What does the Scripture mean that we should offer our bodies to God as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2)?

In Romans 12, Paul moved from the meaning of the Gospel–Christ died for us on the cross to remove our sin burden–to the implication of the Gospel for Christian conduct. He exhorted the Roman Christians in the strongest terms to present their bodies as living sacrifices, which would serve as their spiritual act of worship.

He emphasized several major points.

First, Paul called on the believers in Rome to continually offer their bodies to God. The Greek verb emphasizes an ongoing process.

Second, the presentation of their bodies would be act of absolute surrender. They would give themselves on God’s altar.

Third, their offering would issue in strong ethical conduct, a conduct to be lived out practically in daily life. The believer is to give the whole self to God. This is the way that sacrificial language is used in the New Testament. This sacrifice is (1) living, denoting the dynamic nature of the sacrifice, (2) holy, indicating that the believer has been set apart for God’s purpose, and (3) pleasing to God, just as the sacrifice of the Old Testament was pleasing to God (Exodus 29:18).

God wants us to live for Him. Holy living pleases God. “Most of the problems that we find in trying to live the Christian life probably arise from trying to half live it” (The Disciple’s Study Bible). Complete commitment is God’s way.

Finally, this sacrifice of our whole self to God is our spiritual act of worship. Giving our bodies to God is an ongoing process that is accomplished day by day. To please God, your life must be your worship. This gives  the place that truly belongs to Him.  

Let us pledge to not half live but to give our whole lives to God. It is our spiritual worship.

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