"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Rom. 12:1)
Many of my editorial lessons are inspired by a passage I’ve read while preparing a class lesson and that’s the case here today. Now this wasn’t the first time I’d read the above verse, but on this last occasion it struck a chord in my memory bank, along with some other scripture "chords," and an editorial started forming up somewhere in the few brain cells that I have left. Let me see if I can intelligibly transfer my thoughts onto paper for you.
The basic theme of this lesson deals with "sacrifices" and how they apply to us. And, I’ll try and be as concise as I can in presenting my thoughts. I’ll start off by asking you a question: the Bible tells us that the "New Covenant" is better than the "Old Covenant" so my question is, What makes it better? If your answer is "a better sacrifice" your correct.
Oh, I know the "promises" or rewards (and the punishments) are "better" but they are only better because of the "sacrifice." You’ll recall that under the Old Law the people were required to bring animal sacrifices to the "priests" for various offerings, but for our lesson, we’ll concentrate on the "sin offerings." The reason being was that "blood" had to be shed. Read Lev. 16 regarding these "sacrifices."
As you read the passages that I refer to you and check my veracity, here’s something to think about. Did you ever wonder why the animal to be sacrificed was supposed to be the "best" of the herd/flock? Why they were required to be "without spot" and "without blemish?" (Num. 28 & 29) Think about it - it wouldn’t be much of a "sacrifice" if it wasn’t, would it?
But, if you lived under the Old Law and you did "sacrifice" the very best animal you had, it would still be insufficient to remove your sins. (Heb. 10:4) The only thing your "sacrifice" could do is to be a continual reminder to you of your being a sinner. (Heb. 10:3) It could only advance or roll them ahead until such time as the "perfect sacrifice" came in the form of The Messiah. In the form of Jesus Christ.
Here’s an interesting little thought for you to think about - did that animal do anything to warrant its death? Was it the "criminal" of the flock? No, of course not. It was just the best, the most perfect available at the time of the Old Covenant, but as far as removing one’s sins, it wasn’t good enough to do that. Only the "perfect sacrifice" could absolve man of his sins.
There are many people who believe that "faith" only came to be required by the "New Covenant." Not so. God’s people worked by "faith" under both of the earlier dispensations. "Faith" was required on their part and evidenced by their obedience in obeying what God said for them to do and then in the keeping of "The Law" once it was given them through Moses.
By studying the Old Testament, you can see that "faith" has always been a requirement by God. You can back the Old Testament writings with what’s said in Hebrews the 11th chapter - "by faith Abel....Noah....Abraham....Moses....Gideon....and many others did as God commanded.
You’ll also see by your study of the O.T. that much of the time and most of the Jews were not faithful in keeping The Law. I’m thinking that, as a nation, they would probably compare well with what Jesus said about the "wide and narrow roads" and the "many and the few" who take them. (Matt. 7:13-14)
So then, like God’s people of all times and places, we operate our lives "by faith." In other words: we do as God directs through His Word. Just like Abraham, Noah, Moses and all the rest.
Now, I don’t know how you feel about it, but I’m really glad that we’re not required to make animal sacrifices today. I just can’t see myself dragging a bleating, balking sheep or goat down the aisle to the altar to be slaughtered. Anyone who has ever had to take an animal to a veterinarian might get a remote sense of how animals act in a situation wherein they sense danger of some sort. Add to that picture the fact that there would be many, many others there with their animals, along with the smell of blood and burning flesh, yuck, what a dreadful mental image.
No, I’m extremely and forever happy that Jesus Christ, the "perfect sacrifice" has come and because of that sacrifice on the cross, my sins are "forgiven" and not just rolled forward for another year. That, under the "New Covenant" I’m not required to show my "faith" by physically sacrificing animals to be reminded that I’m a sinner.
But, under this "New Covenant," there is still a "sacrifice" required of God’s People. That "sacrifice" is - US! As we read in our preamble verse from Romans 12:1. In order to remain one of God’s People, we’re required to "present" ourselves (bodies) as a "living sacrifice." And the Apostle Paul says that doing this is our "reasonable service."
Well, that’s not hard to understand, is it? It’s completely understandable that God expects His people to recognize His Son’s "perfect sacrifice" that IS SUFFICIENT to take away our sins. And to live their lives in obedience to Him which continually reminds us of Christ’s "sacrifice."
Remember I mentioned earlier about "better promises and punishments?" Here’s our closing thoughts on this lesson. When we do live our lives here on earth "as a living sacrifice" we’re promised that we’ll live "eternally" in heaven with Him. On the flip-side of that thought, if we don’t serve Him as a "living sacrifice" we’ll also live "eternally" only it will be in a place having very distinct differences from where God, Christ and the saints are.
One last little thought, still using the contrast between the Jews under the Old Law and God’s people under the New. The Jews weren’t always totally disobedient to The Law. Much of the time they were somewhat obedient to God’s commands. Don’t you think that there are many today that are like them, in that they "somewhat" are obedient? That they "almost" present themselves as a "living sacrifice?"
Well, the terrible tragedy seen here is that being a "partial living sacrifice" isn’t going to cut it with God. If you’ve never been, or you’ve "almost" become obedient to Christ, or you’ve "left your first love" (Rev. 2:4) you will not be counted as faithful. In that situation you become a member of a different camp, so to speak. I’m not saying that nor making that judgment. Read Heb. 10:28-31 and see what God says about it.
Ron Covey
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