Romans 12:1 and 2.

Present your Bodies as living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.

I am a retired pastor of the Church of God (Tennessee).
My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India.

Apostle Peter wrote about the writings of apostle Paul in 2 Peter 3:16 as "hard to be understood, and so, preachers twist his teachings unto their own destruction." Preachers are doing the same thing using his epistle to falsify the truth to deceive believers. They use a few verses from Romans 3 & 7, and we will study them in detail as we reach the verses. But God uses these verses on purpose for them to stumble and fall. Further, God uses his letters in a such way that if they interpret the word of God with their own intelligence, but not by the revelation of the Spirit, they should also stumble and fall. However, through apostle Paul, God brought many true doctrines also to light. Let us see the first two verses in Romans 12 for our study today. Let us see what God expects from us, if we are true believers and followers of him.

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Romans Chapter 12:1&2.

1. Who should study this?

In general good people are received in heaven and evil people are cast into hell. Heaven has four major divisions, two lower levels are in new earth, and two higher levels are in new heavens. New earth is also heaven, and it is for those who just escaped hell, and who could not become perfect. New heavens are for those who have attained the levels of Sons of God and the Bride of Christ. Romans 12:1& 2, are geared for the status in new heavens, but not for the levels in new earth, which is Paradise. So, if you feel that this lesson is out of reach to you, it is okay since God has two levels in Paradise, where you will be very comfortable to fit in. However, please study this lesson to know the truth. Who knows, you may make it.

"Romans 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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." There are a few things in these verses, and we will study them one by one. Apostle Paul begins saying that it is by the mercy of God. So, if it is by his mercy, God should give us something to help us out. But on the contrary, God asks us to give our whole possession with our entire lives, and it is by his mercy. It is to give our bodies, that is our total self, and we must give it as our sacrifice; but not even as a common sacrifice, but as a living sacrifice, if only God accepts it. It is strange. But Jesus Christ is our God; now the resurrected Jesus Christ is in the Omnipotent Spirit as God. So, he owns the universe, he sits on the throne in heaven, it is thousands of times more glorious than any throne in the world, and his majesty is greater than anything that we could imagine. If we know and believe these awesome things, and if we comprehend the true picture of God the Majesty, we will become sober, and our demeanor and attitude about God Jesus will dramatically change. We will realize that we are mere dust, and Jesus Christ is no more a legend Man. Then we will realize that our preachers are deceiving us, by posing themselves as they are brokers and middlemen to God, to get big money for themselves. God owns the universe, he does not need money, and God can do anything without getting money from us. Then what can we give that is acceptable to this God? We cannot come up with anything. If you believed in Jesus Christ, repented of your sins, and have received the holy Spirit in you, then only God asks you to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. Then verse 2 is the instruction and guide that tells us how to present ourselves to God. Our mindset must not be as the pride of this world, it must change, and we must not live in a dream or fantasy world. It tells us that the Will of God is good, acceptable and perfect. Let us study them.

2. By the Mercies of God.

What is the mercy of God in this context? Usually, if it is by the mercy of God, he should give us something big. But here it is different; we are required to give God. Then, why is this his mercy? Because he gives us this privilege to serve him, and it is an honor to us. God is the owner and monarch king of any country, but not a president. What I mean is: Americans treat their president as their servant; that is, they think the president should serve them. Christians also treat God in the same way as Americans treat their president. The bible says that it should not be like this; but we must think of him as a Monarch king and go before him with respect and fear. Then, can we just give a turkey as a thanksgiving day gift to this king; if we do, he may take it as an insult, and he may torture us to death. Even if we wish to give him a diamond necklace, we must obtain his permission first, and if he gives permission, we will take it as our privilege, and so, it is his mercy; the same thing is here, and it is the mercy of God, since it will be a privilege to us.

