Sacrifices

Sacrifices:

Part I.

The word “sacrifice” means to destroy, surrender, or lose something for the sake of obtaining something else.

A person can sacrifice their health for a little pleasure, their integrity for fame and fortune, a vacation in order to care for someone who’s sick, or a career in order to raise their family.

Part II.

The word sacrifice is used in the Christian community in the following ways:

From Solomon to the year 70 A.D stood a temple in Jerusalem. It was built for the people to worship God, and for the religious leaders to make sacrifices unto God. The Temple in Jerusalem was the hub of the nation!

The sacrifices made by the priests were mostly animal; and for the poor, a lesser offering would be accepted. The sacrificed animal’s blood would be sprinkled on the altar for the atonement of sin, this in order to acknowledgment God’s power and His providence.

Beside the atonement for sin, it was to appease God’s wrath, to draw on His many favors, and to express thankfulness for His benefits. The animals offered were called victims; oblation’s or gifts of other sorts in which no blood was shed, were called un-bloody sacrifices. If an animal sacrifice, the carcass was either partially or fully consumed by fire.

Part III.

A sacrifice differs from an oblation. An oblation is anything offered or presented in worship, or a church service, such as tithes, or other contributions. It could also be the giving of one’s time, in helping the sick, caring for the needy, teaching, etc., but it is not a blood sacrifice.

Part IV.

Sacrifices have been, and are still common to many nations and religions of the world. Sacrifices, both human and animal are offered to a god, or gods of a tribe of people for a particular purpose. Example; Voodoo sacrifices are done mostly with small birds, or animals in order to win favor, or gain power. Suicide bombers; this form of human sacrifices (or suicide) are honored in the Muslim world.

Various other forms of sacrifice are used by witch cults, devil worshippers, etc. Shedding of one’s blood, decapitations, the drinking of human or animal blood, oaths, etc. are all considered a form of sacrifice in the pagan world. These things are an a-front to God, especially the taking of human life, the drinking of blood, and suicide, these are strictly forbidden.

Part V. 

We have heard and read many times concerning the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the shedding of His blood for the atonement of our sins.

From Adam to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to the prophets, and to the Lord Jesus, the concept of sacrifice has been a process of progressive commands by God, those established by Him, in order to guide him. We are required to follow God’s instructions for the atonement of sin. Sacrifices were something new having been instituted by God. Why? Before the law, the Jew’s closed their ears to God’s voice, soon after, they began to harden their hearts. God therefore imposed the sacrificial system.

Psalms 50:14-15, “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy (your) vows (promises) unto the Most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Proverbs 21:3, “To do justice and judgement is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Part VI.

Is it the Lord’s will for Moses and the people to sacrifice burnt offering to Him? The answer is no. It is written in

Jeremiah 7:22-23, “I spake not unto your fathers, (i.e. no instructions were given) nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.”

The idea of moral law was given before the ceremonial institutions (i.e. temple sacrifices.) The Jews who came out of Egypt were made a kingdom of priests to God. The Lord desired not to be worshipped as the pagans worshipped their gods, which was by offering both human and/or animal sacrifices.

But the Jews would not hear God; therefore the ceremonial law came into being. This is called the Levitical law.

At first, God required of the people,

Jeremiah 7:23, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you,” God’s demands were reasonable, for He who made us, should command us.

The Creator giving words to the created; this command is repeated in New Testament times.

Matthew 17:5, when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, on a high mountain, He appeared with both Moses and Elijah. As they spoke with Jesus, a voice came from heaven saying to Peter, James, and John, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Part VII.

Jesus said, Matthew 13:9, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” This is repeated many times in the New Testament. “Hear and understand,” “all men have ears, let him hear.” The parable of the sower, gives us an idea of how people will respond to the gospel.

1. The first group hear and reject the gospel message, without any consideration. “then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts.”

2. The second group receives the word with joy; but these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

3. The third group, “When they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” These are those who never mature.

4. The forth, “are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” These people stay and mature in the gospel, bringing the message to others.

Jeremiah 17:23, God said, “I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”

Section VIII.

In the Hebrew language, when something is commanded and something else is forbidden, that which is commanded is generally preferred to that which is forbidden. “Hear my voice” is preferred over, “thou shalt not.”

So, when the Father commands, “Hear ye Him” (Jesus,) this is for our benefit, and well being, so, if you desire not to hear the Lord, than you are forbidden to break any part of God’s laws. If you do, you have no atoning sacrifice for your sin. If you are not one of Christ’s, you will pay the ultimate price, which is eternity without God, the second death, the lake of fire, this because no man can keep the law.

1. Joel 2:12, “turn ye even to me with all your heart, …and turn unto the Lord your God.”

2. Matthew 6:19-20, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt.

Is the sacrifice of your life, as a Christian pleasing to God? Are you hearing, and reading God’s word? Do you know what is required of a Christian in order to in-joy and share in the inheritance of the Lord.

Phillip Laspino  www.seekfirstwisdom.com