I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Rom 12:1).
Service and sacrifice is a form of worship. This verse refers back to Romans 1–11 where Paul unpacks his soteriology (understanding of salvation). Paul is saying that because of all of these things that Christ has done, do this: WORSHIP through sacrificial service. If we do this, we will live.
It’s quite simple really, worship is our response to God not only for who he is but for what he’s done; more specifically still, what he’s done in accomplishing his world renewal plan.
In the Old Testament, worship meant offering an animal for sacrifice at the temple in order to express thanks to God for his work in their lives. This was costly.
Paul changes this mode of worship in the verse above. Paul says that now that Christ has come and reconciled the world to God and God to the world, it is no longer animals to be offered as an act of worship, but the lives of the worshippers themselves, and by some mystery, through giving up one’s own life they live (Luke 9:24). By serving him, by living for him, we worship him and find life.
Paul calls them “living sacrifices”. They are living in the sense that they now identify with Jesus Christ’s resurrection and live by abiding in him and his reconciling love. This isn’t like the animals that are killed on the altar. By way of contrast, these are living sacrifices. At the same time, there is a cost to following Jesus, hence the “sacrifice” (Luke 9:23).
Not only this, but they are also living in the sense that in Jesus they find eternal life. No fear in death for those who abide in him. These are living sacrifices.
We worship by giving our lives as a living sacrifice. Our service to Jesus, for what he’s done for us, is our worship. When we worship, we live.
