Identification means that not only did the sacrifice go in our place as payment for sin, BUT ALSO that they themselves were sacrifices unto God! When a burnt offering was presented in which an animal was completely consumed on the altar the worshipper identified himself with that sacrifice, essentially saying this: "That sacrifice is me!" "All that I am is God's!" "I myself am a sacrifice unto the Lord!"

In light of the biblical concept of sacrifice, I hope you see that many of the gospel presentations heard today from evangelical pulpits is but a half-gospel. For while it may speak of Christ as our sacrifice—representation—it rarely speaks of Christ and His life of self-sacrifice and self-denial as our standard—identification. And it is this point of identification as a living sacrifice to God that is foundational to biblical Christianity! A. W. Tozer wrote, speaking of the half-gospel espoused by so many today these words:

Is this a little harsh? I think not. And it is this part of the sacrificial system—identification—that Paul addresses in our passage, Romans 12:1-2. In essence, Romans 12-15 is a call to live according to what we are—"Living Sacrifices unto the Lord!"

Some important questions are raised that we must answer in order to understand this passage. Just what is a living, holy sacrifice? Are all Christians called to this sacrifice? Is this passage only for the "really devoted" Christians who receive a paycheck from a "Christian" organization?

Those who are called to sacrifice are identified.

The phrase, "I beseech you therefore, brethren" is a seemingly insignificant statement to the casual observer. Yet, we know that the Holy Scriptures contains no insignificant statements and that the entire context is vital to a proper understanding. In fact, without this qualification, it is sure that the whole of this Epistle would come crashing down upon itself. Notice that the word therefore links what Paul is going to say with what Paul has already said. In other words, Paul is not writing an essay in abstract ethics, but rather is telling the Romans what their conduct must be in the light of what God has done! And what is it that God has done? Notice, Paul calls them brethren. In the context of this letter (i.e. chapters 1-11), this designation is packed with meaning and serves to IDENTIFY those whom Paul exhorts to be "Living Sacrifices."

These are examples of a living sacrifice. The tax collector and the woman recognized their state before God. They saw that they themselves were spiritually bankrupt.

The epistle of Romans continues to identify those who are the brethren as saying they are those who rely upon Christ as the basis upon which they stand before God.

After four difficult chapters in which Paul shows that ALL stand spiritually bankrupt before God and therefore condemned he nevertheless describes those who stand before God "at peace" with Him. This is all possible because justification is by faith. This is a declaration by God that we are not guilty of sin. Therefore, though we are spiritually bankrupt, in Christ we become spiritually rich. We are without sin in Christ. We are not guilty of violating the law because of Christ. We stand perfect before God because of Christ. And this is what gives us peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have peace with God through His cross. We have peace with God on account of His sacrificial death in our place. It is the cross of Christ through which we who are spiritually bankrupt and thus culpable of God's wrath enter into peace with God.

Therefore a living sacrifice is one who not only recognizes that they are spiritually bankrupt before God but also pleads (present tense) the cross of Christ as the basis upon which they stand before God.

Paul continues the epistle by saying that the brethren are ones who, through union with Christ's death and resurrection, has been freed from the power and tyranny of sin.

In Romans 6, Paul describes a believer's holiness. When a person goes to the cross of Christ for salvation, something incredible occurs—a moral breach is effected between the sinner and his sin. In other words as we receive salvation through union with Christ's death so also we receive the power to live the sanctified life through union with Christ's resurrection.

Therefore based upon this one may conclude that the brethren who are to be the living sacrifice are those that through union with Christ’s death and resurrection have been freed from the power and tyranny of sin. And so, a living sacrifice is one who has died to himself. He is one who is spiritually bankrupt and thus continually flees to Christ for salvation. And he is one who has been freed from the power and reign of sin. That is a living sacrifice.

Does it make a difference to understand who the living sacrifice is?

See in our day and age, to say that a living sacrifice is simply the believer is not specific enough. Many in our culture believe that they are believers. Many will simply tell you that believers are Americans, the baptized, the pledge card signer, the one who does mighty works in the name of God, etc. However, these descriptions fall short of the living sacrifice.

The living sacrifice—acceptable to the Lord—is one who dwells in the state of brokeness. The living sacrifice is one who lives his life in dependence upon Christ. The living sacrifice is one who is freed from the power and tyranny of sin.

And why is this so important to understand? Because so many today in the church are serving the Lord in their own strength from their own resources. Show me tired Christian and I will show man who is not a living sacrifice but self-sacrifice. Show me a "burnt out" Christian or a Christian who just "can’t take it any more" and I will show you a man serving in his own strength—not Christ’s.

A living sacrifice that is not broken will always be limited in their service because they're limited. But let us come to the word of God and see the true identity of the living sacrifice and we discover that because the power and effort with which the living sacrifice serves the Lord flows from the Lord. The power to serve Christ will never come from a man’s own resources because man is spiritually bankrupt—he has no resources. Therefore the living sacrifice is by definition limitless in his service because God’s resources are limitless.

The living sacrifice will have an untiring devotion to the Lord because God never slumbers nor sleeps.

Gideon is an example of a living sacrifice.

We find that there was too much of Gideon in Gideon and not enough of Christ. God had to work in the life of Gideon to bring Gideon to the end of himself—the place of trust. This was necessary so Gideon's only strength and hope, his only reliance, was God! And thus Gideon, as a living sacrifice, was now ready to serve the Lord!

The first group that was dealt with was those that were fearful and afraid. The living sacrifice must not be fearful of what God might do. This is the condition of many in the church today. They are afraid that if they trust God that He will make them undergo some severe test in their life. One woman told me that she knew God would take her child from her if she trusted God. Yet, it is this condition that stands in the way of many serving Christ. We are fearful and afraid of what God will have us do.

Each of us must come to the place where we can be a living sacrifice. When there is too much of we have yet to mourn over our sinfulness and recognize what we are before God we will never be an effective living sacrifice. Why? We invariably trust in ourselves. We are only ready to face the battle when all we have is God!

And thus if you are not broken and mourning over you sinfulness, you are not ready to be a living sacrifice to the Lord. But if brokeness is a good description of your life, then you right where God wants you to be!

In this regard, Cranfield wrote these words:

Let us not accuse Paul of legalism. But as broken people let us offer ourselves to God as a living and holy sacrifice!

In the upper room hours before Christ would be betrayed by Judas and be taken captive by the Romans Christ reveals to Peter a difficult prediction that Peter would do battle with Satan. Yet, Christ didn't leave him with this prediction. He gave him the assurance that He was praying. Now take note of Christ's prayer. "But I have prayed for you, that your faith [your reliance upon God] may not fail."

The prayer that Christ prayed for Peter before his spiritual warfare, and the plan that God has for our relationship with Him is one and the same—reliance upon God! This is what being a living sacrifice is all about! Let us no longer defend ourselves, protect our pride, or look down on other people. But as broken and contrite people, let us flee to the cross, and thereby offer ourselves to God a living and holy sacrifice.

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