3. You are a Living Sacrifice.

We use the word sacrifice to do something with generosity with others in mind; we say that we did it sacrificially. It is mostly money, our time, and such, to help another person. It is good; but in the bible, sacrifice means to die. A living being is killed, its blood is shed, and the body is placed on the altar. But a living sacrifice could be that our life is surrendered as a slave to another person; we do not belong to us anymore, but to God; it is at least in principle. In the old testament, there is an incident, which is not the same, but almost close; let us look into it. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son Isaac. Isaac was neither an animal, nor a possession to Abraham, but Isaac was his beloved son. And he was the son of promise, and Abraham knew that even if he dies, God will raise him back to life to fulfill his promise. It is in "Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." So Isaac was sacrificed in a figure only; but God gave him back and Isaac lived. We may say that Isaac was a living sacrifice. However, Isaac had to go to the altar and face the knife. If we want to give ourselves as living sacrifices, we must also go through what Isaac went through. But Christians have learned to say that they are living sacrifices, as they are having a joy ride in Great America. In America, Christianity is full of clichés, empty words, and they are fake. Yet can we do it truthfully, with no more fake cliché slogans? If we do, we will inherit the kingdom of God, and it is by promise. Isaac was the Son of promise, and Abraham did not hesitate to lay his beloved son on the altar. What do we do; do we hesitate; or will we also do it?

A dead sacrifice is killed one time, and it is done. But a living sacrifice, is to surrender daily, day after day, never ending. If this sacrifice is not done without delight, it is worse than hell. However, the reward will be much great, and it is to sit with Jesus Christ himself in his throne in heaven: It is in "Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." What glory that will be! Surprisingly the life of the living sacrifice is also a delight. But, it is to let go every fancy opportunity, choose faithfulness over profit, truth over fame, holiness over compromise, and to follow God, no matter what. Jesus Christ said it twice in, "Matthew 10:39 & 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." And he says in "John 10:10 ..: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." To be a living sacrifice is very difficult, but it has delight. It is like heavy body building exercises. They are very difficult and hard work, but those who do it work out with delight. That is the way we will do it, but not grudgingly. It will also bring great reward in heaven. Further, living sacrifice is not what we are losing, but what we will be gaining. Now it is in principle, it is symbolic, and it may be in pretense; yet it will be real in heaven. Please listen: If we give our hearts to God, he receives our hearts. So, our hearts are with his heart; so, we are one with God, that is, the seed of God is in us. So, as a matter of fact, by giving ourselves to God, we are actually gaining God in us. So, if we are a living sacrifice to God, we gain God to ourselves, and he will be living in us. This is the Spiritual reality.

4. Holy, acceptable unto God.

Old testament sacrifices were given for many reasons; to atone for sins, to give thanks, purify people in general, and such. In the sin offering, sinners will transfer their sin to an animal; and that animal must be without spot; and it will be killed. So the animal that is sacrificed must be without spot. There are several references for that in the book of Numbers: 19:2, 28:3,9,11, & 29:17,26. In the New testament, the blood of Jesus Christ was offered as a sacrifice without sin. It is in, "1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" Then it is required of us also that we must come to God, as a sacrifice without spot. It is in "2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." In our context also, it is required that we must give ourselves as holy, then only God will accept us as a sacrifice. But Christians and preachers have an entirely different understanding about the whole thing. They say that we will come to God as sinners, since nobody can become pure. No! God gives the holy Spirit, power, grace, his word, and such, to sinners, so that they may become righteous and holy. The Lord Jesus Christ also is in this world, in the Omnipotent Spirit as God, to turn such people away from their sins, and to forgive their past sins. It is in Acts 3:26, and Romans 3:24 and 25. If they are converted, then God may accept and use them as a living sacrifice, but God will not accept anybody. It is a privilege to be accepted as a living sacrifice. If you know it, it is the high calling of God.

