The Sacrifice Acceptable To God

I call for you therefore brethren through the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, that your reasonable service (Romans 12:1)

Some translations say that this is the proper way to worship God, to present your body as a living sacrifice. It is reasonable or logical service to do this if you are a child of God. There is no other service or sacrifice or offering greater from you.

the one loving his life loses it and the one hating his life in this world keeps it to the extent of eternal life (John 12:25)

"For whoever wills to save his life loses it but whoever loses his life for me finds it" (Matthew 16:25). In Christ we receive all spiritual blessings from God; chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, favored, and sealed or marked with the Holy Spirit. When we heard and believed the gospel (Ephesians 1:13-14). So we have eternal life and a new birth of the Spirit, having the testimony of spirit and blood. Inwardly we delight in the laws of God because we are spiritual but outwardly we live in a body of death and sin. Where the Spirit is opposed to the flesh and the flesh is against the Spirit so you do the things you do not want to (Galatians 5:17). Paul gives us an amazing picture of what needs to occur, it is metamorphosis.

be transformed (metamorphoo) the renewing of your mind to the extent you approve of the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2)

Transformation's purpose is to change the external form. The internal has already changed; a new birth has occurred but what is inward needs to come outward. If you hold on to the old self you will not be transformed. If you deny yourself and take up that cross and follow him, into sharing in his suffering, you will be changed. The choice is yours but the Holy Spirit will guide you into the truth as it teaches you to abide in him, the truth. Jesus is the law of liberty and truth, to abide in his words is to know the truth and be set free.

Freedom comes in the form of transformation. Paul gives us an accurate picture when he uses the word metamorphosis. We are caterpillars but something new has taken place inside. Think about it, how does a caterpillar know it is to become a butterfly? How does it know to build a cocoon so as to be transformed? Outwardly it is a caterpillar but inside it knows it is something more, it knows it is a butterfly. To die to self and its ways and old desires is to know we are something more, no longer a caterpillar, the old man is dead baptized into his death, crucified with Christ, and I am a butterfly.

This is what the scriptures say about us, we only know in part and see in part, what we really are in Christ. One day we will see him face to face and be fully known as we are known by him. Now, in the face of Christ shines the glory of God, it is not a veiled glory like that of the old covenant, but it is a glory that we can look into and be transformed, now, from glory to glory.

We are being renewed day by day, we are being transformed and the closer we get to being known as He knows us, the more the things of this world grow strangely dim, and the more this world sees the glory of God shine through us. It is our reasonable service and acceptable sacrifice to God, as transformation takes place, the new creation inwardly becomes external, renewal of our minds so that it approves of God's spiritual laws. Don't be fooled by men who desire to save their lives in this world, who talk about other offerings and sacrifices as more acceptable, and other types of serving and worship as more reasonable.

God has provided the sacrifices and offerings needed. God has been merciful to you.* God has sacrificed and offered so much for you.* If this is so present your body (the caterpillar) as a living sacrifice, holy, a sacrifice acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. John writes you will become strong and overcome when the word of God abides in you thus the anointing in you teaches you to abide in Him. This is the way.

The Crucible

" The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies ." 1 He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. The definition of zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. It is this time, to arouse zeal, shout, raise a war cry! As Paul writes, " In diligence not lagging in spirit being fervent serving the Lord ." 2 Our energy comes in the bond of brotherhood, formed in the crucible of combat. A crucible is place of severe test or trial, it is derived from Latin crucibulum ("night-lamp, metallurgic melting-pot"), and is a derivative of crux ("cross"). 3 The Bible speaks of the crucible of the cross for Jesus and for those who follow Him. The purpose of a soldier is two-fold; to accomplish the mission and to care for one another, as commanded. Each soldier has a role to play on a team. Without knowin...

One Grace

" moreover, One, to each of us has been given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ ." 1 Grace is a founding principle of Christianity. It is by Grace we grow into the fullness of Christ through faith; " to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. " 2 Without Grace we will never reach this fullness. The weakness in the Law was it attempted to do it in the flesh, and people failed over and over, so God in His infinite wisdom, unveiled this mystery, through faith in Christ we have grace to boldly approach His throne of Grace, to receive grace and mercy as needed! This gift of Grace is properly understood by examining this verse in three parts; moreover, One Grace, to each of us has been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ . First, we understand, One grace, it is easy to miss the One, and this verse is translated in different ways, I believe it says One Grace and i...

