Post by poetsunshine on Aug 23, 2010 11:23:40 GMT -6
OUR REASONABLE SERVICE
ROMANS 12:1
The thought of sacrifice runs through the books of the Bible like the crimson tread in the ropes and cords of government. Sacrifice has two general aspects; (1) as a gift, handed over for the good of another, as in Mark 7:11; (2) as an object of burning to be utterly used up, as in Leviticus 1:9.
Cain’s offering belonged to the one class and was incomplete.
Abel’s belonged to the other, and was acceptable.
Both were voluntary acts, and so became a revelation of character.
Here are three reasons why sacrifice on our part is most reasonable; because........
I. SACRIFICE WAS MADE FOR US.
CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US..EPH.5:2.
GAL. 1:4..HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS.
1. WHAT A COSTLY SACRIFICE FOR SUCH A PURPOSE.
2. BY THE SACRIFICE OF Himself He hath put away sin for ever, as a obstacle in the sinner’s way of approach unto God. See Heb. 9:26.
3. In giving Himself, He gave all that He was and had; not an impoverished self, for He who was rich for our sakes became poor, that we, through His self, emptying, might become rich...see II Cor. 8:9.
4. He, as the “corn of wheat,” willingly died, that He might bring forth fruit in the live of those for whom He died.
5. If He gave Himself for us, surely we should give ourselves for Him.
II. SACRIFICE IS ASKED OF US.
I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE ;UNTO GOD. ROM. 12:1.
1. Why the body?
2. Because the body is the instrument, or weapon, of the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in you.
3. The possibilities of the body, for good or evil, are tremendous (Rom. 6:13)
4. How often backsliding and failure may be traced to the unconsecrated members of he body.
5. To be a “living sacrifice” is to be continually and completely at God’s disposal.
6. This is “holy and acceptable to God.”
7. And also because of its acceptability to Him, it is most reasonable that it should be given.
8. The yielding of ourselves unto God is the root and branch of self-denial, without which there can be no true discipleship...matt. 16:14.
9. It is true in the deepest possible sense, that “YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN, FOR YE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; THEREFORE WE SHOULD GLORIFY GOD IN OUR BODIES AND OUR SPIRITS WHICH ARE HIS..”..I COR. 6:20.
10. IS IT NOT REASONABLE THAT God should have His own, that which He hath bought with His own blood?
11. We are robbing God when we are keeping back this part (bodies) of His purchased possession.
III. SACRIFICE ENSURES GREATER BLESSING FOR US.
1. In presenting ourselves A LIVING SACRIFICE to God, we are saving ourselves from being CONFORMED TO THIS AGE, and also putting ourselves into that position in which we can PROVE THE GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.....ROM. 12:1-2
2. The goodness and beautiful perfectness of the will of God we shall never prove in our own personal experience until we have made a entire committal.
3. A life wholly surrendered to God is the only reasonable life which a Christian can live.
4. It is the secret of usefulness, because it means the proper adjustment of the faculties and functions of our being to the perfect will and purposes of God.
5. Every gift laid on the altar is sanctified by the altar. What is our reasonable service to God.
ROMANS 12:1
The thought of sacrifice runs through the books of the Bible like the crimson tread in the ropes and cords of government. Sacrifice has two general aspects; (1) as a gift, handed over for the good of another, as in Mark 7:11; (2) as an object of burning to be utterly used up, as in Leviticus 1:9.
Cain’s offering belonged to the one class and was incomplete.
Abel’s belonged to the other, and was acceptable.
Both were voluntary acts, and so became a revelation of character.
Here are three reasons why sacrifice on our part is most reasonable; because........
I. SACRIFICE WAS MADE FOR US.
CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US..EPH.5:2.
GAL. 1:4..HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS.
1. WHAT A COSTLY SACRIFICE FOR SUCH A PURPOSE.
2. BY THE SACRIFICE OF Himself He hath put away sin for ever, as a obstacle in the sinner’s way of approach unto God. See Heb. 9:26.
3. In giving Himself, He gave all that He was and had; not an impoverished self, for He who was rich for our sakes became poor, that we, through His self, emptying, might become rich...see II Cor. 8:9.
4. He, as the “corn of wheat,” willingly died, that He might bring forth fruit in the live of those for whom He died.
5. If He gave Himself for us, surely we should give ourselves for Him.
II. SACRIFICE IS ASKED OF US.
I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE ;UNTO GOD. ROM. 12:1.
1. Why the body?
2. Because the body is the instrument, or weapon, of the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in you.
3. The possibilities of the body, for good or evil, are tremendous (Rom. 6:13)
4. How often backsliding and failure may be traced to the unconsecrated members of he body.
5. To be a “living sacrifice” is to be continually and completely at God’s disposal.
6. This is “holy and acceptable to God.”
7. And also because of its acceptability to Him, it is most reasonable that it should be given.
8. The yielding of ourselves unto God is the root and branch of self-denial, without which there can be no true discipleship...matt. 16:14.
9. It is true in the deepest possible sense, that “YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN, FOR YE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; THEREFORE WE SHOULD GLORIFY GOD IN OUR BODIES AND OUR SPIRITS WHICH ARE HIS..”..I COR. 6:20.
10. IS IT NOT REASONABLE THAT God should have His own, that which He hath bought with His own blood?
11. We are robbing God when we are keeping back this part (bodies) of His purchased possession.
III. SACRIFICE ENSURES GREATER BLESSING FOR US.
1. In presenting ourselves A LIVING SACRIFICE to God, we are saving ourselves from being CONFORMED TO THIS AGE, and also putting ourselves into that position in which we can PROVE THE GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.....ROM. 12:1-2
2. The goodness and beautiful perfectness of the will of God we shall never prove in our own personal experience until we have made a entire committal.
3. A life wholly surrendered to God is the only reasonable life which a Christian can live.
4. It is the secret of usefulness, because it means the proper adjustment of the faculties and functions of our being to the perfect will and purposes of God.
5. Every gift laid on the altar is sanctified by the altar. What is our reasonable service to God.
