In Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul issues a clear call for commitment from believers when he says, “1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer 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)
The word “offer” (“present” in the KJV) is “paristano” in the Koine Greek of the original New Testament. It was the technical term used for “offering a sacrifice”. Under the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, the animal to be sacrificed was committed to the priest, where it was killed, and then it was totally consumed on the altar.
Believers are told that they are to present themselves as “living sacrifices”. Obviously, this implies that there is no such thing as a “partial sacrifice” or a “partial commitment”. In short, it is impossible to be “sort of committed”. You are either committed or you are not committed. It is not possible to be a partial sacrifice to God.
Paul Lee Tan shares the following anecdote. “There is a story told about a pig and a chicken walking down the road together. As they walked along, they read a sign advertising a breakfast to benefit the poor. The chicken said to the pig, “You and I should donate a ham and egg breakfast.” The pig replied, “Not so fast, for you it would just be a contribution, but for me it would be a total commitment.” [Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations. (Rockville, Maryland: Assurance Pub., 1984) # 5211].
The pig clearly understood that it is not possible to offer oneself as a partial sacrifice, neither is it possible to make a partial commitment of oneself to God. To commit ourselves to God means that we are to yield ourselves to Him, surrender to Him, abandon ourselves to Him, entrust ourselves to Him, and place ourselves at His disposal. True commitment is costly. It is total. It is final.
2 Do not conform any longer 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)
The word “offer” (“present” in the KJV) is “paristano” in the Koine Greek of the original New Testament. It was the technical term used for “offering a sacrifice”. Under the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, the animal to be sacrificed was committed to the priest, where it was killed, and then it was totally consumed on the altar.
Believers are told that they are to present themselves as “living sacrifices”. Obviously, this implies that there is no such thing as a “partial sacrifice” or a “partial commitment”. In short, it is impossible to be “sort of committed”. You are either committed or you are not committed. It is not possible to be a partial sacrifice to God.
Paul Lee Tan shares the following anecdote. “There is a story told about a pig and a chicken walking down the road together. As they walked along, they read a sign advertising a breakfast to benefit the poor. The chicken said to the pig, “You and I should donate a ham and egg breakfast.” The pig replied, “Not so fast, for you it would just be a contribution, but for me it would be a total commitment.” [Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations. (Rockville, Maryland: Assurance Pub., 1984) # 5211].
The pig clearly understood that it is not possible to offer oneself as a partial sacrifice, neither is it possible to make a partial commitment of oneself to God. To commit ourselves to God means that we are to yield ourselves to Him, surrender to Him, abandon ourselves to Him, entrust ourselves to Him, and place ourselves at His disposal. True commitment is costly. It is total. It is final.