AN OFFERING AND SACRIFICE TO GOD

How terrible it would be to bring a sacrifice to the God of Heaven and He rejects it! That could happen to any of us unless we bring an offering that pleases God and come in full assurance of faith to present that sacrifice (Heb. 10:19-25; Rom. 12:1,2). "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" (Heb. 13:15,16; 1 Pet. 2:5).

All that we offer and sacrifice to God must come before our Father in Heaven through His Son, Jesus Christ, for He is the True Offering and Sacrifice that pleases the Lord God. "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:26; 10:12).

Jesus Christ is the sacrifice that God accepts. He is the offering that takes away the sins of the world (1 Jno. 2:2). From the foundation of the world God required a sacrifice that must be slain for the sins of mankind (1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8). The offering and sacrifice of Jesus was foreshadowed in the Old Testament in the sacrifice of the Day of Atonement and in the Sin Offerings (Lev. 4:31; 16:29). Truly there was only one sacrifice that could remove sins and that was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross.

When we gather around the Table of the Lord to partake of His Supper we remember His great sacrifice for our sins. We know that He offered Himself freely and obediently (Phil. 2:5-8). The Supper of His Body and Blood is not a matter of sacrificing Jesus again and again. We are remembering His great sacrifice and what it has done for us. We do repeat this remembrance over and over, but only to show forth His death and suffering until He comes again.

We understand that His sacrifice was an everlasting offering to atone for the sins of all people. Our partaking of that sacrifice reminds us of God's love, mercy and grace. We contemplate the horribleness of sin and what great cost and sacrifice brought about its removal!

Jesus was the sacrifice and offering that God accepted. We remember this truth every Lord's Day through the Lord's Supper.

By Ron Drumm.

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