This is the second part of my lesson from last Sunday. Our church has been going through the book of Romans. I got to focus on Romans 12, my favorite chapter in all of Paul’s writing. Enjoy the second part of The Gift of Life.

From Theory to Practice
This brings us to Romans 12. Paul has spent the first 11 chapters telling us this good news- that life apart from God is death, that Christ brings us all – Jew and gentile, male and female, slave and free – the gift of life, and that we are now free to really live for Him. He has spent 11 chapters on the theory. In Chapter 12, Paul finally gets practical.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Therefore– There is so much theology wrapped up in this one word. Therefore, because of, in light of EVERYTHING that God has done, the history of his gifts, the grace he offers, the life he lived, the sacrifice that he made. Because of these… now this. The previous eleven chapters are summarized in this one word.

Offer your bodies as living sacrifices– God no longer requires the blood of bulls and goats to atone for sin. The innocent blood of Jesus met the requirement once and for all. Now our lives are to be lived out as an offering to God.

This is true worship– I have had my fair share of discussions with people about what worship is and what it isn’t. Unfortunately most of these conversations end with hurt feelings and cold shoulders and in reality they miss the point.

In scripture we see two words translated as worship.

proskuneo- “to kiss forward” , bow down
Anytime we see someone coming to Jesus for healing we see them in proskuneo worship. they are bowing, they are honoring.

latreuo- SERVICE IN RELIGIOUS DUTIES
The word that Paul uses here in Romans 12 is from latreuo. It means the duties or actions of one’s worship.

I believe Paul is telling us that Worship is not just an event. It is a lifestyle.

Tomorrow: We Love Our Proskuneo