The theme of the first 11 chapters of the Apostle Paul’s inspired letter to the followers of Christ at Rome is God’s mercy in granting salvation to sinners. Without God’s mercy, all of us would perish because we fall short of God’s expectations and standards.
This raises a question. How should we respond to the mercy God extends to us? The Apostle Paul answers this question beginning in chapter 12 of his letter. In verses 1 and 2 he writes, “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Paul writes that we are to give our bodies to God as living sacrifices. This is something which he already said in chapter 6, verses 13 and 19. What does it mean to give ourselves as a sacrifice? In the Law of Moses, God instructed the Israelites to kill animals and burn their bodies on the altar as a sin offering. The idea was that God would accept the animal’s life in place of the person. The punishment for the person’s sin fell on the animal. In reality, the life of the animal was not enough to pay for sin – only the life of the sinless Jesus Christ could do that. Scripture tells us that the sacrifices required by the Law of Moses only postponed the penalty for sin.
In contrast to those subject to the Law of Moses who were required to sacrifice animals, the followers of Christ are to offer themselves as sacrifices. The difference is that in Christ we do not kill ourselves. Instead, we offer God our living bodies. We do not become holy by performing religious rituals, but by dedicating our lives to Him. We do what He wants us to. We worship, not by killing an animal, but by doing God’s will. We live the way He wants us to.
How do we know God’s will? Paul writes that we will know God’s will when we change our thinking. We must learn to think differently than our our society or the world around us. Our minds must be renewed. What Paul is saying is that we must change from an attitude of selfishness to an attitude of service. We must stop thinking about what will benefit us and start thinking about how we can help and serve others.
This transformation in how we think includes a change in how we think about ourselves. In verses 3 through 8 Paul writes, “For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Paul tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. To put it another way, we need to rid ourselves of pride. We need to evaluate ourselves honestly. We have not produced the abilities we have on our own. Ultimately, even our faith – that is our ability to believe – comes from God. Whatever talents we have, they are a gift which God has given us by His grace.
Paul uses the metaphor of a body to remind us that we are not self-sufficient. Just as the parts of our physical bodies depend on each other in order to function properly, we need the abilities and talents of other believers in the body of Christ, that is the church. Each person’s gifts are different and all are important.
In answer to the question of how we can become living sacrifices, Paul mentions several of the gifts God has given to us and how we ought to use them to serve. Some people have the gift of prophecy – that is communicating revealed truth from God. If a person has this gift, then he should speak and communicate God’s word faithfully – that is in a manner which is true to the faith. He should not allow his emotions or his own love of speaking to control what he says.
If a person has the gift of serving – that is helping those with physical or material needs – he should not let the needs of others go unmet. Instead he should meet their needs.
The next gift Paul mentions is teaching. This refers to the ability to explain God’s word to others and showing how it applies to their lives. If a person has this kind of insight into God’s word he should not keep it to himself. Instead, he should guide others into the truths he has discovered.
Some people have the gift of encouragement. Those who do should use their gift to build up those who are discouraged, comfort those who are in sorrow and stir the hearts of people to act on the knowledge and truth they know.
Still others have the gift of giving. This refers to private benevolence. They not only recognize when other people have a financial need, they are usually good money mangers and have the ability to help. Paul writes that people with this gift should give generously.
Another gift is that of leadership or administration. Unfortunately, there are many people in leadership positions in the church who are idle and indifferent. They want the benefits of the position but not the responsibility. However, Paul writes that someone with the gift of leadership must govern diligently. He is to do the work with zeal and devotion.
Similarly, if a person has the gift of mercy, he should do such things as visiting the sick not out of a sense of begrudging duty, but joyfully. He should be a blessing to those he serves.
In view of what Paul has written we all need to ask ourselves the question: What gift do I have and how can I use it to serve?