A Priest and A Sacrifice <> 1 Peter 2:4-5

A Priest and A Sacrifice                                

1 Peter 2:4-5

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 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 2:4-5 NKJV).

In my last post, the focus was verse 4, identifying us as living stones in God’s Kingdom. Today we’ll focus on verse 5.

As living stones in God’s house, we are consecrated by Christ’s blood as holy

priests (Revelation 5:9-10), to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God. This brings us to Paul’s letter to the Romans, which says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV).          

Paul declared that we are to give our bodies as living sacrifices in service to God and proceeds to explain how this can be accomplished. After all, it’s a big deal—a big commitment—a big sacrifice for a person to give his or her whole self away. 

 

In verse 2 he explains how we can actually make it happen.

1- Do not be conformed to this world. We must not allow the ways of the world to influence and shape us.

2- Instead, we each must be transformed into God’s design for us. When we got born-again we made a choice to follow Christ Jesus. God has a great life-plan for each of us. With the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit He wants to direct our paths and mold us into His own creations. It’s our choice whether or not to let Him have His way.

3- The transformation God wants for each of us can only come about through the renewing of our minds. No matter how good a person is or thinks he or she is, we each must know this: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways declared the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8 NKJV).

How can we renew our minds? The best place to begin this process is with prayer, asking God to help. Also, reading, meditating on, and systematic study of God’s Word, the Bible. We need to continue to stay connected to God on a daily basis. Renewing our minds continuously helps keep the pipeline to the Throne Room unclogged with the cares of this world and distractions and traps Satan will try to throw our way.

When praying, we can ask God to help us stay focused on Him and His Word. Daily quality time in God’s Word is vital. This is not just reading a devotional. There is certainly a place for meaningful devotionals but real devotion to getting to know the Living God and His Son—our Savior—Jesus Christ is essential to renewing our minds. We want to mature into followers of Christ who are Christ-like (1 Corinthians 11:1) and who have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

4- So that we “may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2c). Paul concludes this thought with the important concept of proving out—that is discerning—God’s will is good for us; that it is acceptable according to God for our benefit; and that it is perfect and complete in facilitating the abundant life God desires and has ordained for each of us.

The word prove in Scripture means to test, discern, examine, try out, (Strong’s* #1381). Thayer** describes prove as putting to the proof. As we walk out God’s calling, according to the transformation we’ve experienced through our renewed minds, we will prove that God’s will for us is indeed good, acceptable, to Him and perfect for our individual well-being.

So, we’ve learned from Romans 11 what it means to offer up an acceptable spiritual sacrifice to God through Jesus Christ. Notice that both Paul and Peter stress that it is through Jesus Christ we approach God with these sacrifices. Christ is our Mediator, through which our transformation and the knowledge of God’s will takes place.

Only through Jesus.

When we receive Jesus as our Savior—get born-again—God then bestows upon us the right and privilege of having Jesus stand in the gap for us. Through His crucifixion, some 2000 years ago, He took the punishment we deserved for our sin. He became our Mediator—the One who settled-up with Father God on our behalf. He continues to stand in the gap and we need to be mindful of that truth every day of our lives.

What are examples of acceptable sacrifices we offer up to God? Here are some practical examples: 1- Praise—glorifying God with our lips in awe and gratitude.  2- My self—like my thought life, my eyes (what I look at), my feet (where they take me), my hands (what they do and touch), and my talents. We could go on and on. 3- My time. 4- My finances. 5- My love and affections to God and other people.

With knowledge of God and His Word, along with help from the Holy Spirit we can offer up pleasing sacrifices which are welcome and acceptable to God.

Let’s pray. Holy Father, thank you for choosing me to be a living stone in your Kingdom. I do want to sacrifice to You pleasing things and I want to be a living sacrifice, Honoring Your sacrifice for me. Thank You for showing me and helping me glorify You with my life in this way. Through Jesus and in the glorious name of Jesus I pray—Amen.

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford

The Lamb’s Blood -1 Peter 1:18-19

The Lamb’s Blood                         

           -1 Peter 1:18-19

In my last post we rejoiced in our redemption as being reclaimed by our Creator and made new, much like a craftsman uses reclaimed wood to create something new and beautiful (1 Peter 1:17-19).

Now let’s go into a little more depth as to how God brought this incredible miracle about. Peter explained, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (v. 19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV).

Peter implies that his readers knew that their redemption did not come from any material wealth, good conduct, or through any kind of tradition passed down from forefathers.

This apostle wants to make it clear that salvation comes through the precious blood of Jesus, stating that Jesus was the once for all sacrificial lamb. Jews of that era were knowledgeable of the significance of the shedding of the blood of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Even the Gentiles of the day were somewhat familiar with these Jewish practices.

