Sacrifice as Response

When we hear the word sacrifice, most think of involuntary death. Thanks to Hollywood we have no understanding of what it means to make a sacrifice to God. Let me just remind you. Sacrifice has nothing to do with convincing God to ‘do’ something.

Brethren, if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation. Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned — sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the effect of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.

Romans 5.10-16

Today’s reading from Saint Paul reminds us that God acted first in our salvation. He didn’t wait for us to offer Him a sacrifice. He didn’t wait for us to be perfect. He didn’t really even wait for us to ask Him. This is just more proof that He always planned to save us, ever since Adam and Eve.

In the Old Testament mandatory sacrifices, in every case the sacrifice was a response to God’s love and action. A sacrifice was offered AFTER the birth of a child. A sacrifice was offered AFTER forgiveness. It is the same in the New Testament.

Many wrongly believe that the Cross was the ultimate mandatory sacrifice for our sins as required in the Old Testament. Many wrongly believe that Christ’s death on the Cross caused our forgiveness and reconciliation. The Cross was a new covenant.

For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26.28

This is all to say, our offerings to God are a response to God’s actions rather than a bargaining chip to convince Him of anything. When we offer to God in response, we are showing our love and appreciation. If we think we are bargaining with Him, we wrongly understand His love.

Long before anyone offered God a sacrifice, “while we were enemies” God chose to save us. The Cross is a NEW agreement with have with God. He has already forgiven us. He loves us more than we know how to love. If we understood love, we wouldn’t sin. Alas….we sin.

I pray today’s blog will help you see your gifts to God for what they are. Our gifts of stewardship, worship, devotion, outreach to others, and more reflect out love for God. I invite you to reflect on your gifts to God. Are they an accurate reflection of your love for Him?

If not, we can always change our offerings to God. The Cross revealed His love for us. His willingness to forgive us “while we were still enemies” reveals His love for us. What do our offerings reveal about our love for Him?