Sermons
A Living Sacrifice
Series: The Way Of The CrossA LIVING SACRIFICE
Sermon By Terry Siverd
Cortland Church of Christ / October 14, 2018
One cannot fully grasp what it means to travel the way of the cross without an understanding of the word SACRIFICE.
Think on this with me - - here at the outset of this morning's sermon:
would it be possible to offer to someone a summary of the life of Jesus and not talk about sacrifice?
Paul writes in Eph.5:2 - - Christ gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
One could not provide even a brief thumbnail sketch, much less a comprehensive profile, without using this word.
This sacrificial quality and characteristic of Jesus must also describe us as His disciples.
In Philp.2:17, Paul speaks of his own life as a being poured out as a drink offering...
Notice too, and we will return to this passage at the end of this series, Paul notes that even though
his life was being offered as a sacrifice to God, he REJOICED - - I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
These words help us re-frame the concept of sacrifice.
It is not something we dread or detest, but rather something that brings us deep joy and satisfaction.
Although traveling the way of the cross may be difficult, it is not drudgery, but rather our highest joy.
Thus Paul also writes in Heb.13:15-16 - -
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks
to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Our golden text for this morning is Rom.12:1-2 - -
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies
as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
This text begins with “I URGE you” - - a mixture of entreaty and authority.
The location of Romans twelve is so critical to understanding it correctly.
Chapter 12 follows chapters 9, 10 & 11, wherein Paul makes it quite clear that
Jews and Gentiles have come to be united together in Christ Jesus as beloved brothers.
Secondly, the ground of Paul's appeal is indicated by his use of the conjunction, therefore,
and by his references to , God's mercy, literally His “mercies” in the plural (NASV),
a Hebraism for the many and varied manifestations of His mercy. For eleven chapters Paul
has been unfolding the mercies of God. Indeed, the gospel is precisely God's mercy to inexcusable
and undeserving sinners, in giving His Son to die for them, in justifying them freely by faith, in sending
them His life-giving Spirit, and in making them His children. cf. John Stott in Romans (IVP, pg.320-321)
If one was compelled to choose a key word in Rom.9-11 it would surely be MERCY.
9:15, 16 & 18/ salvation does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy
9:23 / God's purpose is to make known the riches of His upon vessels of mercy
11:30-31 / as disobedient Gentiles have now received mercy, so too disobedient Israel will now receive mercy
11:32 / for God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all
The words grace and gratitude both stem from the (same) Greek word “charis”.
It is God's grace that infuses us with gratitude and it is that inner gratitude that works to shape and steer our ethics.
Ethics (how we conduct ourselves as disciples of Christ) has a two-pronged impact - -
it encompasses our bodies (how we act) and our minds (how we think).
In Rom.12:1-2 Paul is writing thoughts similar to those written by Peter (1Pet.2:5) - - you also, as living stones,
are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.
Paul is charging both Jews and Gentiles to be a priesthood of believers.
One can't help but notice the priestly language that is woven into Rom.12:1-2 - -
present/offer up … living sacrifices … holy and pleasing to God … a spiritual act of worship.
WE ARE TO BE LIVING SACRIFICES
Not only is the pulse of our sacrifice different (we are living sacrifices, not dead), but the venue of our offering is
also different (our offering does not take place in a courtyard of a temple, but in home life and the marketplace).
Whatever we do in word or deed, we are to do all in the name of the Lord, with thanksgiving (Col.3:17).
What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? This term, living sacrifice, is an oxymoron - -
two words that don't typically belong together. Like, voluntary taxes or blank expression.
Unlike animals who were killed before they were placed on the altar, we are living sacrifices.
Yet we are placed on the altar nonetheless.
I want to spend the balance of our time this morning, thinking together about sacrificial living.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BEING A LIVING SACRIFICE THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD?
1. WE MUST GIVE.
From 2Sam.24 - - In the fallout that was triggered by King David's decision to take a census (vs.1),
the nation of Israel was stricken by God with punishment in the form of a deadly pestilence.
King David's army commander Joab knew this was sinful and warned King David (vs.3).
(A census was a euphemistic way of assessing military might - - they counted 800K sword-wielding soldiers / vs.9).
