QUESTION: “What does it mean to be a ‘living sacrifice,’ according to what Paul says in Romans 12:1?”
ANSWER: Living under the Law of Moses, the worshiper brought a living animal to be killed; it was a dead sacrifice (Leviticus 1:2). However, under the Law of Christ, Christians are living sacrifices, able to serve the Lord and glorify Him each day (cf. 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10).
Two men in the Bible illustrate what it means to be a living sacrifice – Isaac and Jesus Christ. Isaac was young when he went with his father Abraham to Mount Moriah and there was offered as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). Isaac was willing to die so that he and his father might be obedient to the Lord. He did not die, however, because God’s purpose was to test Abraham’s faith and love, not to take his son (Genesis 22:11-18). When Isaac was unbound and taken from the altar, it was like a resurrection from the dead (cf. Hebrews 11:17-19). Isaac was from that moment on a living sacrifice.
However, Jesus Christ actually died and arose from the dead. There was no substitute provided for Him as there was for Isaac, because He was the substitute (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24). When He came forth from the tomb, He still bore on His body the marks of the nails and spear (John 20:27). He became a living sacrifice, and He remains a living sacrifice in glory today (Hebrews 12:2; 7:25). His sacrifice for sin was completed (Hebrews 9:28); now, He lives to minister (Hebrews 2:18) to His people and perfect them in holiness (Hebrews 13:20, 21).
Therefore, Christians should, according to Luke 9:23, (1) Deny themselves, (2) Take up the cross [cause] of Christ each day, and (3) Follow Jesus. Christians must “hold forth the word of life [Bible]” (Philippians 2:16). As Christians strive to be more like Christ, they become a “sweet smelling fragrance” of Christ to God (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). Therefore, a living sacrifice is one that lives each day of his or her life to serve the One Who died and arose for him or her. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
