Romans 12:1 Consecration

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Romans 12:1 (KJV)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

The Apostle Paul says I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present[1] your bodies a living sacrifice.

Consecrate yourself to God by offering your body to God.

The word “present” means “to offer”. This is the word translated “to yield” in Romans 6:13 and 6:16. Offer yourselves unto God or yield yourself still to the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Romans 6:13 (KJV) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Yielding of the body, and its members as instruments for righteousness unto God.

This is the sacrifice that is holy, “unblemished”, “pure”.

Romans 6:16 (KJV) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Offering yourself in the Lord’s service, the word “service[2]” means “worship”. Offer yourself in worship to God, in the service of God.

Why? This body is temporal and has a problem, the problem of sin. The body is carnal fleshly and earthly. 

How to deal with this body? How to deal with this problem? Paul’s advice to offer up.

Romans 6:6 (KJV) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

This consecration is expressed in Galatians 2:20 and 5:24 and in Ephesians 4:22.

Galatians 2:20 (KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 5:24 (KJV) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Amen.

[1] παριστάνετε verb imperative present active 2nd person plural from παρίστημι

[2] λατρεία, ας, ἡ in the NT, religious service based in worship service (of God), divine service, worship

[1] παραστῆσαι verb infinitive aorist active from παρίστημι