“I beseech you therefore, Brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

² And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

A living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, is not birthed by education through faith; neither is a living sacrifice birthed by talent, abilities or man made methods through faith.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

A living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which proves God’s perfect Will, is birthed of the Spirit of God by the redeeming work of Christ Jesus on Calvary’s through faith.  It is the Holy Spirit Who superintends the work of God in our hearts and produces fruit unto God as the Believer exhibits faith in the Cross of Christ.  Such fruit is not obtained by abstinence but is placed in our heart through a circumcision without hands which supernaturally takes place in the Believer’s heart. 

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

As the Word of God is proclaimed from the pulpit it is a two edged sword.  With one edge it cuts away the dead parts; while the other edge quickly sears the wound with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance…against such there are no laws when the dead parts are removed.  The Believer’s heart who chooses to reject the Word of God and It’s intended purpose of piercing the heart for the removal of that which is not holy and acceptable unto God; their heart is hardened.  The same sun which melts wax, hardens clay.  We must all take heed of how the Word of God affects our heart when preached in context.

^“For by Grace are you Saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Whatever the Believer replaces the Cross of Christ with as the object of their faith defiles the Holiness imputed unto them and makes the Cross of Christ of no effect. Evil defiles holiness when evil is accepted but holiness expels evil when holiness is chosen.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of God’s Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4

The Cross of Christ has afforded the Believer the ability to be partaker’s of God’s Divine Nature.  The Holy Spirit will bring us to a point of decision and the Word of God will show us the path…the narrow path; that which is holy and acceptable unto God.  Submitted unto Him by the redeeming work of Christ Jesus; always giving heed lest we be tempted beyond our ability to bear, we resist the devil and he flees.  God is faithful to provide the way of escape and it will always be the narrow path…that which seems impossible to the natural eye but authors our faith when the decision is made to follow Holiness…Jesus Christ; be determined to know nothing else among you.

-Donna Clark Warren