II Corinthians 5:14, 15: "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

Often times there is a misconception of consecration. This misconception is caused by a wrong view of salvation. Such as some one who considers his salvation as doing God a great favor. Under such an illusion, how could anyone speak to Him about consecration? Perhaps he should reread Paul’s Epistle to the church at Ephesus. "For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man boast." Ephesians 2:8, 9

When we think of consecration we must realize that even a king has to be brought to the place where he gladly lays his crown at the Lord’s feet. We need to all understand that it is we who are favored by the Lord in being loved and saved. Only then can we willingly law down everything!

Consecration in the New Testament refers to presenting our bodies and the members of our bodies to God. Romans 6:13 says, "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."

While the Old Testament deals with the setting apart for holy service of Aaron and his family, in the New Testament the basis for consecration is II Corinthians 5:14, which says "The children of God are constrained by love to live unto the Lord who died and arose again for them." The word constrained means to be surrounded so that one cannot escape. When a person is moved by love, he will experience such a sensation, love will bind him and thus he is helpless. Love is therefore the basis of consecration. No one can consecrate themselves without experiencing the love of the Lord. He has to see the Lord’s love before he can consecrate his life.

PHASE II

Consecration is also based on right or what I call divine prerogative. I Corinthians 6:19, 20 says, "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." Today among Christians this matter of being bought with a price may not be clearly understood. But to the Corinthians at the time of the Roman Empire, it was very clear. At that time they had human slave markets. In this human market the price of each soul was established by bidding at auction! They went to the highest bidder and whoever owned the slave had absolute power over him.

Let us understand Christ has given His life as the ransom price to purchase us back to God. The Lord paid a great price, even His own life. Today because of this work of redemption we give up our rights and forfeit our own sovereignty! We are not longer our own, for we belong to the Lord. Therefore we must glorify God in our bodies. We are bought with a price, even the blood of the cross. We are His by right, and by divine prerogative.

So on one hand, for the sake of love we choose to serve Him. And on the other hand by right we are not our own. We must follow Him. We should not do otherwise according to redemption. We are His and according to the love which redemption generates in us. We must live for Him. One basis for consecration is legal right and the other basis is responsive love. And for these two reasons we cannot but belong to the Lord. What should this mean to us? Suppose you have bought you a slave. At the door of your house he kneels saying, "Master, you have bought me and I gladly hearken to your words." For you to have purchased him is one thing, but his desire to serve you is something else.

Consecration is more than love, more than purchasing; it is the action which follows love and purchasing.

Moore is pastor of Pembroke Christian Church