Afterwards David's heart troubled him; he acknowledged that he had sinned and he sought forgiveness (vss.10-11).
David inquired of the prophet Gad who told him God was offering him three options (vss12-13)
David chose as punishment three days of severe pestilence that took the lives of 70,000 men (vss.14-15).
With a penitent heart, David proceeded to atone for his sinful behavior (vss.17f).
Gad directed him to erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah (aka, Ornan) the Jebusite.
When Ornan met David he freely offered his threshing floor plus the oxen and wood for the sacrifice.
Ornan wanted nothing in return for it. But David insisted that he pay for it, saying - - No, but I shall surely
buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord My God which cost me nothing.
2. WE MUST GIVE FREELY AND WITH GRATITUDE.
Listen again to Heb.13:15 / Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God...fruit of the lips that give thanks.
If our sacrifices of time, energy and money have to be pried away from us, we might as well keep them.
In 2Cor.9:7, Paul writes: Let each one of us do just as he has purposed in his heart;
not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver!
How can we soberly reflect on God's great sacrifice in the giving of His Son and not want to respond with gratitude?
How can we partake of The Lord's Supper every first day of the week and not earnestly desire to give back to God?
3. WE MUST GIVE GENEROUSLY.
Having spent a few hours with Jesus, Zaccheus the tax collector was moved greatly by the grace of Christ,
He implored the Lord (Lk.19:8f) saying - - Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to
the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.
And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house...”
Someone has said that when we give we must give till it hurts. i.e. “It hurts so good!”
That's another way of saying that our giving must not be casual and nonchalant.
Rather than giving God our leftovers we must give Him of our firstfruits.
Our giving needs to be purposeful (calculated and well thought out) and generous (not cheap).
When we go out to a fine restaurant for some special occasion and our server waits on us superbly,
we do not think, “what's the least I can give”, but we often dig deeper as a way to express our sincere appreciation.
4. WE MUST GIVE OF OUR BEST.
Let's shift gears here and think of giving in more than just monetary terms.
John Henry Jowett once wrote, “Ministry that cost nothing, accomplishes nothing.”
The story is told of a Hog and Hen who went for a walk together early one morning.
As they strolled around town they noticed a church offering “help for the needy”. Miss Hen was touched and
she spoke up saying, “Let's give them ham and eggs for breakfast.” Mr. Hog thought for a moment and said,
“That's okay for you. For you its only a little contribution, but for me its total commitment.”
I fear that some of us are like Miss Hen - - we are willing to sacrifice ... but just a little.
The truth is “just a little” doesn't really qualify as a SACRIFICE.
One of the meanings my dictionary gives for the word sacrifice is:
the forfeiture of something highly valued.
We were friends with Mark & Robin Bales Kirk, members of the Cuyahoga Falls church.
For many years Mark had a very lucrative job and they lived quite comfortably.
One year I wrote to them asking if they would consider making a donation to Camp. Mark sent a check for $3,000.
Sadly, brother Kirk passed away a couple of years ago following a battle with M.S.. While Mark was still living, the Falls
church had a fund-raising drive for missions. I heard through the grapevine that Robin (who served on our staff as a counselor at camp at Judson for two years) decided to sell all of her baskets and give the money to missions.
Her baskets were a prized collection. I suspect that Robin could have have easily written a five-figure check.
But she chose to sacrifice her Longeberger collection that over the years had come to mean a great deal to her.
Simply writing a check for $10K probably would have sufficed, but she chose to sacrifice something she held dearly.
Two more brief references and then we will close in prayer.
David Livingstone (who worked for many years spreading the gospel in Africa once commented):
People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending much of my life in Africa.
It is emphatically no SACRIFICE. Say rather it is a privilege.
Lastly a quote from Jim Eliot (who was killed as a missionary by tribal Indians with whom he was sharing the gospel).
Prior to his untimely death he had written these profound words in his journal:
He is no fool to give up that which he cannot kept to gain that which he cannot lose.
These words remind us of the words our Lord (Mt.6:19) who urges us to, LAY UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN.
That, my dear brothers and sisters, is what SACRIFICE IS ALL ABOUT.
