KEYS TO THE KINGDOM - 15 - SACRIFICE

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 26:28 NLT

28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (sacrifice)

sacrifice noun synonyms VICTIM;

1 offering related words burnt offering, oblation; sacrification; ; sin offering sacrifice verb: 1 to offer as a victim in sacrifice (Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac) synonyms: immolate, victimize related words offer (up); consecrate, dedicate, devote; donate, give, yield.

2 synonyms LOSE, drop, forfeit. idioms kiss good-bye.

3 synonyms FORGO, eschew, forbear. related words cede, yield. idioms part with

1772 ἐκχέομαι (ekcheomai), ἐκχέω (ekcheō): vb. [see also 1773]; Str 1632; 1. cause to flow out, pour out (Mt 9:17; Lk 5:37; Mk 2:22); 2. cause to fully experience, the figurative extension of “to pour out”; 3. αἷμα ἐκχέω (haima ekcheō), murder; 4. flow out; 5. plunge into, give oneself over completely (Jude 11), for another interp, see next; 6. fully experience (Jude 11); 7. devote to, give oneself to some type of behavior (Jude 11).

Chicken, Pig, Farmer

Matthew 9:17 (NLT)

17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

Jude 11 NLT

11 What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

A sacrifice represents a substitutionary contribution to atone for (pay for, to make an accounting for) a another thing.

To forgo one thing, in order to possess another thing.

Every major decision requires sacrifice.

Goal: Slim waistline.

Sacrifice: Diet

~

Goal: Stellar Career

Sacrifice: Family

~

Goal: Finish College

Sacrifice: Unplanned Child

~

Goal: Total Freedom & Independence

Sacrifice: Meaningful Relationships

~

Goal: Constant Understanding

Sacrifice: Faith

~

Goal: Self-Righteousness

Sacrifice: Salvation

~

Goal: Humility

Sacrifice: Pride

~

Goal: Unity in Christ

Sacrifice: Personal Opinion

~

Goal: Life in Christ

Sacrifice: Death to Self

Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1–2 AMP

1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Romans 12:1–2 TPT

1 Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. 2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

Romans Title Page

David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible

ROMANS

David Guzik

Romans (1. The Living Sacrifice (1)) Present your bodies: Connected with the idea of a living sacrifice, this calls to mind priestly service. Spiritually speaking, our bodies are brought to God’s altar. It is best to see the body here as a reference to our entire being. Whatever we say about our spirit, soul, flesh, and mind, we know that they each live in our bodies. When we give the body to God, the soul and spirit go with it. Present your bodies means that God wants you, not just your work. You may do all kinds of work for God, but never give Him your self.

The previous appeal to the will (I beseech you) means that the will is to be the master over the body. The thinking of our age says that our body must tell the will what to do; but the Bible says that our will must bring the body as a living sacrifice to God.

“The body is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master”.

Keeping it at God’s altar as a living sacrifice keeps the body where it should be. An ancient Greek never thought of presenting his body to God. They thought the body was so unspiritual that God didn’t care about it. Paul shows here that God is concerned about our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:20 reminds us that God bought our bodies with a price.

1 Corinthians 6:15–20 TPT

15 Don’t you know that your bodies belong to Christ as his body parts? Should one presume to take the members of Christ’s body and make them into members of a harlot? Absolutely not! 16 Aren’t you aware of the fact that when anyone sleeps with a prostitute he becomes a part of her, and she becomes a part of him? For it has been declared: The two become a single body. 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is mingled into one spirit with him. 18 This is why you must keep running away from sexual immorality. For every other sin a person commits is external to the body, but immorality involves sinning against your own body. 19 Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary. 20 You were God’s expensive purchase, paid for with tears of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God!

A living sacrifice: First century people, both Jews and pagans, knew first hand what sacrifice was all about. To beg that they make themselves a living sacrifice was a striking image. The sacrifice is living because it is brought alive to the altar. The sacrifice is living because it stays alive at the altar; it is ongoing.

John 15:4–11 TPT

4 So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. 5 “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. 6 If a person is separated from me, he is discarded; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire to be burned. 7 But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done. 8 When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father! 9 “I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts. 10 If you keep my commands, you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by his love. 11 My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness!

Philippians 2:13 NLT

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Philippians 2:12–18 TPT

12 My beloved ones, just like you’ve always listened to everything I’ve taught you in the past, I’m asking you now to keep following my instructions as though I were right there with you. Now you must continue to make this new life fully manifested as you live in the holy awe of God—which brings you trembling into his presence. 13 God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him. 14 Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves. 15 For then you will be seen as innocent, faultless, and pure children of God, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the universe, 16 offering them the words of eternal life. I haven’t labored among you for nothing, for your lives are the fruit of my ministry and will be my glorious boast at the unveiling of Christ! 17 But I will rejoice even if my life is poured out like a liquid offering to God over your sacrificial and surrendered lives of faith. 18 And so no matter what happens to me, you should rejoice in ecstatic celebration with me!