Sacrifices of the Christian Life

Hebrews 9:26 “…but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

 The sacrifice for our sins has once for all time been accomplished by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, where he put away the sins of mankind, for as many as believe on Him.

Though we as Christians do not have to offer the sacrifices that the Israelite had to offer, animal sacrifice and the like, the New Testament still speaks of Christian sacrifice.

 So what are the sacrifices of a Christian? 

Hebrews 13:15 “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”

 We are to offer our thanks for our salvation, and for the blessings he has given us, for answered prayer, and for whatever else might be right and proper to thank Him for.  He is worthy of praise, and we should humble ourselves to offer it. 

Philippians 4:18 “But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.”

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.”

 We are to give of our means to help the brethren, and for the work of the church. 

Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

 We are not to continue in lives of sin, but are to keep our bodies in holiness, not giving ourselves over to profligacy. 

Romans 15:16 “[T]o be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

Philippians 2:17 “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.”

2 Timothy 4:6 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”

 Paul considered his work among the Gentiles to be an offering to God, a presentation of believers.  When his time of death approached, he considered himself to be a drink offering poured out upon their sacrificial lives in Christ (the drink offering, along with the grain offering, was added to most, if not all, of the sacrifices offered to God under the law of Moses) 

Revelation 5:8 “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.”

 The sacrifices under the old law were “a soothing aroma to the LORD.”  Before the veil which separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the tabernacle, there was an altar of incense upon which was a continual burning of incense.  Whether this incense was a figure of the prayers of the saints or not, yet our prayers are regarded as incense going up before Him.