Christ Brings New Life

Romans 12:1–8
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Paul now moves from the doctrinal part of his letter to the practical part. It has been said that “what we believe helps us to determine how we behave.” In order to be a happy fruitful Christian we must translate our learning into living. This is the missing link in the lives of many Christians today. People sit under good doctrinal teaching of the Word week in and week out and never put into practice anything that they learn. God wants us to offer ourselves, not animals as a living sacrifice, putting all our energy and resources at His disposal and trusting Him to guide us.

To have a right relationship with God we must start each day by yielding our minds, wills and bodies to Him (v. 2). Our mind controls our body, and our will controls our mind. Many people think they can control their will by “will power,” but usually they fail. This was what Paul was experiencing in Romans 7:15-21. It is only when we yield our will to God that His power can take over and give us the will power that we need to be a victorious Christian.

It is very easy to go to one of two extremes. We may “think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think” and become very proud of what we do and what we do not do (v. 3). This, in my opinion, is why many preachers and Christian workers today have fallen into immorality and other types of sin that have brought great reproach upon them and the church. On the other hand there is the opposite possibility. Because we may not have particular gifts and abilities, we develop an inferiority complex and think we are just a “dirty old rag for Jesus” and not capable of doing anything for Him. It is of little value to know the truths of the Word of God if the body is not surrendered so the life of Christ can show in the everyday affairs of our life. It is possible for a Christian to think he is spiritual, when actually he may be very sensual. This kind of person will not go to prayer meeting because it is too hot. He will not work in the slums because they are too smelly. In other words, he is a sensual Christian. This simply means that he is ruled by the senses.

Application

Sacrifice in the Old Testament was important, but God made it clear that obedience was much more important. God wants me to offer myself as a living sacrifice; daily laying aside my own desires to follow Him, putting all my energy and resources at His disposal, and trusting Him to guide me.