Truth All Around You

Stand then girding your loins in truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness. * How can a soldier stand in battle if he has not been prepared, trained? How can a house stand if it has been built on sand? How can we stand against spiritual forces if we have not been prepared? Our battle is not against flesh and blood so in regards to such, what good is armor to a child or how can one stained with dirty clothes stand with a defiled conscious? To stand one must be prepared, be his workmanship, someone prepared beforehand to do battle. For this purpose you begin girding your loins in truth, putting on truth, wrapping truth all around you. ... girding your loins in truth... * The word girding is perizōnnymi (from peri "about, around" and zōnnymi "put on") meaning around about put on. Often gird your loins with truth is translated as putting on a belt. Surely we can say truth holds on the garments and confidence in truth is important in standing. I like th...

Word Of Life

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. " 1 Jesus is the Word, He was in the beginning with God. 2 All things were made through Him. He is the Word and Light of men, the way, the path, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." 4 Thus we can say as the Psalmist, Jesus, the Word, is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. 5 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." 6 Concerning the Word of Life, " the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life ," Proclaimed, that our joy may be complete, a glory like that in the beginning, fellowship with the Father, with one another, and with his Son Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot...

Those He Calls He Equips

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen . Hebrews 13:20-21 When God calls us he equips us, the God of Peace, the one who brought us from the dead by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, will equip you so to do his will. So in this concept of being equipped, we see the calling being irrevocable. "For it is God who works in you to Will and to act on behalf of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 God called you, he's working in you equipping you to work on behalf of his good pleasure. "So that the man of God may be complete fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17 . In Hebrews 12 we read God disciplines those he loves, so that we share in his holy character, as the scriptures...

Hypocrisy and Self-righteousness

“ Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you ” Matthew 7:1–2 In Mathew 7 Jesus is speaking out against hypocrisy, he coins the term, it is exposed as a very serious sin. Because of their hypocrisy these religious leaders were leading his people astray. Today it is the same, it is a top reason why people do not attend a church. Of course we blame the sinner and hear cute little sayings like, come join us you will fit right in... which makes light of the situation. On a more serious note, Jesus gives seven woes to the Pharisees, he even warns them of hell fire and damnation, for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Hypocrisy is basically pretending to be something you are not, it is not to be confused with our imperfection. Our righteousness is found in Christ alone, not in self. Hypocrisy and self righteousness is usually seen by others when we in our own righteousn...

Formed Into The Same Image

because those he foreknew also he predestined, to form to the image of His Son, to the extent He exists the firstborn of many brethren . * The word for form in this verse is σύμμορφος ( symmorphos ) from sym "same, with, or together" and morphos "form or shape." We are being formed, shaped into the same image as Christ. This word has the same root word morphos as in transformed, μεταμορφόω ( metamorphos ) from meta "among, with, after" and morphos "form or shape." Into the same form as Christ we are predestined. Adam was a living soul, but Christ was a life giving Spirit. Adam was formed in the image of God but that image was corrupted. In Christ we are formed a new, so that image is being restored. To be a Christian is more than just doing good works, more than just going to heaven, we are called to be formed into an image after Christ, Christ like. who will transfigure our lowly bodies into the same form as his glorious body, according t...

Feed On Me

"Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me." 1 This "living" Jesus speaks of is eternal or everlasting Life but what does this mean? Is this life an after life in heaven as traditionally taught or something we begin to experience here on earth? We read that Life is in knowing, a personal experience, " this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent ." 2 We receive the Spirit of life when we first believed, but the true disciple of Christ is known by abiding, these have learned that Life is in eating the bread of Life and drinking living water. Life is in Christ, all else has become as rubbish but to know Christ, and the Life he gives, "so also the one who feeds on Me will live." "So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. and you will know the truth, ...

Kiss the Son

Why do the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel, together against Yahweh and against his anointed. Break apart their bands and cast away their cords. He who sits in the heavens laughs, Yahweh scoffs. Then shall he speak unto them with anger, fury, and dismay. I established my King upon Zion, My Holy Hill. I will declare the decree of Yahweh who said, you are my son, you I have this day begotten. Ask concerning, I will establish nations your inheritance Your possession the uttermost parts of the earth. You shall afflict them with a staff of iron on a potter's vessel dashed to pieces. Now, O, kings be wise, be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, because brutish is his wrath. Blessed are all who put their trust in Him. 1

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