This is from the 2nd sermon my husband gave on having a biblical worldview.
Two things are important if we are to be biblical Christians. First, we must understand and admit to the total sovereignty of God over His whole creation –including us. Far to many people don’t do that. I contend that one of the main reasons for our failure to admit God’s rule over our lives is our sinful desire to deny the truth of election (see –in other words, we want to believe we have some part to play in our salvation and having convinced ourselves of that, we then begin to think that if I’m in control of my salvation because I’ve made a decision for Christ, then I also have the right to determine which parts of Scripture I’m going to follow and what I can ignore or deny.
While few people express themselves that clearly, study after study has shown that is precisely how many who call themselves Christians think and act. I want to turn our attention to the 12th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
Paul doesn’t begin with an order to people, because he expects Christians to want to live their lives in a holy and acceptable way. Luther says of this verse:
“For he who does it (presents his life this way) not willingly, solely as a result of admonition, he is no Christian.”
In other words, Paul is speaking here to believers and he is saying that he knows this is how you want to live — as a living sacrifice. You do not do it out of some desire to appear good to the world, or to earn credit with God, you offer yourself as a sacrifice because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall be saved.
The Apostle then shows us what it means in our day to day lives — we won’t conform to the world, but we will be transformed by the renewal of our minds.
To be continued …..
For more on sacrificial living see:
What is a God Pleasing Sacrifice?
Lutheran Ladies Connection 