Our Sacrifices To God

Under the Mosaical sacrificial system, there were five main sacrificial offerings that were required to be offered on various occasions, underscoring a certain purpose. Under the law of Christ, there are also spiritual sacrifices that must be offered (1 Peter 2:5 — see commentary for a list of spiritual sacrifices).

Let us look at five of these sacrifices, along with related Scriptures and commentary by brother Burton Coffman:

1) Sacrifice of our bodies  — Romans 12:1 (see commentary) — Inclusive of the whole man; our eyes (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV; our ears (James 1:19; cf. Luke 9:35; Luke 10:16); our hands (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ephesians 4:28; cf. Acts 20:35); our feet (Romans 10:15; cf. Isaiah 52:7); our tongue (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:8); our affections (family - Matthew 10:36-37 and bodily members - Romans 6:11-13).

2) Sacrifices of faith, even in the face of death — Philippians 2:17 (see commentary); cf. 2 Timothy 4:6; Matthew 24:13; Revelation 2:10).

3) Sacrifices of benevolence — Philippians 4:18 (see commentary) — Helping others in time of need is the same as helping our Lord (Matthew 25:34-40; 1 John 3:17-18; cf. Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 17:5).

4) Sacrifices of praise — Hebrews 13:15 (see commentary) — Not only the praise that comes from our lips (Psalm 50:23; Psalm 54:6), but also our expression of thanksgiving toward God as well 1 Thessalonians 5:18; cf. Leviticus 7:11-21; Psalm 50:14).

5) Sacrifices of good deeds — Hebrews 13:16 (see commentary); cf. Acts 10:38  — As we have opportunity, we are to do good to all men (Gal. 6:10; cf. Proverbs 3:27; Titus 3:8).

Beloved, as priests of God (1 Peter 2:5,9; cf. Exodus 19:5-6; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10, officiating under Christ our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 9:11-28), we are to offer the above sacrifices in order to be pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:15-16; cf. 2 Corinthians 9:12; Philippians 4:18).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets