February 07, 2020

Romans Chapter 12 Living Scarifices

The scarifices in The old testament was animals. It would be one without blemish. They would kill it and offer it up to God. 

Noun

the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.

Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Living Scarifices

The writer encourages the church to not be patterned after the world but be renewed by the renewing of the mind. Once again he mentions the mind. Lots of people have written on this passage and it's great writings to research. In my notes I noted the writer calls being a living scarifice worship. He says this is  our  resonable worship. In other scriptures we see God desiring that we worship in spirit  and in truth. There is truth in worship not just music or celebration. In another passage Paul states we serve God with our minds. If the devil has the mind he has the person. A mind in the world cannot relate to God or be joined with him. How can we worship unless we agree. The mind on God really is worship. It is focused. It has truth. The body simply follows the mind. He says be renewed in our minds in order to be a living scarifice. We cannot separate our minds and bodies. It would be nice what we think  affects how we act. I noticed the passage goes on to talk about how we should interact with our enemies. Our service. Thinking humbly. Not being high-minded. When the world says take revenge; God says do good to your enemy; the world says get them back or do unto them as they did to you. God says live at peace. This also mimics Jesus teachings about living in the world. To worship God is to think in line with truth. To do these things is being a living scarifice. A living scarifice is a person who has renewed their mind and accepts what God says do.

Have an awesome Fri yay!