1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 1 of 9

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1 1 Peter Series Spiritual Sacrifices Acceptable To God 1 Peter 2:5 INTRODUCTION 1. An important principle taught in the New Testament is that of "The Priesthood Of All Believers." a. It is true that under the Law of Moses there was a distinction made between priests the common people. b. Even today, many religions professing to be "Christian" have developed a clergy-laity distinction. c. But the New Testament teaches otherwise. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father.- Revelation 1:5b-6a (NLT) You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. - 1Peter 2:9 (NLT) 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 1 of 9

2 2. As "a royal priesthood", our responsibilities are described in our text: And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. - 1 Peter 2:5 (NLT) a. "offer spiritual sacrifices" b. that please God The NIV says "sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" 4. My goal in this lesson... a. Is to make sure that we understand our duties as "a holy priesthood" b. And to encourage us to carry them out faithfully Let's take a closer look at the idea of "spiritual sacrifices"... I. What are spiritual sacrifices? A. The TYPES OF SACRIFICES TO BE OFFERED BY CHRISTIANS Our bodies, as "living sacrifices" 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 2 of 9

3 I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. - Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) 2. A lifestyle characterized by sacrificial love. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. - Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT) 3. Giving God praise and thanksgiving. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. Hebrews 13:15 (NLT) 4. Doing good and sharing with others. 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 3 of 9

4 And don t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. - Hebrews 13:16 (NLT) 5. Even in the way we die for the Lord! For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20 (NLT) B. THE PURPOSE OF THESE SACRIFICES In the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered for one of two reasons... a. For those OUT of fellowship with God, to restore them back to the Lord. b. For those IN fellowship with God, to express thanksgiving, praise, love and devotion. 2. But in the New Testament... a. Only Jesus can provide the sacrifice needed to restore us back to God 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 4 of 9

5 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) b. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that our sacrifices do not "remove sin" nor are we able to "earn our way" into heaven! 3. Christ Followers sacrifice to express thanksgiving and praise, love and devotion, for the goodness and mercy God has shown to us! Such is the nature of the "spiritual sacrifices" we offer to God. But as our text says, they must be "acceptable to God". We can learn some valuable lessons from the Book of Malachi about what constitutes "acceptable sacrifices"... 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 5 of 9

6 II. What makes our sacrifice acceptable to God? A. It must be the best we have to offer. You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. Then you ask, How have we defiled the sacrifices? You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn t that wrong? And isn t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is! says the Lord of Heaven s Armies. - Malachi 1:7-8 (NLT) 1. We dishonor God when we offer rejects. 2. Would we render the same kind of service to our employers, etc.? 3. If not, God would rather someone "shut the doors" or let someone else serve Him. 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 6 of 9

7 Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all? asks the Lord of Heaven s Armies. How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you, says the Lord of Heaven s Armies, and I will not accept your offerings. Malachi 1:9-10 (NLT) B. It must be offered with sincerity and anticipation. 1. Lack of anticipation is evidence of lack of sincerity! 2. Lack of both results in offering "blemished sacrifices", which brings a curse from Him who deserves proper reverence Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king, says the Lord of Heaven s Armies, and my name is feared among the nations! Malachi 1:14 (NLT) 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 7 of 9

8 3. How does this apply to your spiritual sacrifices? a. Like singing praises? b. Like doing good to others? C. Sacrifice must be offered in conjunction with righteous lives. Here is another thing you do. You cover the Lord s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn t accept them with pleasure. You cry out, Why doesn t the Lord accept my worship? I ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. Malachi 2:13-14 (NLT) 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 8 of 9

9 CONCLUSION Beginning last May, we have seen a significant uptick in our financial Giving. It has given us an ability to do a number of things that we thought were impossible. We are appreciative as an Elder Board. What I have been talking about this morning goes beyond sacrificial financial giving. We also need to serve hands on in the ministries of this church. Many times it is easier give sacrificially than to live sacrifially. Several weeks ago Justin and Elya Kantner spoke about moving to Paraguay to be in the mission field there. Not everyone is called to go to far off foreign lands. We are, however, all called to serve Christ sacrificially right where we are. What is God calling you to sacrifice? 1 Peter Series Week 2 Page 9 of 9