excerpts from John Stott's commentary on the book of Romans
Excerpts from John Stott's commentary on the book Romans:
It was well said by Thomas Erskine of Linlathen that "in the New Testament religion is grace, and ethics is gratitude". It is not by accident that in Greek one and the same noun (*charis*) does duty for both "grace" and "gratitude".' God's grace far from encouraging and condoning sin, is the spring and foundation of righteous conduct.
The traditional evangelical invitation is that we give our 'hearts' to God, not our 'bodies'... But Paul is clear that the presentation of our *bodies* is our spiritual* act of worship....He represents us as a priestly people, who, in responsive gratitude for God's mercy, *offer* or present our bodies as living sacrifices.
It was well said by Thomas Erskine of Linlathen that "in the New Testament religion is grace, and ethics is gratitude". It is not by accident that in Greek one and the same noun (*charis*) does duty for both "grace" and "gratitude".' God's grace far from encouraging and condoning sin, is the spring and foundation of righteous conduct.
The traditional evangelical invitation is that we give our 'hearts' to God, not our 'bodies'... But Paul is clear that the presentation of our *bodies* is our spiritual* act of worship....He represents us as a priestly people, who, in responsive gratitude for God's mercy, *offer* or present our bodies as living sacrifices.
posted by Xana Ender @ 2:38 PM
1 Comments:
At 3:11 PM,
Jeanine said…
It makes one think of the old idea of white and red martyrdom. Red martyrdom, as I understand it, was the actual shedding of one's blood for the cause of Christ. A violent death in the line of duty, as it were. White martyrdom was used to describe a pilgrimage or hermit-hood, a chosen lifestyle of sacrifice. When I think of "presenting one's body a living sacrifice," I think of that "white" martyrdom. Whether it be a pilgrimage, a cloister, or a daily choice of Christ-devoted lifestyle in a less dramatic way, this type of "living death" is the sort of martyrdom I think Paul is describing.
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