Presenting Ourselves

Romans 12:1

Introduction: Last week I went to John 1:1-14 to speak about the greatest gift given to us! Jesus, the logos, light, and life, incomprehensible and un-extinguishable.

The wise men brought gifts, I want to address what we can bring as a present to Jesus this Christmas season….! Ourselves, our worship, our devotion, our obedience, our faith, our lives!

Paul the apostle understood this clearly when he told us to present ourselves (as presents) to the living logos!

1. The Appeal – v. 1

‘I beseech you…’ = to call, summon.

The apostle, having finished the argument of this Epistle, proceeds now to close it with a practical or hortatory application, showing its bearing on the duties of life, and the practical influence of religion. None of the doctrines of the gospel are designed to be cold and barren speculations. They bear on the hearts and lives of people, and the apostle, therefore, calls on those to whom he wrote to dedicate themselves without reserve unto God.

2. The Objective – Present yourselves –

The word used here commonly denotes the action of bringing and presenting an animal or other sacrifice before an altar. It implies that the action was a free and voluntary offering. Religion is free; and the act of devoting ourselves to God is one of the freest that we ever perform.

3. The Purpose/Function – Station/aim/objective/target – The Manner – Living Sacrifices

A sacrifice is an offering made to God as an atonement for sin, or any offering made to him and his service as an expression of thanksgiving or homage.

•  It implies that he who offers it presents it entirely releases all claim or right to it and leaves it to be disposed of for the honor of God.
• In the case of an animal, it was slain, and the blood offered; in the case of any other offering, as the first fruits, etc.,
• it was set apart to the service of God; and he who offered it released all claim on it, and submitted it to God, to be disposed of at his will.

• This is the offering that the apostle entreats the Romans to make: to devote themselves to God, as if they had no longer any claim on themselves; to be disposed of by him; to suffer and bear all that he might appoint, and to promote his honor in any way which he might command. This is the nature of true religion.

4. The Peculiarity – Holy & Acceptable

This means properly without blemishes or defects.

No other sacrifice could be made to God.

The Jews were expressly forbidden to offer what was lame, or blind, or in any way deformed; Deut 15:21; Lev 1:3,10; 3:1; 22:20; Deut 17:1; compare Mal 1:8.

If offered without any of these defects, it was regarded as holy, that is, appropriately set apart, or consecrated to God.

In like manner, we are to consecrate to God our best faculties; the vigor of our minds, and talents, and time.

5. The Understandable – Reasonable act of worship

Reasonable service,

“a religious service according to reason,” one rationally performed.

The Romanists make this distinction between

latreia, and douleia

(or dulia, as they corruptly write it), worship and service, which they say signify two kinds of religious worship; the first proper to GOD, the other communicated to the creatures.

It is reasonable (honest, sensible, ration, prudent, proper, legitimate)