning of the sacrifice lies in death. The reason the sacrifice must die is to bring the person who brought it alive and to be forgiven. There is no forgiveness when the sacrifice is alive. There is no reconciliation. When the sacrifice is identified with a sinner who is about to die, it takes effect. In Hebrews 9:22, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 』

 

It means forgiveness of sins only when the sacrifice offered to the unit dies and bleeds. Only when the sacrifice dies and there is bleeding, the wrath of God ceases and the people who offer the sacrifice are forgiven and reconciled. It is Jesus Christ who sheds blood. That is why the effect of blood comes into effect on those who died together with Jesus Christ. Those who do not die with Jesus are not sacrifices.

 

Jesus Christ was the example of the living sacrifice. What the Bible teaches the saints to be living sacrifices is that Jesus is the example of the sacrifice, and when united with Jesus, the saints also become sacrifices. When one's old self (old man) dies by being crucified, he becomes a living sacrifice.『I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 』(Galatians 2:20)

Outwardly, Jesus dies, and sinners live. But inwardly, the sinner dies and Jesus lives. This is the life of the saints, that is, the life of a holy living sacrifice. Only when the life of the sinner is offered as a living sacrifice, he can discern the will of the Lord. Those who died on the cross with Jesus know the will of Christ. He can live by discerning the good, joyful, and perfect will of the Lord. The perfect meaning is not to try to do anything yourself, but to realize that you are dead with Jesus Christ.