The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 386

, el'I.'. 1--3.-Indit,idual~ After the lengthened exposition of the Divine" mercies" given in the preceding eleven chapters, the apostle feels himself in a position to apply the truth and enforce Ohristian morals. He acoordingly proceeds to base his exhorta- tion upon the "mercies of God," and the first matter he urges is becoming individuality, These brethren at Rome ought, t-0 dedicate themselves as living sacrifices unto God, realizing how reasonable such a service is, and exhibiting due unworldliness of character in all things. Let us, then, with Paul as guide, consider the elements of Christian individualism as here set before us. L OUR BODIES A.BX TO BE LAID AS LIVING SACRIFICES ON GoD'S ALTAR. (Ver. 1.) If we ha,e been called with a holy calling, if the risen Saviour has given us the needed helping hand. then we are bound oo realize our obligation to him in dedicating our bodies as" linng sacrifices" unto him. The reason why we can dedicate them as litling sacrifices u: that he has offered the atoning sacrifice our pardon and acceptance require, and we can consequently dedicate ourselves living to his glory. Now, when we look ic.to the order of the Jewish sacrifices, we find that the sin offering ea.me first, then the burnt offering, and then the pea.co offering. The leading idea. in each was at-0nement, consecration, and fellowship. The sin offering emphasized atonement, the burnt offering or holocaust emphasized consecration, and the peace offering emphasized fellowship. Now, the self-dedication to which the apostle here calls us corresponds in the ritual to the burnt offering; and just as in this particular sacrifice the entire ca:::case was consumed in the sacred :fire, so the idea is that our whole personality, body, soul, and spirit, is to be consecrated by the fire of the Holy Spirit to the service of our Lord and Master. The idea, in short, is that our bodies should be organs of the Holy Ghost.. What a holy and blessed thought is thus associated with the body of the believer I It dare not be dedicated to any profane use. It is a holy thing, and is to be I.aid on God's altar and thus dedicated in its entirety to him. Miss Havergal's "Hymn of Consecration" will occur to every one, with the dedication of" hands," and "feet," and "voice," and O lips," and, in a word," all" we a.re, to the glory of our Lord. Dean Goulbnrn, in his suggestive work on the 'Study of the Holy Scriptures,' gives a sk:et.ch upon this passage, from which the following will be found useful : " Consider the members of the body which must thus be yielded: (1) The eyes. The lust of the eye must be monified, and the eye employed in reading God's Word, or surveying his works. (2) '.1.'he ears. We must be' swift to hear' the voice of instruction, and must tnrn away the ear from temptation and from flattery (see Acts :xii 22, 23). (3) The hands. • Let him that i;tol.e steal no more ; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth ' (Eph. iv. 28). (4) The feet. 'I wu sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me' (Matt. :nv. 36). (5) The mouth. 'Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers' (Eph. iv. 29). 'Let your speech be al way with grace, seasoned with salt' (Col iv. 6)." 1 IL WE A.RE TO REALIZE THAT TBIS EJITUIE DEDICATION IS ONLY 0UB REASONABLE SERVICE. (Ver. 1.) It seems at first a large demand. But it becomes reasonable the moment we consider our obligation. If Jesus has dedicated his body in life and in death to our interests and salvation, the dedication of our living bodies in return to him is 6lll'ely a reasonable service. M. de Rougemont has brought out the reasonable character of this self-dedication in his own pointed fashion. Writing in hie • La Vie Huma.ine avec et sans I.a Foi' upon this passage, he says, "'l'he word boay signifies here the complete man; the vktim, it is ourselves, and the sacrifice, to which St. Paul exhorts W!, is that of our soul, of our will, of our thought, of our heart, without which that of our fletih would be impossible. But on hearing this term 'sacrifice,' the vicioue 1 See al.so e. tint aermon on " Self-Dedication," by John Howe, Dohn's edition in one v,,J=, p. +12, etc.; e.nd a B11ggestive 6Cl'mon on'' '£he Belf-Sp.crifice," in D~ldwiu Drowu'11 'l.li1'ihe Life iD lle.D,' 21 ad edit., P· 189. os, xn.1-21.J THE EPISTLE OF PA.UL TO THE ROMANS. 385