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What Spiritual Sacrifices Are We to Offer?

R

RedFan

Active member
[I posted this on CyB and didn't get a single response.]

1 Peter 2:5 (KJV) admonishes that believers are "an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." The word for "sacrifices" here, thysias, Is the same word found in Hebrews 5:1 ("For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.") and Hebrews 7:27 ("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 . . .").

If not sacrifices for sin, what is Peter suggesting we make spiritual sacrifices for?
 
Sacrificing the flesh through the Spirit.

By this all other spiritual matters spring forth.

“…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16, KJV)

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry…” (Colossians 3:5, KJV)
 
RedFan said:
[I posted this on CyB and didn't get a single response.]

1 Peter 2:5 (KJV) admonishes that believers are "an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." The word for "sacrifices" here, thysias, Is the same word found in Hebrews 5:1 ("For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.") and Hebrews 7:27 ("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 . . .").

If not sacrifices for sin, what is Peter suggesting we make spiritual sacrifices for?
Click to expand...

I've been talking about these 'living stones' that are built up into a spiritual house in the American Nightshade/Reincarnation thread, and explaining the spiritual nature of this spiritual house. It's a point that can't be dismissed or ignored. Likewise, this holy priesthood is spiritual, not physical and the sacrifices these priests offer are heavenly and above, not animals below. Herein lays the problem.

Moses saw this heavenly house of God, His temple, where 'sacrifices' were offered to God by a holy priesthood-- so he copied those spiritual things he saw, and he recreated those heavenly things he had seen, that scene, those practices, those elements of worship- spiritual things that he obviously didn't comprehend-- and in direct disobedience, he tried to make literal likenesses (images) of spiritual concepts. The result was a whole, rather disgusting religious system centered on animal sacrifice. A system washed in physical blood. It was never God's intent.

As mentioned, the spiritual house is heavenly. The priesthood is heavenly. The sacrifices and gifts are offered to God in the spiritual realm and all of this-- this temple, that throne, the altar, the city itself-- built of 'living stones' and the whole kingdom of heaven is within us-- it's an inner/spiritual realm, not physical and there are no physical likenesses of these things beyond ourselves as the very building blocks of God's kingdom.

Hebrews 5 and 7 couldn't be more clear on the matter. Jesus- was never a high priest during his life as a man-- so when scripture is talking about him as high priest, it's in that spiritual priesthood-- one among a succession of priests in the order of Melchizedek. To be 'in the order' of Melchizedek points to this heavenly priesthood and not the physical priests on earth working at the mockery copy of the true temple-- these priests below are all 'in the order' of Aaron-- Moses' brother... Levites all. Jesus wasn't counted as one of these, but a high priest in the heavenly order.

And finally, in the spiritual realm- we are a part of this kingdom. This city, this temple-the house of God, and this priesthood. If only we lived as if we really believed that God dwelled within us. But just as that earthly temple was corrupted and contaminated and at times no more than a den of robbers, we too have been robbed of our place and purpose in God's kingdom.

As for Jesus-- Hebrews said that he did once, make an offering for his own sins and the scene is described in detail as a heavenly scene-- the sacrifice of the lamb.
 
Mr E said:
I've been talking about these 'living stones' that are built up into a spiritual house in the American Nightshade/Reincarnation thread, and explaining the spiritual nature of this spiritual house. It's a point that can't be dismissed or ignored. Likewise, this holy priesthood is spiritual, not physical and the sacrifices these priests offer are heavenly and above, not animals below. Herein lays the problem.

Moses saw this heavenly house of God, His temple, where 'sacrifices' were offered to God by a holy priesthood-- so he copied those spiritual things he saw, and he recreated those heavenly things he had seen, that scene, those practices, those elements of worship- spiritual things that he obviously didn't comprehend-- and in direct disobedience, he tried to make literal likenesses (images) of spiritual concepts. The result was a whole, rather disgusting religious system centered on animal sacrifice. A system washed in physical blood. It was never God's intent.

As mentioned, the spiritual house is heavenly. The priesthood is heavenly. The sacrifices and gifts are offered to God in the spiritual realm and all of this-- this temple, that throne, the altar, the city itself-- built of 'living stones' and the whole kingdom of heaven is within us-- it's an inner/spiritual realm, not physical and there are no physical likenesses of these things beyond ourselves as the very building blocks of God's kingdom.

