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

It says that your “reasonable service” is to present your body as a living sacrifice.

And it also says if you are transformed by the renewal of your mind, you will then be able to prove what is the will of God.  We “prove” it by doing it. And what is the will of God that we prove once our mind is renewed? 1Thess 5:16-18 tells us the definition of the will of God [in Christ].

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV - Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

It says the will of God in Christ concerning you is to give thanks in everything; not just for some things, but for all things.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 KJV - Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Ephesians 3:20 KJV - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Our spirit is God’s and so is our body, where God is the “power that worketh in us”.  And this does not say that we have a choice in the matter. So this power works in each of us. (Isaiah 41:23)

And you see, it also says in 1 Cor 6:18 above that “sin” is not something we do with our body, because it explicitly says that “every sin” is done without the body.  The definitions of “sin” is to miss the mark of the “high” calling of the LORD God; where God is a power within us and the LORD God is the “highest” God (see Luke 1:35 and 6:36).

2 Corinthians 10:5-6 KJV - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

“Every” sin is in the consciousness of the spirit and not done with the body.  So all sin stems from our consciousness, our thoughts, or our spirit.  Our mind wanders from the spiritual Laws of God. See previous posts about the spiritual law.  The “sin” of “fornication” is no different. So this means that the “fornication” spoken of in the Bible is not talking about something done physically as many people initially assume. Rather true sin is in the mind, and it is simply using our God given power within to our hurt rather than to our good. And fornication [in the mind] is a sin that hurts the body. But what is the meaning of fornication if it has nothing to do with things done with the body in the flesh [as the carnal mind typically thinks]? Remember from the previous posts, Christ is our true “husband”, and anything that is not Christ consciousness (done via our internal true husband) is “fornication”.  The sin of “fornication” is when we allow our consciousness to be adulterated with wrong thinking (the spirit of error -  1 John 4:4-6). Fornication is being unfaithful to Christ our true husband from the LORD, spiritually speaking.  Fornication hurts the body in the end because wrong thinking does not ultimately manifest what we truly need for our physical body. So what kind of thoughts are “fornication” against Christ (i.e. wrong thinking)?

Philippians 4:8 KJV - ….whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Christ is our husband who we are supposed to be obedient to with our thoughts which means we carefully watch what we think in order to follow “him” [his way rather than our own way]. For every thought that is not in obedience to Christ is “fornication” against Christ. And if we watch what we think our heart and emotions will also follow. Thoughts that are obedient to Christ are listed in Phillipians 4:8 above.

Romans 8:10 KJV - And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.

Philippians 1:19 KJV - For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,…

The spirit of Christ is the spirit of truth in you. However, the body is then dead, a living sacrifice as you might call it. But again what does this truly mean, and what is a “dead” body that is yet alive?

1 John 4:6 KJV - We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Remember, the spirit of Christ is the spirit of truth. Whereas “fornication” is when our mind is “adulterated” by a spirit of error, spiritually speaking of course because remember.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 KJV - And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Hebrews 5:13-14 KJV - For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The scriptures and the world for that matter can be seen as milk or meat.  Milk is used by the carnal mind (i.e. unskilled babe).  Understanding doctrines spiritually, or by using “meat”, helps us move on from the carnal mind and the carnal understanding. And these words about fornication are no different and should be rightfully understood spiritually (i.e. the meat of the matter).

Isaiah 28:9 KJV - Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts.

Hebrews 5:13 KJV - For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

We have to be weaned from the “milk” to be of a new mind and to truly understand this doctrine and the spirit of truth.

John 6:63 KJV - It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.

The flesh (physical) profits nothing. The carnal interpretation profits nothing.

Romans 8:5-6, 8-10, 12-13 KJV - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. ... So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. ... Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live..

Luke 12:29, 31 KJV - And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. ... But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

When you present your body as a living sacrifice, you mortify the deeds of the body which are the direct things we think and do to seek to fulfill the needs and wants of the body by “being in the flesh”. It says we are to seek the kingdom of God rather than seek our own needs.  But what does this really means?  An anxious mind is a “doubtful mind” obsessed with gaining what one thinks it needs.  It is a frame of mind and a manner of thinking about what we need and want.  The kingdom of God is a place where we surrender to the powers of God rather than fight against it or try to manipulate it. The kingdom of God is a place where our body is a living sacrifice to the power of God within that we know supplies our every need either way we go about it.  And it is not that we should not have the things our body needs and wants. It is just that the power of God will work it out to our “good” if we allow it to by a certain way; the way of the highest God. Either way, this power is working (Isaiah 41:23) to manifest our reality.

