Explore the Bible: November 8

Sacrifice • Romans 12:1-13

By Laura Lee Leathers 

In the first eleven chapters of Romans, the Apostle Paul has taken the reader deep into the theology of sin and salvation and addressed the history and future for the Jewish people. 

Starting with today’s lesson through the end of Romans, Paul moves to applying doctrine to a believer’s daily life. His focus is on relationships and right living. 

The following quote by Warren Wiersbe* puts it this way: “We must translate our learning to living and show by our daily lives that we trust God’s Word.” And when believers do so, they display the Gospel to the world.

Living Sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2, CSB)

Working through Romans, have you noticed how often Paul uses the word “therefore?” Warren Wiersbe* writes, “This is the fourth ‘therefore’ in the letter. Romans 3:20 is the ‘therefore’ of condemnation, declaring that the whole world is guilty before God. Romans 5:1 is the ‘therefore’ of justification, and Romans 8:1 the ‘therefore’ of assurance. In Romans 12:1, we have the ‘therefore’ of dedication, and it is this dedication that is the basis for the other relationships that Paul discussed in this section.”

The moment an individual trusts Christ, their body is not their own; it now belongs to Him. The Holy Spirit dwells within a believer; the body becomes God’s temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20), intended to glorify Him.  

Because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice (Heb. 10:1-18) and God’s mercies, a believer is to present their body as a “living sacrifice.” It means “present once and for all.” It’s a defining commitment, an offering to God as an act of worship. 

Not only does a believer present their body, but also their mind. A believer is not to be conformed to this world. Instead, the mind is to be transformed. Just like the “metamorphosis” from a worm to a butterfly, the transformation occurs on the inside.

As a believer reads and studies His Word, God transforms their thinking, thereby learning what is good and pleasing to Him. Lastly, through prayer, the believer gives Him their will. 

In the Church (Rom. 12:3-8)

Paul, writing to the local churches in Rome, warns that believers are not to think more highly of themselves than they should; instead, they should think sensibly and depend on God’s grace. 

Next, Paul compares the body of Christ, the church, to the human body. In the Church, members are a family, needing and ministering to one another. Members are to use their spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s purposes. 

Every believer has at least one spiritual gift (see 1 Corinthians 12, 15:10, Ephesians 4:7-16) that is to be exercised by faith. In this passage, Paul mentions prophecy, service, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, and mercy. 

The spiritual gifts are given to build up the church. One gift is not to be emphasized over another gift. Gifts are given for the entire Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:7).

If you don’t know what your Spiritual Gift is, consider using the free Spiritual Gifts Assessment Tool available through Lifeway.

In Relationships (Rom. 12:9-13)

In this final section, in typical Paul fashion, he gives practical instruction regarding how believers are to behave. He gives imperatives or foundational directions that, when implemented, should strengthen believers’ relationships and unify the church.  

Love (Gk. agape) is to be genuine, without hypocrisy, “detest evil; cling to what is good.” In verse 10, there is the command to “love one another,” meaning a brotherly love (Gk. philadelphia). “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love — but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13). 

Brothers and sisters in Christ are to love deeply and honor one another. They also are to cultivate the following virtues: zeal for pleasing the Lord under the guidance of the Spirit; “serve the Lord, rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer; share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality” (vs. 11-13).  

Through salvation, a life is transformed. Therefore, as a believer, their lives are set apart for the Lord. Then, out of love for God and through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are to love one another sacrificially, build relationships, and exercise their spiritual gifts to serve others and build unity in the Body of Christ. 

*Be Right, How to Be Right with God, Yourself, and Others, by Warren W. Wiersbe (1977), pages 136 – 143.

Leathers is a member of First Baptist Church, Lexington.