Hebrews 5 and 7 couldn't be more clear on the matter. Jesus- was never a high priest during his life as a man-- so when scripture is talking about him as high priest, it's in that spiritual priesthood-- one among a succession of priests in the order of Melchizedek. To be 'in the order' of Melchizedek points to this heavenly priesthood and not the physical priests on earth working at the mockery copy of the true temple-- these priests below are all 'in the order' of Aaron-- Moses' brother... Levites all. Jesus wasn't counted as one of these, but a high priest in the heavenly order.

And finally, in the spiritual realm- we are a part of this kingdom. This city, this temple-the house of God, and this priesthood. If only we lived as if we really believed that God dwelled within us. But just as that earthly temple was corrupted and contaminated and at times no more than a den of robbers, we too have been robbed of our place and purpose in God's kingdom.

As for Jesus-- Hebrews said that he did once, make an offering for his own sins and the scene is described in detail as a heavenly scene-- the sacrifice of the lamb.
Click to expand...
But my question stands. What are our spiritual sacrifices for?
 
RedFan said:
If not sacrifices for sin, what is Peter suggesting we make spiritual sacrifices for?
Click to expand...
Interesting topic. Good question. I didn't know what to make of this when I first read it.
Looking at the NIV translation and adding verse 5 seemed to help somewhat.

I think the thrust here is about the stones that make up the spiritual house God is building.
(Christ being the cornerstone/living Stone from which all others stones should align)

Everything here is figurative.
- Christ as THE living Stone (rejected by humans)
- Us as living stones (being built into a spiritual house)
- Us as a holy priesthood in that spiritual house (that the house is built with)
- Offering acceptable sacrifices (figurative again) ??? Meaning what? (see next post)

1 Peter 2:4-5 NIV
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood,
offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

]
 
Next post. (continued from previous post)

I think it is ourselves that is the spiritual sacrifice.
The living sacrifice of the living stones. (acceptable to God)

Romans 12:1 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—
this is your true and proper worship.

]
 
Mr E said:
The sacrifices and gifts are offered to God in the spiritual realm and all of this-- this temple, that throne, the altar, the city itself-- built of 'living stones' and the whole kingdom of heaven is within us-- it's an inner/spiritual realm, not physical and there are no physical likenesses of these things beyond ourselves as the very building blocks of God's kingdom.
Click to expand...
Good post. I especially resonate with this bit.

Our spiritual sacrifice is giving ourselves to be those living stones that act as priests for God.

]
 
SteVen said:
Our spiritual sacrifice is giving ourselves to be those living stones that act as priests for God.
Click to expand...
As priests we are authorized representatives of Christ on the behalf of others.

We sacrifice ourselves in giving into the lives of others.

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

]
 
SteVen said:
We sacrifice ourselves in giving into the lives of others.
Click to expand...
We are the hands and feet of Jesus when we help those in need.

We minister to needs both physical and spiritual.

Water for the thirsty, food for the hungry, clothes for the naked, care for the sick/wounded, visiting those in prison.

Prayer and counsel for those in need. Representing Christ to their spiritual needs.

We offer ourselves. (as a spiritual sacrifice)

Bind yourselves to the altar. A sweet savor unto God.

2 Corinthians 2:15 ASV
For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that [a]are saved, and in them that [b]perish;

]
 
RedFan said:
But my question stands. What are our spiritual sacrifices for?
Click to expand...

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. The spiritual sacrifices are for us.

They are made on our behalf, by others. Again, they are spiritual sacrifices, made before God (who is spirit) by a spiritual priesthood. That is, there are spiritual priests who make these sacrifices in the heavenly realm, as gifts of honor, as gifts of thanks, as atonements for sins, as offerings, and so forth--- for our benefit. But get this-- your body-- your physical shell is the image, or likeness of this whole kingdom that is the spiritual kingdom of God, which is why Jesus taught that this kingdom is within you. Yes, we are the stones-- living stones, that build this city above, but not in some future sense--it already exists. And these spiritual priests, minister to us in the here and now-- serving IN the temple-- that we are part of, that we are built into..... can you see? They serve in us, and before Him, acting as intermediaries bringing the gifts and offerings, the prayers and petitions from us, to Him. And in that priesthood, the Christ was Lord, High Priest-- in turn, in the order of Melchizedek.
 
Mr E said:
Maybe I wasn't clear enough. The spiritual sacrifices are for us.
Click to expand...
I was thinking more along the lines that "spiritual sacrifices" (humility, self-abnegation, and self-giving for the benefit of others) brings us closer to God.
 
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