Throughout the Bible, there are several common themes. You will see these over and over again as you read and study The Word. One of those themes is “sacrifice”.
Before we jump into The Word, let’s take a moment and look at what “sacrifice” means.
So as we can see, sacrifice and God go hand in hand. I know that surrendering something doesn’t sound fun. I mean, I know that I don’t like to give up something that I see as mine. As Christians though, we understand that everything we have is given to us by God. Without Him, we have nothing and are nothing. Now that does not mean that it makes it any easier on us. But it does help us understand it a little better.
There are a few types of sacrifices mentioned in the Bible. With those types of sacrifices comes some specific instructions on how to offer them to God. Each type of offering is extremely specific. Which shows just how important they were. They were not something to be taken lightly.
Types of Offerings in The Old Testament:
Voluntary
- Burnt Offering: an act of worship to express devotion or commitment to God.
- Grain Offering: given to express thanksgiving in recognition of God’s provision and unmerited goodwill towards the person making the sacrifice.
- Peace Offering: a sacrifice of thanksgiving and fellowship followed by a shared meal.
Required
- Sin Offering: given to atone for sin and cleanse from defilement.
- Trespass Offering: given as atonement for unintentional sins that required reimbursement to an offended party, and also as a cleansing from defiling sins or physical maladies.
New Testament:
Just like the rest of the Law, sacrifices in the Old Testament are a type and shadow of sacrifices in the New Testament. All of the sacrifices in the Old Testament pointed towards the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His death was the only needed sacrifice for sin. Offered once and for all. No longer are we required to offer burnt, grain, peace, sin, and trespass offerings.
Hebrews 13:15-16 tells us that we are now called to offer a sacrifice of continual praise to God. We are to do good and share with one another. We do this in order to show appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice.
By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Romans 12:1-2 teaches us that instead of offering animals, wine, or grain. We are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. Which is our reasonable service!
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.
Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2: 5 that we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
What all of this tells us is now that Jesus has paid the price for our sins, we are to offer ourselves to God. We should strive to be holy and acceptable in His eyes. Continually offering a sacrifice of praise. If you have been serving God for any amount of time, you know there are times when praise is truly a sacrifice. It is not something that will always be easy. We are also called to share God with one another. Again, this is not something that always comes easy.
Jesus paid the price for our sins but it is our job as Christians to offer ourselves to His service. Nothing comes free. There will be times in our walk that will require a great sacrifice to our flesh. Our flesh is sinful in its nature. To serve God is a sacrifice our flesh’s wants and needs for that of God’s.
Thank you for reading!
If you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them. Justin and I are not pastors or Bible scholars. We are just normal Christians trying to do our best to live for God, spread His word, and encourage others.
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