The Word Offering
Key Words of the Bible • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 39:32
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· 14 viewsIn the Old Testament, we see offerings that were offered daily for sin. Today, we have a permanent offering through the atoning death of Christ on the Cross.
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For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Introduction
Introduction
Words are an important part of our lives. Without words, we would not be able to communicate. Without words, we would not be able to learn from one another. Without words, we would be cut off from everyone around us. In the Bible, we find some words that are truly a foundation for the truths of the Bible. These words and their meanings are keys to unlock how we understand God, Christ, our sin and His salvation. Words need to be defined. In our series on the Key Words of the Bible, we are looking to define these important words as we study the Word of God.
The first word that we are going to be looking at is the word offering. The words “offering”, “offerings”, “offer” and “offered” are found 1,398 times in our King James Bible. This is a significant amount. It shows the importance of the idea of an offering in the Bible.
A gentleman traveling in Norway tells how he went to see the church in a certain town. Looking up at its tower, he was surprised to see the carved figure of a lamb at the top. He inquired why it was placed in that position and was told that when the church was being built, a workman had fallen from the high scaffold. His fellow workmen saw him fall and rushed down, horror-stricken, expecting to find him dead. To their surprise and joy, he was barely hurt.
A flock of sheep was passing by at the time of his fall, and he fell onto the crowded flock-right on top of a lamb. The lamb was crushed to death, but the man was saved. They carved a lamb on the tower at the exact height from which he fell to commemorate the miraculous escape. - from The Gold Mine by Dr Lee Roberson
This story illustrates the truth that God is making in these verses. Christ is the lamb that was offered for us. He gave His life willingly because of our fallen nature. Just as the lamb died to save this man, Christ died to save us.
Our first key word is the word offering or the word sacrifice. These words are synonymous as we can see from their definitions.
1sac•ri•fice \ˈsa-krə-ˌfīs, also -fəs or -ˌfīz\ noun
[Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin sacrificium, from sacr-, sacer + facere to make—more at DO] 13th century
1: an act of offering to a deity something precious especially: the killing of a victim on an altar
2: something offered in sacrifice
3 a: destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else
b: something given up or lost 〈the sacrifices made by parents〉
4: LOSS 〈goods sold at a sacrifice〉
5: SACRIFICE HIT
of•fer•ing \ˈȯ-f(ə-)riŋ, ˈä-\ noun
before 12th century
1 a: the act of one who offers
b: something offered especially: a sacrifice ceremonially offered as a part of worship
c: a contribution to the support of a church
2: something offered for sale or patronage 〈latest offerings of the leading novelists〉
3: a course of instruction or study
What did the readers of Hebrews think of when they thought of an offering or sacrifice? They would have remembered the animals that were killed in the Temple at Jerusalem as well as each of the other temples throughout the ancient world. Animal sacrifice was something that was practiced by all of the ancient religions.
In this passage, we are going to see that there is a difference between any of these sacrifices and the one that Christ gave for us. His sacrifice is unique in history. Because of His sacrifice, we will see that we are left with a decision.
Declaration
Declaration
We must trust our eternal salvation to the finished work of Christ for us as a sacrifice on the cross once for all. We will see three ways Christ is pictured in these verses.
1. Christ: Separate from Sinners
1. Christ: Separate from Sinners
Hebrews 7:26–27 (KJV 1900)
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s:
A. Christ was a Personal Sacrifice v. 26
A. Christ was a Personal Sacrifice v. 26
We see here that Christ is given the title of High Priest. This was the person that would offer sacrifices on the yearly Day of Atonement. However, we also see that the idea of daily sacrifices is mentioned in these verses. This could mean that the High Priest would also help with daily sacrifices.
And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
Christ “became us” as our High Priest. The idea found here is that Christ was the appropriate High Priest for us. Why was this important? A correct sacrifice by an inappropriate priest would not result in a satisfactory atonement. The Old Testament priests were required to undergo a strenuous daily cleaning process and to be sure that they were able to offer the sacrifice purely.
Sacrifice - similar to rabbinic Judaism, Christianity focuses on remembrance of sacrifice. For the Christian, this is a remembrance of Christ's payment of our sin debt. We see this portrayed directly in baptism and Lord's Supper. These ordinances emphasize the personal nature of His sacrifice for us.
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
B. Christ was a Perfect Sacrifice v. 26
B. Christ was a Perfect Sacrifice v. 26
We see first a list of characteristics.
He is holy. The word means to be without fault religiously and therefore able to give a perfect sacrifice.
He is harmless. This is the idea of innocence or without deceit. One Jewish writer used this word when referring to newborn infants.
He is undefiled. We see here the importance that Christ was morally and ritually clean. This was vital to a sacrifice that would be offered for sin.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
We see secondly a characterization of Christ that gives us pictures in our minds. There are two pictures.
