The Christian strategy for battling sin requires a dedication of our bodies to God. This unique presentation of whole self to God is made more accessible when we understand God’s purpose and design for our bodies.
Observations: Preliminaries
- The amorality of the body
- The new birth of the Spirit
Conclusions:
- Step #1 – Don’t offer your body to sin
– How? As used for wickedness - Step #2 – Offer your whole self to God
– How? As those brought from death to life - Step #3 – Set apart the members of your body to God
How? As weapons of righteousness
Application:
- View your life as a holy offering
- View your body as a weapon for righteousness
- Make good on the offer
John 3:5-6
“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is here!”
1 Peter 1:23
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
Colossians 1:21-22
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
Galatians 5:19-21
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
James 4:7-10
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
Romans 6:19
“I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.”
Romans 12:1
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.”