Romans 12:1 - offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God ...

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.

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.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Romans 12:1

Commentary

Based on God's mercy (9:11, 15, 16, 18, 23; 11:30-32), Paul entreats believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, meaning they should use their bodies to serve and obey God (6:13).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Ro 12:1). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

present your bodies a living sacrifice: Under the Old Covenant, God accepted the sacrifices of dead animals. But because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice, the OT sacrifices are no longer of any effect (Heb. 9:11, 12). For those in Christ, the only acceptable worship is to offer themselves completely to the Lord.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ro 12:1). Nashville: Word Pub.

^Isaac Watts' great hymn says:

"Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all."

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 - each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable ...

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

Commentary

Sexual immorality or "fornication" (Greek: porneia) refers to all sexual indulgence outside marriage.

Did you know?

Pagan religions often condoned sexual immorality as part of their rites, and ancient Roman culture had few sexual boundaries. In contrast, Paul strongly urged the Thessalonians not to participate in any sexual activity outside of marriage. He reminded them that the human body is God's temple and should be kept holy (1 Cor. 6:18-20). The body should be honored as created by God and should be sanctified in keeping with its holy purpose.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (1 Th 4:3-8). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.