You Are A Living Sacrifice.

Rev 1:5…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

 

Christ loved us.

Christ washed us from our sins in His own blood.

Christ has made us kings and priests to God, to his Father.

 

Kings and priests?

 

Let's read a quick note from a commentary by Albert Barnes-

 

'But instead of βασιλεις και ἱερεις, kings and priests the most reputable MSS., versions, and fathers have βασιλειαν ἱερεις, a kingdom and priests; i.e. a kingdom of priests, or a royal priesthood. The regal and sacerdotal dignities are the two highest that can possibly exist among men; and these two are here mentioned to show the glorious prerogatives and state of the children of God.'

 

This makes a lot of sense given the following verses-

 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

 

As priests of God and Christ we will reign in the kingdom.

 

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

 

We are built up a SPIRITUAL house- an holy priesthood!

 

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

 

We are a chosen generation, a ROYAL priesthood…a peculiar people…

 

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

 

Our bodies ARE LIVING SACRIFICES, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE unto God.

 

What we are to become is something so incredibly amazing we can hardly understand at all how it will be possible. Surely, only the amazing powerful love of our God can change us vile creatures into something holy, something royal- in a kingdom of priests. The alteration that will take place in us is all but unbelievable.  We are told to PRESENT our bodies-  living sacrifices.

 

LIVING SACRIFICES. We are not called to the sacrifice of death. We are called to be LIVING SACRIFICES.  What do you suppose this means?

 

We are surrendered to God right now as we live!

 

A sacrifice is the giving up of a life by dying…a living sacrifice must be the giving up of a life while living. We surrender ourselves. We die to self.

 

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

Crucified with Christ but we LIVE.

 

Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

 

Deny SELF…follow JESUS.

 

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

 

CRUCIFIED the flesh- the affections and lusts-- WE still live, crucified!

 

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

 

We are NEW creatures! How can we be new except the old us is gone?

 

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

 

(DEAD- we are DEAD to self and ALIVE to CHRIST! Truly we are living sacrifices!)

 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 

Col 3:6  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 

Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 

Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 

Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 

Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 

Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 

 

We are to be made a kingdom of priests! We are to be royal with Christ! We are risen with HIM, He makes us new creatures! All by His mercy, all through His grace, His forgiveness, His love!  TO HIM BE THE GLORY AND DOMINION FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN!