Tag: sacrifice

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1 John

When we fall

1 John

We saw yesterday that though we are children of light and are called to live that way, we do fall at times. And when we do, if we confess our sins and repent, God will forgive us. (1 John 1:9)

Here in these two short verses, we see the basis of that forgiveness.

John tells us,

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ the Righteous One.

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

Again, John emphasizes here that as children of light, we are not to live in darkness. But he then comforts us by saying that if we do fall into darkness, we have someone who defends us. That Jesus himself stands before the Father as our defense attorney.

What is the basis for his defense of us? His atoning sacrifice for us on the cross. What does that mean exactly?

For a lot of pagan cultures, they made sacrifices to appease the wrath of the gods and regain their favor.

John uses the same picture here…with one huge difference. It is not us who makes the sacrifice that appeases the wrath of God and makes him see us with favor once again. Rather, it is God the Father himself who sent his Son as a sacrifice.

As Abraham once put it in a story that foreshadowed his heavenly Father’s work,

God himself will provide the lamb for the [sacrifice.] (Genesis 22:8)

And so God did on the cross. He provided the lamb, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. Jesus who never sinned or did anything wrong, took the punishment for our sins. And as Jesus was on that cross, God poured all his wrath on him.

The result? Jesus now stands with us before the Father and says, “Father, I have paid the price for their sins and failings.”

And the Father answers, “That’s right.” And not only does he dismiss our case, he pours out his love upon us once again.

That’s mercy. That’s grace. It belongs to all who are truly his children. And it comes to us through Jesus Christ.

How then can we not live lives of gratitude for the one who saved us? How can we not want to be like him?

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Philippians

Following the example of Christ

PhilippiansHope

After sharing with the Philippians how they should follow the example of Christ, Paul talks of two men who did just that.

Paul says of a man named Timothy (the same one found in I and II Timothy),

I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests,not those of Jesus Christ. 

But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.  (Philippians 2:20-22)

Paul had exhorted the Philippians earlier,

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (4)

And now here, he tells the Philippians, “Timothy is such a man. So many others live only for themselves.

“But Timothy is different. He has followed Christ’s example and he is genuinely concerned for you and is interested in your welfare. More, he has been faithful in serving with me for the sake of the gospel.”

Paul then commended another man named Epaphroditus.  Epaphroditus apparently had been sent by the Philippians to help Paul in his ministry. But while he was with Paul, he got sick and nearly died. And so Paul was sending him back.

Lest the Philippians think that Epaphroditus was somehow a failure, however, Paul told them, “He is my brother, my fellow worker, and fellow soldier.” More, he told them,

Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. (29-30)

Just as Christ had been willing to lay down his life to do the Father’s will, Epaphroditus had done the same. And so Paul said, “Welcome him with honor. You would do well to follow his example.”

And so would we. How are you living? Are you looking toward the interests of others above your own? Or are you still looking out for number one?

Are you still living for yourself? Or are you willing to do anything the Father tells you, even if it costs you your very life?

Oh it may not cost you your literal life. But God may call you to leave your job. He may call you to leave your country. He may call you to leave your comfortable life in order to serve him. Will you do it?

Will you follow these men’s example? More importantly, will you follow Christ’s?

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Luke Luke 5 Mark Mark 2 Matthew Matthew 9

Mercy-givers

The gospels

Here we see a big difference between Jesus and the religious leaders of the day. A heart of mercy.

Matthew was so excited to be called by Jesus, that he immediately invited Jesus to a great banquet with him and all his friends.

Of course, being an outcast of society, all of Matthew’s friends were also outcasts; fellow tax collectors and other people looked down upon as “sinners.”

But Jesus didn’t hesitate. He gladly agreed, and soon he was dining with Matthew and all his disreputable friends.

How often do we do that? To reach out to those others, even those the “religious” among us have rejected?

One could make the case that Matthew had repented, but I doubt you could make that same case for all his friends. Yet Jesus reached out, and spent time with them. More than that, he enjoyed being with them.

How did the religious establishment respond? They were appalled.

If I were to translate it into modern society, imagine a famous pastor hanging out with gays and lesbians, eating and drinking with them. How would many “religious folk” respond?

Probably the same as these Pharisees. “How in the world can you hang out with those kinds of people? Those sinners?”

But Jesus replied,

It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (Mark 2:17)

In other words, “It is just these kinds of people that I need to be hanging out with. These are the people that need me because they are spiritually sick, whether they know it or not. And if I isolate myself from them, they will die in their sin.”

Matthew then gives us one more thing Jesus told those Pharisees that Mark and Luke don’t, probably because he was there, and Jesus’ words so impressed themselves on him. Jesus told them,

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ (Matthew 9:13)

Jesus was telling them, “You guys are so wrapped up in your laws and traditions. You dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’ when it comes to the law, offering every sacrifice that’s required, and acting so religious.

But that’s not the most important thing God desires.

He desires that you be a mercy-giver. A person that reaches out to those who are lost in their sin. Who spends time with them. Who shows love to them. A person who offers them life and a second chance.

Instead, you isolate yourselves from them, leaving them to die in their sin.

How about you? Do you isolate yourself from sinners, looking down on them because of their sin? Or do you see them as Jesus does? As sick people who need a doctor. Who need a Savior.

Let us be mercy-givers today and every day. For that is what God desires.

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Proverbs

Pleasing the Lord

How do we live lives pleasing to our Lord?

Solomon writes in verse 3,

The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

We can’t hide from God. Not only does he see all our actions, he sees our very hearts.

Solomon wrote,

Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD —
how much more the hearts of men! (11)

In other words, if the grave and hell themselves are open to the eyes of the Lord, how much more are our hearts laid open before him?

So if we want to please the Lord, it cannot just be through our outward actions. We need to have hearts that are fully committed to him as well, because God sees beyond our actions to our very hearts and motives.

Solomon says as much in verses 8–9.

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

The LORD detests the way of the wicked
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

You can sacrifice your time by going to church. But what are you doing the rest of the time? Are you merely living for yourself?

You can sacrifice your money by tithing or even giving to charity. But what about the rest of your money? Are you spending it on things that would please the Lord?

Sacrifices without a true love for God mean nothing to him.

As Solomon writes,

The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but those of the pure are pleasing to him. (26)

If God were to look upon your thoughts at this moment, what would he see? A person whose whole heart is set on pleasing him? Or on pleasing itself?

And when God brings discipline into your life, how do you respond?

We’ve mentioned this in previous blogs, but the same theme arises in this chapter time and again: the importance of humility and the willingness to accept God’s discipline.

Solomon warns,

A fool spurns his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. (5)

And again,

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
will be at home among the wise.

He who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor. (31–33)

So if you want to please the Lord, remember two things.

First, pleasing the Lord can’t be a once-a-week thing on Sunday. It’s impossible to be a part-time Christian. You either are one or you’re not.

God doesn’t only want a part of us. He wants all of us.

Second, if we’re going to please him, we need a humble heart that listens to him when he corrects us.

Only in practicing these two things can we truly please him.