The first picture is one of separation. Christ is separate from sinners. This separation was before the sacrifice in that Christ was fully man but He differed from us in that He had no sin. After the sacrifice, Christ is separate because it honors and exalts Him.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The second picture is one of elevation. Christ is made higher than the heavens. The heavens are any location above the earth. Particularly, we know that the location of God’s throne is what is being referred to. We know that the heavens are high and exalted and therefore we know that Christ is there exalted too.
Christ is seen as a sacrifice that is without any flaws or faults. Instead, He is able to do what we could not do, pay the debt of sin. He is able by His death to pay for the sin of all of the world. Perfect and Christ are synonyms. Christ is the Perfect Sacrifice.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
C. Christ was a Powerful Sacrifice v. 27
C. Christ was a Powerful Sacrifice v. 27
The sacrifice of Christ was not just personal or perfect, it was also powerful. The sacrifice was able to cover all of the sins of the priests and everyone else for all time. This made Christ different from the sinful Old Testament priests.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The priests of the Old Testament needed to give a sacrifice daily for their own sin. This is the meaning of the words translated “offer up”.
We see that the same word is used again in verse 27 in reference to Himself. Christ was both the One offered and the One doing the offering. The sacrifice of these priests is replaced and perfected by the sacrifice of Christ.
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
The idea that all of our sins are paid forever is the theological/judicial term “expiation” or satisfaction. The love of God does for us what we cannot do on our own.
Dictionary of Theological Terms Expiation
Satisfaction or expiation does not awaken love in the divine mind. It only renders it consistent with His justice that God should exercise His love towards transgressors of His law” (Charles Hodge).
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Propitiation vs. Expiation
The difference between propitiation and expiation is not always easy to understand, even though we all experience it.
Consider the case of a certain factory worker who was seriously injured on the job. After the doctors had done all they could, he was still left partially paralyzed. An investigation revealed that the company was at fault because it did not provide a safe work place nor the proper safety equipment for its employees. Thus, it was liable for the dangerous conditions that resulted in this man’s injury and permanent paralysis.
As we all have seen in similar situations, the court will probably award the injured man a great sum of money for his pain, suffering, and permanent injury. Once the company pays the judgment against it, it has expiated its wrongdoings. The demands of justice have been satisfied. The company no longer has any responsibility toward the injured man. That is expiation.
But we have not dealt with how the injured man feels toward the company. He may be filled with resentment, bitterness, even hatred. He may spend the rest of his life abhorring the name of that company, even though it has been directed to give him all the money he could possibly use. The debt that the wrong incurred has been expiated or paid for, but the wrath that the wrong incurred has not been propitiated.
When Christ died, he not only paid the debt for our sins but reconciled us to God by satisfying the Father’s wrath. He was both an expiation and a propitiation for our sins.1106
2. Christ: Sacrificed for Sinners
2. Christ: Sacrificed for Sinners
Hebrews 7:27 (KJV 1900)
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
A. Sacrifice requires something’s death v. 27 “for this”
A. Sacrifice requires something’s death v. 27 “for this”
The sacrifice began with the death of an animal in the Garden of Eden. this death was for the clothing of Adam and Eve after the Fall. The fig leaves that they fashioned were not sufficient to cover their nakedness.
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
The sacrifice continued with the death of an animal at the hand of Abel. The sacrifice was to be one of an animal but Cain brought a sacrifice of vegetables. This was not sufficient as there was no death associated with the sacrifice. No transfer of sin was possible.
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
The sacrifice was pictured as the removal of life in exchange for the sin of the person. The sin was transferred from the person who sinned to the animal that would die. This transfer was called atonement. In the Old Testament, it only covered the sin. The sacrifice was only delaying payment of the sin until Christ would ultimately come to die and remove the sin.
And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
B. Sacrifice requires sufficient death v. 27 “he did once”
B. Sacrifice requires sufficient death v. 27 “he did once”
We see the reason that Christ did not need it daily was that He did it once. The perfect sacrifice was only required once. He gave His life on Calvary and that paid the sin debt for all time.
Christ was the satisfactory payment because He was without sin though tempted as we are.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Christ died once but He lives because He rose again. This life is given to the whole world, including you!
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Christ is coming again one day. Then the sacrifice will not be effective anymore. Instead, each person that has not accepted the free gift will be sentenced for eternity to a place called hell.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
C. Sacrifice requires surrendered death v. 27 “when he offered up himself”
C. Sacrifice requires surrendered death v. 27 “when he offered up himself”
2357 No Self-Sacrifice
In 1972, French taxpayers were shocked to learn that their premier had not paid any taxes between 1966 and 1969, even though he was earning $30,000 a year. In fact, he had asked the tax bureau for an $800 refund. It was all perfectly legal, however, as the premier had taken full advantage of the exemptions contained in the country’s cumbersome, inequitable tax laws.
But what had galled the people was that they had grown accustomed to hearing this premier exhort them to make sacrifices for their country and its economy.
