Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

Psalm 118:27

For what purposes were burnt offerings placed on the altar of Jehovah? To be wholly consumed to God. While the animal offered might be a bullock or a sheep or a dove according to the offerer’s resources, the invariable requirement was that it should be a whole burnt offering. For God does not accept less than utter consecration. Today what the altar signifies is not doing for God but being for God. He desires not our work but ourselves. Unlike the sacrifices of the Old Testament, which were immolated in one final act, the New Testament sacrifice is “a living sacrifice”(Romans 12:1). The meaning of the altar is the offering of our lives to God to be ever consumed, yet ever living, to be ever living, yet ever consumed.

Watchman Nee

Romans 12 opens with a plea from the apostle Paul directed not to the world but to the church. In these couple verses, Christians are asked to move from a self-centered position and to become an offering to the Lord. Unlike the Old Testament believers who were asked to bring sheep, cows, and pigeons to the temple to be offered to the Lord on their behalf by the priest, New Testament believers aren’t asked to bring a sacrifice of animals. Instead they are asked to bring themselves as a sacrifice. But God isn’t asking that they die as the animals died. Rather Paul uses the phrase “living sacrifice.” In the first, the sacrifice could be offered only once for it only had one life to give. We, on the other hand are being asked- begged, persuaded to become “living sacrifices” meaning that everyday of our lives we choose to die to self so we might be useful to God. No human given fully to self has any use in the kingdom of God. Just as the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were to be complete, no missing parts, we as New Testament are called to give ourselves fully to the use of God. I realize in the church of today this sounds like fanaticism for we major in self. For many the church and their relationship with God is about them. The church they attend is expected to provide for their needs and preferences. Rare do we hear people express that they have been called by God to become part of a particular church. Few there be that understand that they have a ministry wherever God has placed them. The more likely reason that people attend a particular church is that it offers something that satisfies some need or desire. The conversation about why they attend a particular church centers around what it offers them in the way of ministry rather than opportunities to serve. So what Paul is asking-begging, the Roman Christians to do has unfortunately become the abnormal rather than the norm. I believe that it’s time for a radical transformation in Christians and the church. As strange at this may sound, that transformation in nothing less than a return to biblical norms rather than continuing along its present path of being people-focused rather than God-focused.

Let’s take a peak at Romans 12: 1-2:

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”

Romans 12:1-2

The first thing we should note is that Paul uses the word “urge” rather than “demand.” This choice of becoming a “living sacrifice” stems not from duty, obligation, or force, but because our hearts have been captured by God. Like Isaac on the mountain with Abraham, we can resist if we so choose. Abraham had no power to force Isaac to lay on the altar and while God could, He won’t for He wants no one who feels pressured or compelled by some force to comply. He’s looking for those who choose to imitate His own Son and willingly offer themselves fully out of their own will. Next we should note that the power to offer self comes not from our strength but through the “mercies of God.” Those who comprehend the great love that Christ displayed in offering Himself, reciprocate by offering themselves back to Him. Just as He withheld nothing, so do they. Self has been put to death and only those things that honor, glorify, and please God are given effort. They aren’t as concerned with what the church does for them for all they need has already been supplied by Christ. Their goal is to serve Christ and to continue carrying out His mission of “seeking and saving the lost.”

Paul emphatically states that this is “our reasonable act of worship.” From his view, giving ourselves fully to the mission of Christ is as normal as taking the next breath is normal to sustain our natural life. This is not some extraordinary measure taken by some select, spiritually elevated few, but the normal for the “average” Christian.

In the second verse he offers a picture of what it means to be a “living sacrifice.”

Since the sacrifice is to be given to God, the first identity is that it isn’t something ordinary. Let me explain. This is not a divided sacrifice- part offered to God and part given for the use by the world. It is not the picture of someone holding to God with one hand while still holding on to the things of the world, especially those things that held us captive which we were delivered from by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Can we dare look at Him hanging on the cross for us and continue living to fit in(conform) to the world? Dare we as Christians to live no differently than those around us who know not Christ? Dare we the church continue to make exceptions to the expectations that God has given in Scripture by substituting our thoughts and feelings and perceptions in its place? Dare we as the church continue to allow ourselves to be more influenced by the world rather than influencing the world?

How can we no longer feel compelled to conform to the current social pressures? Again Paul answers us by saying: “by the renewing of your mind.” That phrase requires us to begin with the premise that far too often what is passed off as human wisdom is mere foolishness, never lasts, and more times than not creates more problems than it solves. The wise person is the one who admits they know nothing, and they rely solely on God and the Scriptures for their source of wisdom. Having our minds renewed means choosing to accept what the Bible teaches even when it conflicts with what we think we know or understand. It means, like Paul, to receive and embrace correction and adjustment when we find ourselves out of line with God.

Today is a good day to come fully to Christ and lay ourselves, our passions, our desires, our preferences on heaven’s altar and say honestly to Him: “I give myself away so You can use me.”

Dr. John Thompson