使徒的恳求
罗马十二章一节，保罗在此以恳求的方式说话，启示出他所要嘱咐我们之事的重要。这揭示神的愿望和目的。历世历代以来，神有特别的愿望－为基督得着身体。因此，使徒说，“所以弟兄们，我藉着神的怜恤劝你们。”请注意，这里的怜恤原文不是单数，乃是复数。在九章十五节我们看过，怜恤比怜悯更丰富、更深。神对我们不只有一种怜恤，乃有多种怜恤。祂在拣选我们的事上怜恤了我们；祂在呼召我们、拯救我们、并将我们带到祂生命里的事上怜恤了我们。如前几章所显示的，祂已往对我们曾有许多的怜恤。使徒保罗藉着神的这些怜恤劝我们，将身体献给神。我们若领悟神的怜恤，并受感动，就会作使徒劝我们作的。
将身体献上当作祭
保罗也劝我们将身体献上，当作“活祭”。在六章十三、十九节，他鼓励我们献上身体的肢体作兵器以争战，并作奴仆以事奉，因为六章是争战和事奉的事。然而，在教会生活里是祭的问题，是将我们自己献给神作祂满足的问题。教会生活整体说来乃是一个祭，作神的满足。虽然有许多身体献上，却是一个祭。为甚么有许多身体，却只有一个祭？因为许多肢体是一个身体，许多信徒是一个教会。
保罗为甚么用“活”字？因为他将这祭与旧约的祭比较。旧约时代所献的祭都是杀死的，但教会不是杀死的祭，乃是满了基督作生命的活祭。在八章我们看见信徒被基督这赐生命的灵充满。他们来到十二章将自己当作祭献给神时，乃是被生命之灵充满的活祭。
不但如此，祭是圣别的，意思是与凡俗的事物分开，并且有神的性情。我们的神是圣别的；祂与所有其他事物完全不同，并且分别出来。祂这圣别的性情已作到基督身体的肢体里。所以基督的身体是圣别、独一的，与俱乐部、基督教青年会、和各种社团组织都不同。基督的身体是圣别的，没有甚么凡俗的事物能被带进其中。因此，这奉献是惟一讨神喜悦并为着基督身体的。为着身体生活的实行，这奉献是需要的。我们需要为着基督的身体献上我们的身体。
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Pleasing God – By Presenting Our Bodies (1) — Rom. 12:1
The Apostle’s Exhortation
In Romans 12:1, Paul speaks in an appealing manner, revealing the significance of what he is exhorting us to do. This unveils God’s desire and purpose. Throughout the ages, God has had a special desire – to gain a Body for Christ. Therefore, the apostle says, “I beseech you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God.” Please note that the original word for “compassions” here is plural. In Romans 9:15, we saw that compassions are richer and deeper than mercy. God has not just one kind of compassion for us but multiple compassions. He has compassion on us in choosing us, calling us, saving us and bringing us into His life. As shown in the preceding chapters of Romans, He has shown us many compassions in the past. The Apostle Paul, through these compassions of God, exhorts us to present our bodies to God. If we understand and are moved by God’s compassions, we will do what the apostle exhorts us to do.
Presenting Our Bodies as a Sacrifice
Paul also exhorts us to present our bodies as a “living sacrifice.” In Romans 6:13 and 6:19, he encourages us to present the members of our bodies as weapons for fighting and as servants for serving, because Romans 6 is about warfare and service. However, in the church life, the matter is one of sacrifice – a matter of presenting ourselves to God for His satisfaction. The church life as a whole is a sacrifice for God’s satisfaction. Although many bodies are offered, it is one sacrifice. Why are there many bodies but only one sacrifice? Because many members constitute one Body, and many believers are one church.
Why did Paul use the word “living”? Because he compares this sacrifice with those of the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, the sacrifices offered were slain, but the church is not a dead sacrifice – it is a living sacrifice, full of Christ as life. In Romans 8, we see that the believers are filled with Christ as the life-giving Spirit. When they come to Romans 12 to present themselves as a sacrifice to God, they are a living sacrifice, filled with the Spirit of life.
Furthermore, the sacrifice is holy, meaning that it is separate from common things and that it possesses God’s nature. Our God is holy. He is absolutely different and separate from all other things. This holy nature of His has been wrought into the members of the Body. So the Body is holy and unique. It is different from a club, the YMCA, and every kind of social organization. The Body is holy, and nothing common can be brought into it. Thus, this offering is the only thing that is well-pleasing to God and is for the Body of Christ. For the practice of the Body life this offering is needed. We need to offer our bodies for the Body of Christ.