Unlimited: Offer Yourselves to God
Oct 18, 2022 848
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life (Romans 6:13a)
The imperial capital, Rome, was the cesspool of the empire when it came to immorality and vice. Paul’s advice here is very pertinent to his audience in Rome.
A large proportion of the Roman empire were slaves, and slaves were freely bought and sold. The image here is of a slave offering themselves to a master. The image here is that of a slave who is in the slave markets, begging for a new master to take them.
Paul continues his theme of moving from death to life. The result of this in our lives is that we will respond with grateful and Spirit-filled hearts surrendered to Christ.
We are not to offer ourselves to sin, but to offer ourselves to God.
We owe our lives entirely to him. How then can we betray him by choosing another master?
We are not to offer ourselves to sin, but to offer ourselves to God. The word that is here translated is “offer” is closely related to the sacrificial system of the temple. This tells us that the way we live our lives is a form of worship, whether to the false gods of this world, such as the gods of money, power, and self, or to the Lord God. Therefore, we are
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1).
Spiritual Application
Think carefully. Is there any part of yourself that you are using as an instrument of wickedness? Could it be your tongue, for example, or any other part of you? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to bring you to repentance?
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