Spiritual Sacrifices

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Hi D____,
Thank you for your questions.
You ask:

Every single sacrifice you read of in the Old Testament, from a mere dove to a great ox, is a type and shadow of Christ. Christ was even our ‘sin and trespass offering’. As such we, too, are to offer ourselves to him in His service as sin and trespass offerings. Our “marred vessel of clay… misses the mark… of the spiritual body… manifestation of the sons of God” we are destined to become. So we certainly qualify as that type of offering, if we lay down our lives in God’s service:

Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

‘Spiritual sacrifices’ are our righteous way of life. Like Christ in our lives, we are both “sin and trespass” and “sweet savor” offerings to God. Notice how Paul phrased this concept:

2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

“Unto God [ we are] as sweet savour of Christ in both those who are being saved and in them who are perishing.” but notice how this sacrifice is perceived by these two groups:

2Co 2:16 To the one [ we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Who is sufficient for what things? The answer is who is sufficient to be the “sweet savor of Christ” as He is presented in the burnt, meat and peace offerings of the Old Testament. Paul has just stated that ” W e are unto God a sweet savor of Christ.”
Few people believe that we are as Christ in this world. But that is what Paul is saying in this verse, and this verse agrees with what John says on this subject:
But now in this next verse he proves his point beyond any doubt:

2Co 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Here we have a critical verse unveiling the corrupters of God’s Word, and it is all hidden behind the word ‘corrupt.’ This is the only place in the New Testament where this word is used. But just look at the definition Strong’s gives this word:

G2585
καπηλευω
kape leuo
kap- ale- yoo’- o
>From καπηλος kape los (a huckster); to retail, that is, (by implication) to adulterate (figuratively): – corrupt.

Those who are adulterating the word of God are doing so because of personal gain. They use God’s word for but one reason and that reason is self gratification. They are ‘hucksters who retail and adulterate’ God’s Word. Those who are “sufficient as sweet savors to God” know and appreciate the admonition of our Lord:

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Did you notice that? There is no Rod Parsley ‘If you will send $10,000 to this ministry I guarantee you that God will heal any three of your sick loved ones of any disease.’
That is an average of $3,333 per healing. At that rate Christ could probably have bought the entire Roman Empire. But Christ had no such shameful strings attached to the physical healings he performed while He was here on this earth in the flesh. He specifically states:

Luk 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

I am not advocating, nor was Christ, that His followers should all be homeless. We are told how Christ’s ministry was financed. But that is another point for another time. What I want you to see is what kind of ‘spiritual sacrifice’ Christ Himself was as compared to the multi- millionaire hucksters parading around as his ministers today as they retail the word of God.
If you want to know what is a spiritual sacrifice, just study the life of Christ. Christ was the perfect spiritual sacrifice. He spoke in love and yet never compromised one iota to accommodate the heretical teachings which were so ingrained into the established church of His day.
I hope this has been of some use to you in helping you to see what is a spiritual sacrifice.
Mike

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