Sacrifices and offerings have been part of the worship of God since the very beginning. Cain and Abel. In Genesis chapter 4, we see the sacrifice from Cain and Abel and God accepting one and rejecting the other. The Bible is filled with verses on the different sacrifices made on the altar to please God. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross brought an end to animal sacrifices. Jesus paid for our ultimate goal and as such, there was no need for physical altars to sacrifice animals. Jesus’ blood took away our sins and the power of the blood is still active and powerful for the forgiveness of all sins.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)
However, a permanent ordinance was established: if Jesus had died for our sins, then we should live for him. In living for Him, we present the totality of our beings to Him. We depend on him in total humility. We also bring unto Him our bodies as living sacrifices subjected under the control and leadership of Jesus. In fact, Paul calls this a living sacrifice: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). When we come to Christ, we present our bodies as sacrifices on the altar and knowing that we are living sacrifices causes us to live Holy and blameless lives.
Understanding this helps to put our lives in godly perspective. Whatever does not please God, is not preferred by us. We live each day to fully express our identity in Christ through our ways of life. We live intentionally in a bid to please the Father. We make conscious decisions to flee from the things that do not glorify God. We also depend on the Holy Spirit for reminding us of all the truth we have learned so we avoid the sins that so easily entangled us. All these are geared towards preparing a glorious church for the coming of the Lord. Since we are living sacrifices, we bear the marks of Christ wherever we go. We do not cover our scars because they point the world to the king of kings.
So this is our mandate: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
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