What do we normally think of when we think of a sacrifice?

Les explains that this throws a curve at us because ordinarily what we think of as a sacrifice is the animals that were killed and gave up their life, and also Christ, the sacrifice that was killed and put to death on the cross. But the believer’s sacrifice is different: it is presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, simply saying, “Lord, here am I, use me,” like Isaiah of old who said, “Send me.” The death we now die is a substitutionary death in the person of Christ. Paul could say he had been crucified, yet he was not dead; he was living and writing Galatians. In the same way, believers have died—put to death in the mind of God on the cross of Calvary, dying when Christ died—yet we are alive. So in light of all God has done on our behalf, while we did nothing, presenting ourselves is our duty, not a command.