In our last post, we considered how Christ’s work as our Great High Priest has wrought a change in our identity. We have passed from death unto life. We have been rescued from the Kingdom of Darkness and made citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. We have been adopted into God’s family. This new and intimate relationship with God has also given us a new status. We no longer need anyone other than our Great High Priest to be our intermediary. Jesus Christ is the one true mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5) and we are all priests before the Lord (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). We come confidently before the Father, through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this post we will consider the nature of our priestly duties in presenting the sacrifices we are now permitted to bring before our God.
As we noted in earlier posts, there were sacrifices God’s people were permitted to bring to Him but only after sin atoning sacrifices had been offered. Those sin offerings were perpetual because they merely pointed to the true and efficacious sacrifice to come. Christ has offered the once-for-all sacrifice that has atoned for all the sins of all God’s people for all time. In this state of grace, our duty is to confess our sins for God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all iniquity (1 John 1:9). The efficacy of this continual forgiveness and cleansing flows from the cross.
In Hebrews 13:11-16, we find that, on the basis of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we are now able to come before Him and offer up a sacrifice of praise. The writer of Hebrews says we should do so continually. As the redeemed of the Lord we are called upon to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. If we were to begin praising God this very moment, never ceasing throughout the ages of eternity, it would not be sufficient praise in response to His glorious grace. Our infinite God is infinitely good and infinitely just and infinitely merciful. His mercies are renewed each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
The writer of Hebrews goes on to describe other sacrifices we are permitted to bring on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice; specifically, generosity and good works. What is the relationship between the Christian and good works? Our good works are not for obtaining God’s favor. We could never be accepted before God on the basis of righteous works which we have done (Titus 3:5). Our good works are in response to the redeeming work of our Savior. It is with a thankful heart that we pursue good works in worshipful adoration of our God.
Our good works are in response to the redeeming work of our Savior. It is with a thankful heart that we pursue good works in worshipful adoration of our God.
Whatever good works we are able to offer God do not originate within us. The Lord Himself has prepared these good works for us, in advance (Ephesians 2:10). It is all of God, beginning to end and everything in between. The same is true of our sacrifices of generosity. God is the source of the seed we sow and the replenisher of that seed that we might continue being generous (2 Corinthians 9:10). God only accepts the sacrifices we offer Him because Christ was wounded for our transgression and crushed for our iniquities. Our Savior has ended our hostility with God, making peace between ourselves and the Father through His death on the cross.
The sacrifices God accepts from us must be offered in a spirit of humility, recognizing that, apart from our Savior, we can do nothing. On our own, we have nothing to offer God. Truly, “nothing in our hands we bring, only to the cross we cling.” As we learned from Abraham’s words in Genesis 22:8, God Himself must provide the sacrifices we offer. He must fill our empty hands. Our duty as priests of our Lord is to offer back to Him what He so graciously provides.
In our next post, we will consider what it means to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and the preparation necessary to fulfill this reasonable act of worship.
You can watch Pastor Stan’s sermon series on the book of Philippians here: https://lwcchurch.org/Philippians.php