Romans 8:28 KJV - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Hebrews 11:3 KJV - Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

With Christ consciousness, we understand that the physical world is merely a manifestation of the things that are not seen via the “word of God”. When it says that the “body [is] dead” is means that the initial mode of thinking and acting (deeds) of the body are “put to death” (mortify).  This means that when Christ is in you, your initial mode of responding to and controlling the world changes and you are rather thankful and content in the now and surrender to God to give you what you need in time via the unseen consciousness. We become content and at peace because we come to understand how the things in front of us are created in the first place. It has always worked this way, it is just when you become aware of it, you see how the power of God works to your good.  You sacrifice your immediate physical needs and wants of the ego mind and allow God to give you the prize in time. You sacrifice your ego needs, wants, and doubt for godly contentment and thankfulness in all things because;

Titus 1:15 KJV - Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Galatians 5:24 KJV - And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

It also says you are “bought with a price”, and if you are Christ’s, well, when your flesh is sacrificed and your body is presented as a living sacrifice, where you seek what is the highest God’s (LORD)  and not your own where “our own” is our ego minds idea of what we want or need (being our own “god” (Isaiah 41:23)) in the flesh. And where the highest God (LORD) is the unknowable power that somehow knows and works out what is best for us. And we must trust this.  So our affections (passionate sufferings for things longed for) and lusts (strong desires of need) are given over to the LORD - our power that manifests everything through our consciousness and our connection to it via Christ our God within.

Luke 12:29 KJV - And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

Philippians 4:6 KJV - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Ephesians 3:20 KJV - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,..

Romans 8:24-26 KJV - For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it].  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

When you present your body a living sacrifice; you seek not the things “you” think you need for your body, for your flesh, or for your carnal mind which is the meaning of the sin of fornication and/or “being in the flesh”. But you are rather thankful in the now, content in what is given, and joyous in this unspeakable gift of understanding. God is this power within you. We let go and let God.  A sacrifice of letting go of what we think we need right now knowing full well that God will give us and has already given us all we need every day, every minute, every second, in time. And it is more than what we could even know to ask for, so we allow it rather than demand it. And you then have not a care in the world because you are free, free being a servant to the unspeakable powers of God within that provide more than we even know. And these powers work to our good when we “flee fornication” which means to bring your thoughts to “good report” and give up seeking our own supposed needs and rather seek the kingdom of God which is contentment with peace and joy in the here and now (Rom 14:17), which in turn will give us “good” things in return in time.

1 Corinthians 7:22-24 KJV - For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

“…be not ye the servants of men…” Which means to serve not yourself (ego man) but serve God and be truly free. And you serve God by giving up your anxious doubtful mind and rather be in peace.  And when you do this, the powers of God are released to do amazingly good things.

Psalm 37:4-8 KJV - Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Fret not, worry not.  Don’t worry about anything. You may think that presenting your life to God means you have to give up something you have gained by working hard and doing it your way. Or you thing that if you don’t worry about it, you lose all control of the outcome.  But it says here not to worry and fret about that because the worry in itself is the evil itself.  Worry and doubt is the “sin” of “fornication” against Christ our husband who has promised us everything if we simply “abide with him”.  So when we worry we show our doubt in what is promised and are then “fretting” about him who prospers in his own immediate way; which is really you who prospers in his own way. In other words it says to stop fretting so much about the physical world and live in the spirit (consciousness) and the spirit will fix the physical. And when you understand the spirit you see how it is all working out (i.e. judgment as noon day...).

So rather patiently delight in the “way of God” that works good in us through thankfulness, peace, and happiness; and stop fretting and worry about how you are going to do it and prosper in your own way which is also typically rushed to be obtained immediately.

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Our reasonable service is simply to be careful for nothing (i.e. stop worrying and fretting). This is our living sacrifice. We sacrifice our worries, our cares, our pain, our frustrations, our needs, our wants, our longing desires, and cast them on him to take care of. We let go of our doubtful selves knowing full well that he has all your troubles taken care of in his way and in his time if we do this small part.  Because even our troubles work to our good when we are called this way and heed this advice. So we let go of ourselves… Now this is not to say we don’t have to physically do anything in this world or that we are no longer physical creatures. But this is speaking about our state of mind while we live in the physical world (Prov 6).  Live in the spirit and you will not worry about the flesh; which is to say recognize the power of your consciousness (i.e. spirit) because this physical world is simply a side effect.

Hebrews 10:36 KJV - For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

To do the will of God is to be thankful now, always, in all things.  It is a paradigm shift, a renewal of the mind.