This is not what Christ did. We see here that Christ gave His own life for us. He laid it down willingly for the lost and dying world. The idea of “offered up” is that this is a sacrifice for sin. The High Priest would offer two sacrifices on the day of atonement, one for himself and one for the sake of the people. Christ did not have to offer the first because He had no sin. Instead, He could offer Himself for the second.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Christ was the receiver of His own sacrifice. He gave Himself, not an animal, for the sins of the people. He gave Himself because we could not give ourselves. We would be sinful rejected sacrifices. He was sinless and accepted.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The Sacrifice of Christ was once for all. He gave Himself in our place. He did not need to make an satisfactory payment for His own sin. He is sinless.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
3. Christ: Sufficient for Salvation
3. Christ: Sufficient for Salvation
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
A. Christ’s Sacrifice is made because of our sin v. 28
A. Christ’s Sacrifice is made because of our sin v. 28
Sin is the common problem of all of mankind. Though it began in the garden, it has continued in the world.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Everyone and everything is tainted by sin. Our sin, another’s sin, all of it is dirtiness and vileness that we cannot remove. This sin is a problem that we cannot solve without help.
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
The priests of the Old Testament had “infirmity”. They were frail and weak because of their sin nature. This sin nature meant that some would be disqualified from being a priest. Some would struggle with obedience. Others would only be faithful through the reliance on God and their relationship with Him. We have this same infirmity.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Because Christ died for us, He is able to bring a sweetsmelling savour to God. This allows each of to have our individual sins taken away. The view of Christ as distantly dying in some long ago time for some general group is gone. Instead, we see that Christ died for you as an individual.
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Referring to the idea of “a sweetsmelling savour”, Hoehner says “The preposition…indicates purpose, that is, the offering and sacrifice to God is for the purpose of a fragrant aroma.” - Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary
B. Christ’s Sacrifice is why He came to earth v. 28
B. Christ’s Sacrifice is why He came to earth v. 28
Purpose is an important part of every action. Christ’s purpose to come to earth was to die for us. He chose to come and live as a man. This allowed Him to be able to die in our place.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Christ chose to allow the religious people of the Judah take Him and punish Him. The sufferings of Christ were what we deserve because of our sins. He took them without a word. He was a lamb dumb before His shearers.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.
And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Christ died on the cross on top of the hill called Calvary. Between two common criminals, He gave up His life in payment for our sins. This was His purpose. When He rose again, He spent forty days on earth before He returned to heaven in triumph. His mission had been accomplished and the victory is now won.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
C. Christ’s Sacrifice is made forever by the oath v. 28
C. Christ’s Sacrifice is made forever by the oath v. 28
At the end of verse 28, we see a clause that refers to something of great importance to the flow of the argument found in the book of Hebrews. The writer is making a comparison between the priesthood found in the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and the one that is established by Christ in the New Testament.
The difference mentioned here regards an oath. The oath was not to be broken and was guaranteed by God. Unlike those with infirmity as priests in the Old Testament, Christ is without sin and His sacrifice is sufficient forever.
And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the Lord commanded.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Jesus is the perfect High Priest forever because He is able to do what no other could do - offer a satisfactory sacrifice. The word “consecrated” is to passively receive the highest honor as Christ has completed the work of sacrifice.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Because He has finished the work, those who believe on Him are qualified to come into the presence of God. Their debt is paid. Their sins are satisfactorily removed.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
In the New Testament, perfection is completion. Perfection is maturity. We are not “perfect” in the sense of having no sin. We are perfect in the sense of having our sin covered by the blood of Jesus!
Conclusion
Conclusion
What will you do with the sacrifice of Christ? This is a question that we all must face in our lives.
I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James Hebrews 7:27
The supreme question, in regard to any sacrifice, is this—Is it acceptable to God? Will He make it a basis on which to accept us? If it is acceptable to Him, if He does accept us on the ground of it, what more has to be said? Who has any right to complain? On what ground can any other sacrifice be asked for? And that is precisely what we claim to be the fact concerning the sublime self-sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, concerning the offering of Himself. God is infinitely satisfied with it: He is willing to accept us on the ground of it.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
We know that Christ died on the cross. We know that He was buried in a borrowed tomb. We know that He rose again that third day and lives forevermore. But what are we going to do about the fact that He offered His life for us?
1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Instant Sacrifice)
Alistair Anthony of Glasgow, Scotland, while visiting his parents in Blackpool, England, dived into the stormy sea to rescue his Jack Russell terrier, Henry, and was lost. The dog, chasing a ball along the promenade, was swept away by vicious twenty-foot waves. Three members of the police force who participated in the rescue attempt also lost their lives. An editor for The Daily Mail, one of Britain’s national newspapers, wrote: “Often and glibly, we talk of duty and of service and of the human bonds that hold our society together. In the face of courage and sacrifices such as this, we can only fall silent.”
These men were willing to give their lives to save a dog from the raging sea. How much more amazing is the sacrifice that Christ made by coming to earth to die for you!
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
He was willing. He was perfect. He offers salvation now to you. Will you take the offer? Will you take the free gift?