Romans 12:1-2 And Ephesians 4:17-20

Romans 12:1-2

When Paul urges believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices in Romans 12:1, the message can be seen to reflect Christian service. Consider what Jesus did prior to being crucified on the cross (offering himself as the Lamb of God), "It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." John 13:1 (NIV) The fact of the matter is that the way that Jesus showed this love prior to the crucifixion was to wash the feet of the disciples as is recorded in the very next verses of John 13:2-17.

The fact that God in the flesh got down on his hands and knees and washed the feet of the disciples as though he was a slave meant that he was not only showing his love for the disciples but he was also sacrificing himself to them as a servant. John 13:14 even shows Jesus as both teacher and Lord instructing others to wash one another's feet, and the next verse reminds the disciples that they are not greater than him. The fact of the matter is that the greatest is the servant of all (Matthew 23:11), and Jesus was showing that he was sacrificing himself as a servant to the disciples.

Exodus 3 describes the encounter of Moses and the burning bush, and what was noted is that the bush was on fire but was never consumed, (Exodus 3:3) and through the bush God spoke his most holy name. (Exodus 3:14) Although many may disagree, the mystery of the burning bush is that it gave itself continually as a living sacrifice, and that is why God spoke through the burning bush and not some rock. What happened is that the burning bush was able to constantly give itself completely to God as a living sacrifice, and through this process God used it completely to the extent that it was on fire. The fact of the matter however is that since the bush gave itself completely without reserve God continually preceded his spirit onto the bush in order to sustain it. Overall, God was able to talk directly through a created object because it gave itself fully to him, and thus it was able to be used as a vessel for God to accomplish his will.

The burning bush became the example that Moses himself would have to follow, and thus Moses would have to completely give himself as a living sacrifice to God in order that God would sustain him and speak his word and do his acts through Moses. The fact is that today since Christians live in a time when Christ (who is greater than Moses) has shown himself as a living sacrifice (or burning bush) and made himself known, we are to be like Moses who listens to this burning bush and receives the revelation concerning God's word and what he wants done in our lives. Thus Romans 12:2 shows Paul saying, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV) Overall, Romans 12:2 may suggest scripture to be instrumental in regard to the renewing of the mind, and this is especially important because scripture records Jesus Christ (God in the flesh) giving himself as a living sacrifice (a burning bush) that would speak to us today just like the burning bush spoke to Moses.

All Christians are to give themselves completely to God and to others like Christ whom died on the cross. If we are to be crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), then we must continually surrender and give up everything in order that God's work, will, and word may flow through us to pull down demonic strong holds like that of Egypt and Pharaoh. Christ is to be born into the life of the believer, believers are to be crucified with him, and they are to be risen with Christ into heavenly place, and to do any less would be to deny the very purpose that we are created to serve. Overall, from one burning bush Moses was caught on fire as another burning bush and that fire was to spread to the entire nation of Israel in order that they may become a priesthood to the nations, and thus we should take seriously the words of Jesus Christ that, "If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:6 (NIV)

The process of offering one's self as a living sacrifice means that God will produce fruit through the life of the believer. This fruit results in the productivity of the church to do its mission. Overall, the process of the living sacrifice (burning bush) is vital to growing the body of Christ as the fruit of the vine multiples and the great commission is realized.

Ephesians 4:17-20

Ephesians 4:17-20 introduces the opposite style of living compared to Romans 12:1-2, and what is taught is that the gentiles live in just the opposite manner as what scripture teaches. Ephesians 4:17 teaches that believes are not to continue living as the gentiles do, and believers are not to follow along in their same thinking. Ephesians 4:18 describes the gentiles as having a darkened understanding of the world that is separated from the life of God. The point to be made is that just as Pharaoh's heart was hardened by God (Exodus 7:3), so too the gentiles have had hardened hearts by God as well. Romans 9:18-23 describes how God chooses to harden the hearts of some, and God purposes to utilize one lump of clay to make two different types of pots (different types of people). Overall, today Pharaoh's kingdom is Satan's kingdom (so to speak), and the non-believing 'gentiles' live in Satan's kingdom.

The fact of the matter is that Ephesians 4:19 describes the problem in that the gentiles have given themselves over to all types of indulgence, impurity, and greed to the extent that they have lost all sensitivity to the truth. The point is that these people have done the opposite of what a burning bush would do. Instead of surrounding everything to the lord but never being consumed, instead the non believing gentiles have sacrificed their own bodies to serve their own desires, will, and intent. Unlike the non believing gentiles, the believers are to surrender everything to God including their faith as 1 Peter 1:7 describes how even faith will parish like everything else that is refined by fire, and in the passage the faith when it is taken by God will result in, "…praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (NIV)

Ephesians 4:20 reminds believers that they did not learn to be like the non believing gentiles, and the point is that Paul taught the believes the process of self surrender and service (the burning bush). The fact that 1 Peter 1:7 teaches that believes will surrender everything including the gift of faith means that God will at that point completely sustain the believer when Jesus Christ is revealed. The idea is that as fruit grows on the vine (the vine of Christ) that fruit grows and is nourished by the vine (like a burning bush is nourished by God), but when the fruit is gathered together and placed in the barn, then it is only a matter of time before it is transformed into something else (receives the resurrection body). Overall, clearly the apostles of Christ did not teach that believes are to become selfish and indulge in their own desires.

The great message of Ephesians 4:17-20 is how not to live. The fact is that people should continually surrender everything to Christ to do his will. Believes should not ask Christ to wash their feet continually but never wash his feet or even the feet of others in the body of Christ. Believers should serve both God and others with everything that they have in order to be made complete.