福音是罗马书的主题，保罗在1到4章谈到人得以因着信与上帝恢复和好关系的福音，5到8章谈到信徒因着与主同死、同埋葬、同复活而得到救赎的福音，9-11章谈到外邦人与以色列人都要蒙上帝怜悯的福音，12-16章谈到活出新生命的福音。

信徒在世上活出新的生命，不是福音所带来的后果，而是福音的其中一部份。如果福音只包括因信称义、身体得赎，这样的福音不够全面。全面性的福音还必需包括成为「活祭」，因为上帝要的不只是礼拜天在礼拜堂里面的敬拜，更是周间信徒在上帝与世人面前的每时每刻，都过着圣洁的生活 。

原因很简单，上帝不要我们成为「死祭」！死的祭物只有在某个时刻有用，烧毁之后就归于无有；但活祭却是用上帝所赐的新生命，在每一天活出属天的生活原则。死的祭物只有在献祭的时候蒙神悦纳，活祭却是在活着的每时每刻讨神喜悦。

很多人只希望得救，却不要成为活祭；只要礼拜天敬拜上帝，却不要在每一天活出圣洁的生命。但愿我们对上帝的爱慕不止是一时片刻，而是时时刻刻，无论在何处都能成为圣洁的活祭。

简体圣经 | https://www.bible.com/bible/140/ROM.12.RCUVSS

繁体圣经 | https://www.bible.com/bible/139/ROM.12.RCUV

The Gospel is the theme of the Book of Romans. In chapters 1 to 4, Paul talks about the Gospel of how people can be reconciled with God through faith. In chapters 5 to 8, he talks about the Gospel of how believers are redeemed by being united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. In chapters 9 to 11, he talks about the Gospel of how both Gentiles and Jews can receive God's mercy. And in chapters 12 to 16, he talks about the Gospel of how to live out the new life.

Living out the new life as believers is not just a consequence of the Gospel, but an integral part of it. If the Gospel only includes justification by faith and the redemption of the body, it is not comprehensive enough. The comprehensive Gospel must also include becoming a "living sacrifice," because what God wants is not just worship in the church on Sundays, but a holy life before God and people throughout the week.

The reason is simple: God does not want us to be a "dead sacrifice"! The dead sacrifice is only useful at a certain moment, and after it is burned, it ceases to exist. But the living sacrifice is to live out the principles of a heavenly life every day, by the new life that God has given us. The dead sacrifice only pleases God when it is offered, but the living sacrifice pleases God every moment of our lives.

Many people only want to be saved but do not want to be a living sacrifice, only worship God on Sundays but do not live a holy life every day. May our love for God not be just a momentary emotion, but a continuous commitment to become a holy living sacrifice wherever we are.

Reading the Bible | https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.12.ESV