“i beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of god, that ye present your bodies a living...

“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.” Rom. 12:1

I. Meaning of Dedication

To devote exclusively to the service or worship of a divine being.

To set apart formally to a definite particular purpose.

Self sacrificing devotion to a cause.

O.T. dedicating of altar when the tabernacle was completed.

Number 7Number 7 1. Judah

2. Issachar

3. Zebulon

4. Reuben

5. Simeon

6. Gad

7. Ephraim

8. Mannasseh

9. Benjamin

10.Dan

11.Asher

12.Naphtali

All tribes brought same offeringAll tribes brought same offering

MeatSilver Charger & BowlSilver Charger & Bowl

Full of fine flourFull of fine flour

Incense Golden SpoonGolden SpoonFilled with incenseFilled with incense

One Bullock, One RamOne Bullock, One RamOne LambOne Lamb

Burnt

All tribes brought same offeringAll tribes brought same offering

Sin A kid orA kid orA goatA goat

Peace Two OxenTwo OxenFive RamsFive Rams

Five He-GoatsFive He-GoatsFive LambsFive Lambs

Dedicated and consecrated to GodDedicated and consecrated to God

“And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.” Number 7:10

Number 7:88 = 24 bullocks, 60 rams, 60 goats, 60 lambs

Offerings cost the peopleOfferings cost the people

Best they had

Not left-overs

“... neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing...” 2 Sam. 24:24

Offerings teach something aboutDedication

It was wholly consumed

Signifies self-surrender on the part of the offerer

Bullock, Ram, LambBullock, Ram, LambBurnt

Christ completely surrendered HimselfChrist completely surrendered Himself

Jn. 4:34Jn. 4:34 – to do the will of him... – to do the will of him...

Jn. 10:18Jn. 10:18 and and Jn. 17:4Jn. 17:4

Christians must surrender wholly to the LordChristians must surrender wholly to the Lord

Matt. 22:37Matt. 22:37

Matt. 6:24Matt. 6:24

Matt. 12:30Matt. 12:30

O.T. dedicating of Temple when it was completed.

1 Kings1 KingsTook 7 years to build

1 Kings 6:37,38

“Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.” 2 Chronicles 5:1

“And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.” 1 Kings 8:63

20,000 Oxen20,000 Oxen120,000 Sheep120,000 Sheep

19.What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Cor. 6:19-20

We are to be dedicated toHis Service

16 ¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Cor. 3:16-17

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31

As the Temple was dedicatedTo God,

So should our body be dedicated.

II. Study of 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.”

“I” = Paul had prayed for them

“Beseech” = beg, entreat, implore

“You” & “brethren” = members

“Therefore” = connecting link

Chapters 1-11 – doctrinal

Chapter 12 - application in life

“Mercies of God”

Grounds for the beseeching

God’s love in providing for man’s deliverance

“To present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God”

Present = to offer, give, dedicate

Each person is to present

Body – what is to be presented

1 Cor. 6:19-20

“To present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God”

Living sacrifice

Rom. 6:11 – “alive unto God”

Unto God

“Holy”

saint

Called Out

“Acceptable unto God”

Well pleasing

In work and worship

“Reasonable Service”

Involves the mind

Genuine, sincere

Obligations grow out of blessings

It is reasonable to give ourselves entirely to God

Goal or way of lifeGoal or way of life

Attendance

Living

Working

“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.” Rom. 12:1

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

evanscoc@bellsouth.netevanscoc@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Evening Jan. 20, 2008