January 26, 2008

• Bible Reading: Things To Look for in a Church–What We Find in Solomon's Temple, #4: Sacrifice

  SACRIFICE

  I have chosen this place as a house of sacrifice.
  II Chronicles 7:12

  Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude (II Chronicles 5:6).
  
  Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house (II Chronicles 7:1).
  

  CHRIST'S SACRIFICE MUST BE CENTRAL

  
  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. God requires a blood sacrifice to atone for our sin. It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul (Lev. 17:11). Without shedding of blood is no remission of sins (Heb. 9:22). In the Old Testament, we read of a relentless series of bloody animal sacrifices rendered by men in an attempt to atone for the sins of men. At the time Israel assembled at the completed temple, we read that the number of animals sacrificed was so great they could not numbered. Year after year, sacrifice after sacrifice had to be made since those none of those sacrifices was not sufficient to take away sin once for all. The Old Testament sacrificial system was but a copy and shadow of the heavenly things (Heb. 8:5, NKJV™).

  Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. (Heb. 9:6-10, NKJV™).

  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Heb. 10:1-4)

  
  

  The Old Testament sacrificial system pointed forward to Christ's superior priesthood and superior all-sufficient sacrifice for us, His body broken for us and His blood shed for the remission of sins. Only Christ's sacrifice could atone for sin once for all. He was the perfect tabernacle, perfect sacrifice, perfect High priest who by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12) and offered one sacrifice for sins for ever.

  For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever (Heb. 9:26-28).
  

  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Heb. 9:24-28).

  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God (Heb. 10:5-12).

  
  God sent His only begotten Son in the flesh to be the all-sufficient atoning sacrifice for sin once for all.

  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26).

  For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:17-19, NKJV™)

  We have been redeemed and brought back to God through the blood of Christ. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God (I Peter 3:18a). But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13, NKJV™).

  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Christ was the perfect sacrifice offered in our place, so that our sin has been fully forgiven, our shame and guilt have been carried away. On the cross, the sinless Lamb of God became a curse for us and bore all the punishment we deserved for our sin. And Christ lived a perfect sinless life, so that Christ's perfect righteousness has been imputed to us by faith.

  We are not only justified, but we are also sanctified as Christ's divine nature is imparted to us. Believers in Jesus Christ have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. All who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ are indwelt and empowered with His Holy Spirit, so we are no longer bound to sin and self, which bore fruit to death. Through Christ, we have been set free to be serve God and live holy lives bearing fruit to God.

  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb. 9:6-14)

  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 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. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:1-14).

  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Romans 7:4-6).

  The Church is entrusted with this good news, this Gospel of Christ, which centers around the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary. Do we make the Gospel the primary thing in our churches? Are we determined to make known Christ and Him crucified and preach no other gospel (see I Cor. 2:1-4; Galatians 1:6-9). Do we lift up the cross of Christ? How much of what the church preaches and teaches today is actually a perverted gospel? "Gospels" of good works. "Gospels" of adherence to particular denominational doctrines (I speak here of doctrines that are not essential to salvation). "Gospels" of legalism. "Gospels" of religious observances. "Gospels" of prosperity. "Gospels" of emotional experiences. What requirements do we add to the gospel of Christ, as if we are adding another yoke of bondage? What do we take away from the gospel of Christ?

  Do we shy away from making the message of the cross central for fear of offending others? Do we focus on teaching about the life of Christ as a fine example of a good man to aspire while neglecting to teach that there is only one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus--and that the only way sinful men can reconciled to God and live a holy lives is through Christ? Is Christ given the preeminent place in our churches which He alone is due?

  God has given His Church the ordinance of the Lord's Supper to help us commemorate and make much of Christ's sacrifice for us. Many of us in the evangelical community have reacted vehemently against the Roman mass and formal liturgy and have shrunk back from celebrating the Lord's Supper.[1] One thing we know about human nature is that we all tend to forget (look through your own life, or look at the history of God's people in the Bible--and see how God tells them to remember, to take heed and not to forget). Participation in the Lord's Supper helps us to remember the great mercies God has shown us in Jesus Christ. As we share in the Lord's Supper, we remember Christ's redemptive work; the bread and wine/juice are a marvelous word-picture of God's saving grace showered on us through faith in Jesus Christ. Just as the LORD'S Passover was instituted prior to God's miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, the Lord's Supper was instituted prior to God's miraculous deliverance of sinful man from the guilt, penalty and power of sin. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S Passover (Exodus 12:26-27). The Lord's Supper provides a wonderful way to celebrate, commemorate, remember, rejoice and exult in Christ's sacrifice and our redemption when we gather together in His Name. Observing the Lord's Supper regularly might help us keep Christ's sacrifice central in our congregations. This do in remembrance of me.