5. It is your reasonable service.

What is reasonable? It is fair, sensible, moderate, and it is in accordance with reason or common sense. For example, we say it is a reasonable price, that is, anybody will agree with the price. If you are just a religious person, if someone ask you to sacrifice your life to preach the gospel free for all people, it will not be reasonable. Reasonable will be if they offer you good salary to preach the gospel. But God says, it is reasonable to become a living sacrifice to God, since it is a privilege, and it is a high calling of God. You may have to go through sufferings here, but the reward will be great in heaven. Religious person will serve God for a salary, but a godly person will submit his life as a living sacrifice to God.

6. Be not conformed to this world.

Verse 2 explains how we should give ourselves as a living sacrifice. The first step is that we must not to be conformed to this world. The bible says that most of us are with the world. If it is so, we cannot be disciples of God. Jesus Christ prays to God the Father in "John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." It is a confirmation that Jesus and his disciples were not of the world, and so, we must also not be of the world, if we want to be his disciples. "1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." If the holy Spirit and the seed of God are in us, we by the instinct of the Spirit, will not sin. Flesh instinct is of the world, and they cannot but sin, because it is their nature. But if we are deep into the Spirit, we will not be of the world, and so, we cannot sin. Preachers and Christians cannot comprehend this truth, since they are of the world, but not of the Spirit. They say that they are of the Spirit, but they do not even know what the Spirit is, and so, what they say is just a cliché. They study and memorize many catch words from the bible and quote them to show that they are of the Spirit. But they are fake, and we will find them conformed to this world. But the truth is, the world and the Spirit will not go hand in hand. The world is of the flesh, but the Spirit is toward heaven.

7. Renew Our minds, be transformed.

Ultimately, we must be transformed. Transform means to change inside and outside, character and appearance, and in all. Example is that once I was a caterpillar, but now I am a butterfly. Both are the same person, yet they are different; what happened, it is transformed. This must happen to us. How do we know? Keep checking your mind. If your mind is changed, you are transformed. Caterpillar loves to eat leaves and hides behind it. Butterfly, loves to fly in the sky, and to drink honey from flowers. Check what do you like, leaves or honey? It will tell you whether you are transformed or not. "2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." This appears to go against the flesh in general. And it is the statement of the disciples of Jesus Christ. They lived with Jesus, did the ministry with him, witnessed the miracles, healings, raising of the dead, in all these they were with Jesus. On top of it, they themselves have done miracles, healed the sick, cast out the devils, and so on. Now the Man Jesus was crucified and dead, and he is no more. Now they cannot follow him. So, they took his place and are living as he lived. Now they say that even if they knew Jesus in the flesh, but from now on they chose to know him no more, that is, they removed the Man Jesus even from their mind. They do not want to know him anymore. Why? Jesus does not exist anymore as a man. He went to another place, in another status, he is no more as a guru or as teacher, but now he is God. They changed their mind from worldly blessings and provisions to their mind towards the kingdom of God in heaven, where Jesus Christ is king, and seated on the throne. But Christians are yet looking for even the ghost of the Man Jesus, for worldly things, their miracles, healings, provisions, and for everything, calling him as God, in the same manner as Hindus call Rama, Krishna, and such dead people as God. So, Christianity has become as Hinduism, or like any other religion. Christians have no vision for the kingdom of God in heaven. "17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Look at verse 17 carefully. When the disciples turned their minds away from the man Jesus, they did not turn it into an empty place or to the world as hopeless people, but they have turned to God Jesus Christ, to be received of him so that they may be in him. So, they say "if any man be in Christ," because they were in Christ. So in order to be "in Christ" they detached themselves from the Man Jesus who was in the flesh, and now is just a shadow. Then the rest of the verse: "he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Now they are Spirit creatures, in Spirit Church, in heavenly places, while they serve God Jesus Christ as living sacrifices, still being in this world. But religious Christians have no clue about this. Still most Christians say that they are in Christ. They do not even know what they say. So, leave them alone. How about you? Have you changed your mind; are you transformed to be a new creature; are the old things passed away; and are you a new creature? If I ask these questions to the worldly religious Christians, they will say 'yes' to all these questions, and you will also say 'yes.' Actually, I am not looking for the answer. Let me help you to find the answer for yourself. As a caterpillar, do you still crave the leaves to eat and to hide behind them? OR, as a butterfly, do you fly in the sky looking for honey? That is, have you declined to know the man Jesus for the blessings in this world, miracles, healings, and such things, and are you still pursue after him, and wish that he is still here to help you. If you do, you are not of God Jesus Christ, but you are still running after the shadow Jesus. His disciples said, "though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." So, you should thank God for all the provisions that you get from him, fully knowing that God gives the same provisions to atheists, murderers, terrorists, and to all sinners. So, you are not a special person in this regard. Yet you should have a vision or a desire to get inheritance in the kingdom of God in heaven. If you have the vision, try to reach God Jesus Christ who is in the Spirit, who is seated on the throne in heaven. The Man Jesus is a model for you to become; and God Jesus Christ is to be pursued for his kingdom.