About 1400 years prior to Peter’s writing God gave Moses instructions on the atonement of the sins of the people through the sacrificial shedding of the blood of an unblemished lamb. Step-by-step instructions are recorded in Leviticus 14.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11 NKJV). This shedding of the blood of lambs and other animals was a foreshadowing of the crucifixion death and shed blood of Jesus.

In several places, the Bible states that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. A sacrifice is defined as offering something of value for a cause or for a specified reason. Making an atonement is offering a compensation or penitence to make amends for an offense committed. 

Therefore the system set up by God in the Old Testament stated that those who offered and were covered by the blood sacrifice were released—set free—from the consequences of their sin. But this was only temporary and needed to be repeated periodically. 

Jesus was without sin—that is without spot or blemish. When His life’s blood was shed, He made atonement for all the sins of all Mankind once for all. His dying words proclaimed that fact: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Each person then has the option to accept or reject His sacrifice. 

The writer of Hebrews goes into detail to explain Jesus’ atoning sacrifice: “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of the creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For it the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. ... Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:11-15 ESV).

As we enter into this season of thanksgiving, let us be mindful of the sacrificial blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus—the Lamb that was slain on behalf of sinners like you and me. I’m thankful for and rejoice in many things—especially family, freedom, home, and such. But the number one thing I’m thankful for and rejoice in is the blood of Jesus which was shed for me. Because of His atoning sacrifice my sins are washed away. My debt to God has been canceled out; I am in His own family for all eternity; and my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

Besides that, my precious loved ones, who I’m so thankful for, also have the privilege of being in God’s family and we can all be together with Jesus in Heaven. All our tears will be wiped away. There ‘ell be no hurt, no sorrow, no evil of any kind. Like my friend used to sing, “There‘ll be no band-aides in Heaven—no emergency medical care ...”

So number one on my Thanksgiving list is Jesus and the fact that He gave Himself a sacrifice to pay my sin debt.

Are you covered by the blood of the Lamb? We each have the choice to accept and receive Him (Jesus) or reject and deny Him. 

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford

After Easter Musings - Part 2

After Easter Musings - Part 2

For the past few weeks I’ve been revisiting some of the details surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. For the past few days my focus has been Matthew 27:45-54.

My blog post last week looked at some of Jesus’ last words. Today, I want to look at two amazing events relating to Jesus’ death and rising back to life. One of which is one of the least talked about miracles of the New Testament.

We’ll begin with Matthew 27:51: “Then behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.”

At the moment of Jesus’ death the veil of the Temple tore in two from top to bottom. This event was of monumental significance!

The veil was a massive curtain—a barrier between sinful man and holy God. It was four inches thick and sixty feet high. Behind the veil was the Holy of Holies where the presence of God dwelled. 

Once a year the high priest would go behind the veil to offer a sacrifice of the blood of a spotless lamb to atone for the sins of himself and the people (Hebrew 9:7).

Now on this day, which we call Good Friday, Jesus was the Lamb. His blood atoned for our sins once and for all. God received the blood of His Son and offered forgiveness for all our sins. It’s up to each of us to accept His offer. We have free will.

Jesus paid our debt in full once and for all.

At that moment God Himself tore the temple veil from top to bottom. No human could have done that. The Holy of Holies was now exposed and our Heavenly Father was accessible to all who will receive His Son. Jesus made the way.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body ... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

God tore the Temple Veil (Internet image)

The next verse tells of an event which is a phenomenon, rarely mentioned by preachers and teachers. In fact this past Sunday, a few days after I wrote this post, my pastor actually included it in his sermon. I was thrilled. I’ve sat in many a church pew and have done many a Bible study and this was the first time I’ve ever heard someone talk about this verse from a pulpit or lectern. 

Verses 52-53 says, “and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”

Who were these people? We’re told they are saints. Some translations say they were righteous people. For this, I’m going to yield the floor to my pastor, Hal Adams, and provide a link to his sermon from last Sunday. He covers this much better than I had planned to do.

But first, I want to add one last verse because I love it so much and it is very telling. Verse 54 says, “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was this Son of God!’”

AMEN!

Below is the link to Pastor Hal’s sermon last Sunday. The video is pretty lengthy so if you don’t have time for the entire thing (which I hope you do) the part about verses 52-53 is at about the 50 minute mark. Please be bless as you watch and listen.

https://www.facebook.com/RadfordWorshipCenter/videos/vb.111364652230041/1511566532209839/?type=2&theater

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford