Spiritual Sacrifices

The Bible talks a lot about sacrifices. As Christians, we are instructed to offer spiritual sacrifices to God (1 Pet. 2:5). What are these spiritual sacrifices?

In the Old Testament, the people of God offered many sacrifices. When Solomon dedicated the temple in Jerusalem, he killed 22,000 sheep and 120,000 cows. This was a lot of killing and blood. All of these sacrifices were done in order to sanctify the temple and prepare it to be the dwelling place of God.

Many different sacrifices were offered in the Old Testament – sin offerings, trespass offerings, burnt offerings, peace offerings, grain offerings, and others. Some of these sacrifices atoned for sins. Others supported the temple and the priests. Other sacrifices helped the Israelites relate to God or have fellowship with each other.

Sacrifices cost something. In the Old Testament all firstborn animals had to be sacrificed to God. This delayed the growth of the flock, but it yielded God’s blessing on the flock.

The best animals had to be sacrificed. Sometimes it cost 3 or 4 average animals in order to get a good animal that was suitable for sacrifice. Sacrifices are expensive.

When Abraham defeated armies and got a lot of spoil, he gave a tithe of 10% of everything to God. This shows that he credited God with the victory, not himself.

Whenever Israel had a harvest, the firstfruits of that harvest had to be sacrificed to God. The first wheat from a field or the first fruits from a tree couldn’t be eaten, but they had to be sacrificed. This sacrifice of the firstfruits may have seemed like a temporary loss, but it ensured God’s blessing on the rest of the harvest.

Sacrifices honor God. They show that he is number one. When we give sacrifices of the first things and the best things to God, we show that we trust God more than we trust ourselves or our own planning. We believe that God is the true source of our increase and blessing. The supernatural increase of Israel was due to the power of God operating among them, not to their own planning. Israel surpassed the strength and wealth of other nations because they sacrificed to God.

In the New Testament, we need to offer spiritual sacrifices to God so that we can be spiritually blessed.

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

This verse shows us some important truths about spiritual sacrifices.

1. The spiritual sacrifices we offer must be acceptable to God. Cain and Abel both sacrificed to God. Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable, but Cain’s was unacceptable. Cain’s sacrifice was unacceptable because he did not sacrifice according to the word of God. He sacrificed according to his own mind. Whenever we sacrifice something to God, it must be according to God’s word.

2. Our sacrifices to God must be through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was offered on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Through faith in Christ, our sins are gone. We don’t offer sacrifices today to cleanse ourselves from sin, but to obey God, serve God, and please God. All New Testament sacrifices must be offered to God through Jesus Christ. Any sacrifice apart from Jesus is pointless.

3. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered at the temple in Jerusalem (Deut. 12:5-7). For us, the temple is the church (Eph. 2:20-22). The church is the place where our sacrifices to God should be offered. This means that sacrifices are something that we do with other believers. In order to know where the true temple of God is, we must measure things by the word of God. The word of God defines the church. We will discern what is the true church as we understand the definition of church according to the Bible.

4. In the Old Testament priests offered sacrifices on behalf of the people. In the New Testament, every true Christian is a priest. This means we all have a responsibility to offer sacrifices to God.

5. In the Old Testament, all sacrifices were offered at the altar. In the New Testament “we have an altar” (Heb. 13:10). This is not a physical altar. It is a spiritual altar. It is invisible. This altar is a place where we eat. We eat of Christ at this altar. Jesus said, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood you have no life in you.” (John 6:53). This refers to the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a symbol of partaking of Christ. When we come together in church (temple), we partake of the Lord’s Supper (eat at the altar). We partake of Christ in heaven, and we also have fellowship with each other as we come together as a church. The Lord’s Supper is also called the “table of the Lord” (1 Cor. 10:21). This table is revealed during the church meeting as we have fellowship together in the Word of God. Jesus is among us, and we break bread together.

Identifying Spiritual Sacrifices“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16).

This verse mentions specific spiritual sacrifices.

1. Praise. We are to praise God continually. There is always something to praise God about because God is always worthy of praise. We praise God in church when we sing together and talk about his goodness. Praise is a sacrifice that pleases God.

2. Thanksgiving. We thank God when we tell him we are grateful for what he did and for who he is. We thank God when we testify to others about what he has done in our lives.

3. Doing good. Helping others, showing mercy, and sharing truth are all sacrifices as we do good to others. Doing good to others is an acceptable sacrifice when it is done through Jesus Christ, according to his word and by the power of his Spirit. We especially need to do good to our fellow Christians.

4. Sharing. Sharing is the word koinonia which means community. It is the same word that is used for sharing of possessions in Acts 2. God wants his people to share with each other. They are called to not only share spiritual things but also material things.

5. Support to true servants of God. Paul said that when the church supported him financially, their offering was “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18). When we give an offering to a true servant of God, we are giving a sacrifice to God, and God will be pleased.

6. Our bodies (Romans 12:1). To be a living sacrifice, we give our life completely over to God. We are no longer living for ourselves but for God. It is notable that our bodies (plural) become a living sacrifice (singular). This shows the importance of church.

Some of the spiritual sacrifices that we are called to offer are praise, thanks, doing good, sharing, supporting true servants of God financially, and our own lives. These sacrifices do not to pay for our sins because the blood of Jesus has already taken all our sins away. Instead, these sacrifices bless God and bless others. They are how we serve God. As we offer these sacrifices, God’s name will be exalted, and his presence will become more rich among us.