8. Prove the Will of God in our Lives.

"Prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Most preachers are very good or even excellent in quoiting scriptures, reciting high sounding phrases, clichés, but their lives are far away from them; and most of them stinks. Most Christians follow them with much enthusiasm, and they are also the same. Most Christians are dishonest, and they are hypocrites. So, God requires proof of what we say, and if we have no proof, what we say worth nothing. "1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." This guy says that he is with God and having good fellowship with him, but he is a liar, his fellowship is with darkness, which is the devil. Apostle challenges him saying, yea! if you are with God, prove it, then we will have fellowship; or else keep quiet. Most Christians have big mouth, and they are liars.

9. It is good, acceptable, and perfect.

The Will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect. What is the Will of God? ["1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."] The Will of God is that we must live in sanctification and honor. These two words are Greek to an average Christian. So, preachers preach whatever they want to preach. But what does it actually mean? Verses 3&4 say: stop fornication, get rid of lust, and keep your body pure. But the love between husband and wife is blessed, but outside the boundary of marriage, it is cursed. The rest is easy to know. So, the sanctification, honor, purity, and such are all center around to bring the sexual desires in control, within the boundaries that God has given us.

What are good and acceptable? Most preachers say that the fruit of the Spirit is good and acceptable. They refer to "Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." Then they refer to "Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." But here is one problem; all these fruits can be produced by flesh also. Most preachers and Christians may have some of these fruits, not by the Spirit, but by the flesh. God uses such verses as stumbling blocks. Being not aware of it, these preachers pick up these verses and these fruits from the flesh but not by the Spirit and proclaim that they are of the Spirit. So, in reality they are counterfeits, and it is deception. They are neither in goodness, nor they are acceptable to God. So, how to know the difference between the genuine and the counterfeit? The verse also says "in all goodness and righteousness and truth;" So, it must be in righteousness and in truth. Verify whether they preach the truth of Jesus Christ. That is, if they preach that we are saved because Jesus died on the cross, it is not the truth. It is true that he died, but we are not saved just because he died. But if they preach that we are saved because we obey the commands of Jesus Christ, it is the truth. If they preach the truth, and obey the truth, then they have the Spirit in them, and their fruit of the Spirit is real, but not counterfeit. But tragically, most of our preachers are liars and they deceive people.

God always wants us to be righteous, holy, and perfect. But most preachers seem to challenge God by saying that no one can become perfect, holy, or righteous. They serve the devil. "2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." So, all scripture is given to us by the inspiration of God, for a man of God may become perfect through righteousness. So, be righteous and be inspired of God to become perfect. Again, let me remind you that this study is for those who are striving for new heavens, and it may not fit those who like to enjoy the world, just escape hell, and go to Paradise. There is a provision for that also. But this is for those who like to serve God, like to inherit the kingdom of God and to be with Jesus Christ as joint heirs in heaven. "1 John 3:2 ... when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

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What is the true gospel and what are false gospels?

Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.

What will the true Gospel do?

The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven. John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.

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