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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.


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