  
  CHRIST'S SACRIFICE CONSTRAINS US AND FREES US TO BE LIVING SACRIFICES TO GOD

  
  

  Being born into sin and dead in our sins, we are unable to make any offering or sacrifice to save ourselves. Christ's sacrifice on our behalf was both necessary and sufficient, so there is no need for us to bring animals (or anything else) as a sacrifice for our sin as Israel did under the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant in Christ's blood, we no longer need to bring a sacrifice to God but each of us is called to be a sacrifice to God, to die to self and offer our all to Him--our heart, our soul and our might.

  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 (Romans 12:1-2).

  We as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:5).

  
  
  In the first eleven chapters of Romans, Paul explains the work of Christ to justify and sanctify us -- how God has redeemed us through Christ, who bore the penalty for our sins, became our righteousness, and then freed us from the power of sin so we might to live lives set apart to Him. Consequently, when we get to Romans 12, it is only natural that Paul calls us to present ourselves as living sacrifices to God in light of the mercies of God shown to us. This is the only "reasonable" response we should have to the work of Christ wrought on our behalf. The call to be living sacrifices is not just to a few but to all who are in Christ. Our leaders are to set the pace for our people, but all are called to sacrifice.[2]
  

  What shall we render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward us? For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again (II Cor. 5:14-15).

  On Psalm 116, Matthew Henry writes:

  He that procured the release of a captive took him for his servant. "Lord, thou hast loosed my bonds; those sorrows of death that compassed me, thou hast discharged me from them, and therefore I am thy servant, and entitled to thy protection as well as obliged to thy work." The very bonds which thou hast loosed shall tie me faster unto thee. Patrick.[3]

  We are no longer our own -- we have been bought with a price, with the precious blood of the Lamb. The Son has set us free indeed, free to live lives wholly given to God and to glorify Him. Do we teach the people in our churches that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship, a relationship that binds us to God so we might be a His royal priesthood set apart to serve Him? Do we teach that Christianity is not a one-time decision but an entrance into a new life, a life no longer ruled by the tyranny of sin and self but a life resting in the yoke of Christ so we might live as a holy nation?

  
  ...if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Cor. 5:17). Jesus Christ has come to set us free from the power of sin so we might be servants to God, servants of righteousness--that we might be dead to sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord...that we should bring forth fruit unto God (see above, and Romans 6:1-7:6). Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness...(I Peter 2:24). The Son has set us free, free to live lives wholly given to God. Through Christ we are given power to live unto righteousness, power to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to Him–to live lives wholly sanctified to Him. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb. 9:14). The very God of peace is working to sanctify us wholly (I Thessalonians 5:23).
  

  The burnt offering was a sacrifice which was fully consumed and burned up. In a similar manner, God calls (and empowers) us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, given wholly to Him to use as He desires, for His good purposes and His good pleasure. Here is how John Wesley expressed the notion of the whole self completely devoted as a sacrifice to God:

  Instantly I resolved to dedicate all my life to God, all my thoughts, and words, and actions, being thoroughly convinced, there was no medium; but that every part of my life (not some only) must either be a sacrifice to God, or myself, that is in effect, to the devil.[4]

  This it is to be a perfect man, to be sanctified throughout, even "to have a heart so all-flaming with the love of God (to use Archbishop Usher's words) as continually to offer up every thought, word, and work as a spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God through Christ." In every thought of our hearts, in every word of our hands, to show forth his praise, who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. O that both we, and all who seek the Lord Jesus in sincerity, may thus be made perfect in one."[5]

  Christ hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. What are we giving to Him?

  Are we allowing God to burn us up and use us however He sees fit? Do we have hearts so all-flaming as to continually offer up every part of us to Him? We have heard that one problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar. Are we content and fully submitted to Him? Do we trust God with our whole lives, that He might bind us with cords to the altar and let Him do what He may with our lives?  Or are we crawling off, turning away sad after hearing Jesus say, "You still lack this one thing..."[6]
  
  Christ's entire life was a perfect burnt offering. He willingly placed Himself at His Father's disposal to do only His Father's will. I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me (John 6:38). Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God (Heb. 10:5-9). The Son of God emptied Himself, made himself nothing, took the form of a servant, to be the spotless Lamb slain for us. He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Him. God calls us to live lives fully devoted to our God as Christ did to His Father. And through the indwelling Spirit we have been given the power to live such lives.

