Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1. beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies. living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

'beseech' -3870. parakaleo par-ak-al-eh'-o; from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): -beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.

'I urge you' (NASV)

'Apostle though he was, Paul didn't mind "beseeching". He wasn't above begging people to do what which was honorable and to their ultimate benefit.'

"therefore" -"therefore" looks back to what has gone before. As in many of Paul's letters, doctrinal sections are followed by exhortations to live. godly life. (Ephesians 4:1 ff; Colossians 3:1 ff; 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ff)

'Opponents had said that the logical end of Paul's doctrine was for people to continue in sin so that grace might have multiplied opportunities to work and bring glory to God. Paul dealt with this nonsense in Romans 6:1-8. He had shown there that the logical end of his teaching was. life which pursued holiness. Just the same, if Christians lived ungodly lives all of Paul's reasoning would go for nothing. This is where Romans 1:1-15 comes in. It is Paul's call to the saints to "live down" (as well as argue down) the slanders of their opponents. So this section is the practical outcome of Romans 6:1-8.'

'In view of all that God has accomplished for His people in Christ, how should His people live? Doctrine is never taught in the Bible simply that it may be known; it is taught in order that it may be translated into practice. "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17) Hence Paul repeatedly follows up an exposition of doctrine with an ethical exhortation.'

'..Paul is not content that his hearers should know theoretically what it is (i.e. the faith-life); he wishes them to have experimental knowledge of it, to actually live it. In fact, it has been for the purpose of making the exhortation of this section that all the previous Chapter s have been written, for no Bible doctrine is. barren speculation, but. life-root, developed that it may bear fruit in the lives of those who read it.'

'In the Bible everywhere, if only we dig deep enough, we find "do right" at the bottom (Expositor's Bible). We are now approaching the "do right" section of Paul's epistle to the Romans...It's been said that what we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.'

'by the mercies of God' -'presenting the motive for obedience.. use the compassion of God to move you to present, etc..' (Vincent p. 153). 'In view of God's mercies' (Ber)

'Mercies' -'in view of (all) the mercies of God' (Amp). Considering everything that God has done for us, all the demonstrations of His compassion, as already detailed in this letter. (Romans 1:16; Romans 2:4; Romans 3:24-31; Romans 4:5-8; Romans 5:1-11, etc..)

'to present' -'In view of such mercies comes the appeal to consecration. This is the real logic of Christianity. We do not serve God to win his favor but because we have received his favor we serve him in gratitude and love.' (Erdman p. 143)

'present' -the exact same word used in Romans 6:13. 'Paul now brings out in greater detail what is involved in their presenting themselves to God to be used in His service.' (F.F. Bruce p. 225)

The word 'present' here infers that all are capable of such complete yielding of the body to God, from the very fact that God commands it. Again, we find Paul taking it for granted that people have. free will.

'your bodies' -remember, Paul is addressing the 'person' inside the physical body. (Romans 6:12) 'The body is in view here as the instrument by which all human service is rendered to God.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 687) 'When Paul mentions only the presenting of our bodies, we must not overlook the fact that we ourselves are to present them.' (Lenski p. 746) 'Literally, but regarded as the outward organ of the will.' (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 6:20) (Vincent p. 153)

Note: Various religion's consider the body as unimportant. But try to serve God without the cooperation of your body! 'Our bodies are therefore important; in fact, no command can be obeyed, and no kind of service to God can be rendered, without the use of the body.' (Whiteside p. 247)

'a living sacrifice' -Christianity also has sacrifices. (1 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 13:15) But in contrast to the O.T., the sacrifice that we offer is the complete submission of our body to the will of God, instead of the bodies of animals.

'Living, as opposed to the slain animals offered by the Jews...as. sacrifice--a thank offering to God.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 687)"Living" would seem to suggest also, that such is to be. continual sacrifice, which is offered daily. (Luke 9:23) This living sacrifice of the body, means that the body which was an instrument of sin, is now to be used completely in the service of God (Romans 6:13).

'Moreover, the designs of many to wait till sickness or old age overtakes them before presenting their sacrifice are misplaced, for such conduct is analogous to presenting the maimed and halt and blind to God.' (McGarvey p. 488)

'The body cannot present itself and so the body, as the believer's vehicle of life in this world, represents the whole believer. All of this is in opposition to presenting one's body as. slave to sin (Romans 6:16ff)...Paul is urging believers to "live as. sacrifice."' (McGuiggan p. 347)

'holy, acceptable to God' -'set apart and devoted to God, well-pleasing to God,. delight to him and accepted by him.' (Lenski p. 748) This requires that the Christian must be aware of what pleases God (2 Corinthians 5:9) which demands. knowledge of his will.

'which is your spiritual service' -presenting one's whole self in submission to the will of God, constitutes 'spiritual service'.

'spiritual' -3050. logikos log-ik-os'; from 3056; rational ("logical"): -reasonable, of the word. 'Reasonable' (KJV). 'as an act of intelligent worship' (Phi). The phrase means here "worship rendered by the reason (or soul)." (Robertson p. 402) 'Reasonable, not in the popular sense of the term, as. thing befitting or proper, but rational, as distinguished from merely external or material. Hence nearly equivalent to spiritual. It is in harmony with the highest reason.' (Vincent p. 154)

'The spiritual service is service related to the mind, the spirit. It is conscious submission. It isn't mere ritual. It is worship 'in spirit' (John 4:24).' (McGuiggan p. 348)

Points to Note:

1. Many religious bodies have differing ideas as to what constitutes 'true spirituality'. Paul here informs us. Being spiritual means complete submission to the will of God. If your body isn't obeying God, then your not spiritual.

2. All that Paul will describe in this chapter (i.e. specific ways in which the body is to be offered), are 'reasonable' ways. They are attitudes and actions which befit man, who was made in the image of God. 'The service of obedient lives is the only reasonable or logical response to the grace of God.' (F.F. Bruce p. 226)

'Service' -2999. latreia lat-ri'-ah; from 3000; ministration or God, i.e. worship: -(divine) service.

' Service of worship. (NASV)

Points to Note:

1. While there are acts of worship specified when Christians meet on the First day of the Week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1). This verse reminds us that all 'worship' isn't confined to the assembly.

2. Anytime that. offer myself in conformity to the will of God (i.e. obeying what God says),. am 'worshipping/offering religious service'.

'Involved in that life of worship is. multitude of responsibilities toward God..involved in that life of worship is paying debts, providing for one's family, doing good, assembling with the saints, singing and making melody in the heart as we praise God, sharing the Gospel with the unforgiven, study of the Bible for sustenance, and on and on and on..Worship is the conscious giving to God in. pleasing way that which is pleasing to him.' (McGuiggan p. 353) (James 1:27; 1 Peter 4:18)

'If we're not careful with this teaching we might just cause people to believe that Christ is really interested in what they watch on television; what they read; what they wear; how they complete their tax returns, how they dress; how much they eat; how they treat their partners and family; how they act on the job. You never can tell, they just might begin to offer their bodies as. living sacrifice to the Lord.' (McGuiggan p. 354)

'This act, however, must be followed by an activity. This gift of self must issue in. life of service, this dedication of the body must result in. transformation of character and in doing the will of God.' (Erdman p. 144)