  Like Christ, do we delight to do our Father's will?  Do we see our lives as vessels to do His will?

  Christ poured out his soul to death (Is. 53:12).

  "God makes us broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself."[7]

  Are we willing to be poured out as a drink offering? (II Tim. 4:6, NKJV™)

  "Paul became a sacramental personality, wherever he went, Jesus Christ helped Himself to his life. Many of us are after our own ends, and Jesus Christ cannot help Himself to our lives. If we are abandoned to Jesus, we have no ends of our own to serve."[8]

  Have we become sacramental personalities, like Paul, like the Lord Jesus Himself, so that Jesus Christ can help Himself to our lives?

  
  Alan Redpath writes about how we ought to respond to Christ's sacrifice for us:

  It was by submission to His Father's will that the Lord Jesus won the right for us to step out of slavery into freedom. It cost Him absolute obedience; His total submission from the throne to the cross won us the right to His life, His power, His faith, His purity. Who would ever presume to think that is could be otherwise? Yet there are those who say, 'Believe, decide for Christ, and that is all.' My Bible also uses the words 'submit,' 'yield,' 'surrender.' You cannot go into glory except you are under the sovereignty of the One who has won the right for you to enter. It cost Him absolute submission to win you. Dare you give Him anything less in return?"[9]

  If and when we are not willing to give Him all, we can pray for God to make us willing to delight in and do His will:

  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).

  And remember: God's will for us is sanctification (I Thes. 4:3), God is working to conform us to the image of His Son, Christ Himself has been made for us our sanctification (I Cor. 1:30) and that the things which are impossible with men are possible with God!

  May the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who did not spare His own Son...and will surely freely give us all things, give us the grace to pray like Thomas a Kempis:

  O Lord, thou knowest what is the better way; let this or that be done as thou shalt please. Give what thou wilt, and how much thou wilt, and when thou wilt. Deal with me as thou knowest, and best pleaseth thee, and is most for thy honor. Set me where thou wilt, and deal with me in all things as thou wilt. I am in thy hand; turn me round and turn me back again, even as a wheel. Behold I am thy servant, prepared for all things; for I desire not to live unto myself, but unto thee; and Oh that I could do it worthy and perfectly![10]

  * * *

  
  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:9).
  
  And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:11-14, NKJV™).

  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:16)

  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:18).
  
  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 (Romans 12:1).

  
  
  

  ---

  [1] I had this reaction to the Lord's Supper for many years. I would encourage those in the evangelical stream to consider taking back this ordinance and embrace it as one of God's gifts to His Church to sustain and strengthen her.

  [2] For example, in II Chronicles 7:4, note that the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. The leaders in our churches must set the pace, e.g.-I Cor. 4:16 and 11:1; Phil. 3:17; I Tim. 4:12. Leaders cannot expect the members of the churches to serve sacrificially if the leaders themselves are not doing so. Of course, Christ is our ultimate example of service, e.g.-Phil. 2:5-8; John 13:15; II Cor. 8:9; I Peter 2:21-25.

  [3] Matthew Henry, "Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible," Complete Commentary on Psalm 116. Public Domain.

  [4] John Wesley, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection in "John and Charles Wesley: Selected Writings and Hymns," ed. Frank Whaling (New York: Paulist Press, 1981), 299.

  [5] Wesley, 316.

  [6] Along with Paul, I say, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

  [7] Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.: 1935), February 2nd entry.

  [8] Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.: 1935), February 24th entry.

  [9] Alan Redpath, "The Royal Route to Heaven: Studies in First Corinthians" (Westwood, NJ: Revell: 1960), 207.

  [10] Thomas a Kempis, "Profession of Faith," as quoted by Glenn Clark, "I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes" in "A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants," ed. by Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck (Nashville: The Upper Room: 2003). I also found this prayer at http://www.lagrangeumc.net/vsItemDisplay.dsp&objectID=DF0F718E-59F8-4D9D-A22BDBC789B9B832&method=display

  Scripture quotations unless otherwise indicated are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

  Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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