The Sacrifice Of God And Man

This study was presented at the Polk County Jail in 2007.  We just touch on some principals and I think, the main concept of the Bible. 

 If we treat others half as good as He treats us, the world would be different place.  We would have no need for jails or police. We would have no need for courts. We wouldn't sue each other. There would be no need.

We can't out-give God. His very nature to give.  Our nature is to be selfish. That is why we must think like Him. So we can mirror his actions - follow His example. 

It becomes apparent that our actions are to mirror God's actions toward us. That may be overly simplistic.

 We readily see, That He expects us to sacrifice or give gifts to others the way He treats us and sacrifices for us.

Rom 12:1-2  21^st Century  KJV

 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.

 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

Beseech – Call near , invite, ask, call you to, intreat, call for, pray, beg, implore urgently

            Rom 15:30,

                       

·        Paul invites us to think about, by begging (he must think what he is saying is important) us in an urgent manner and tells us to listen to his message.

Therefore – so, hence, then

Bretheren –

 1) a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother

2) having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman

3) any fellow or man

4) a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection

5) an associate in employment or office

6) brethren in Christ

a) his brothers by blood

b) all men  - don’t forget “God would that all men be saved”   1Ti 2:4  - Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

c) apostles

d) Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place

Mercies  –  God’s mercy / save sinners by re-establishing His Kingdom. Gal 2:8-9

1.	compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2.	the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.

3.	the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4.	an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5.	something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

6.	at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors.   Also, at one's mercy.

Present -  

1.	to furnish or endow with a gift or the like, esp. by formal act
3.	afford or furnish
11.	to represent, impersonate, or act,
16.	a thing presented as a gift
4.	to hand over or submit

Lets take a look at an old testament sacrifice: - it will become clear that a sacrifice is a gift. 

Leviticus 16:7New International Version (NIV)    ⁷ Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting

The idea here is to make a gift of something, to give something, a gift is always free – or at least it is supposed to be. In this case a sacrifice to the Living God, a gift from a man.

The creation is never greater than creator. We know man could never give anything to God. However, in the case of worship (as is the case with all giving) the act of giving is the true gift. 

·         Gift always free next slide next slide.

·         A gift is always given in love. 

·          What do we call gifts (Christmas, birthday presents – spelled the same way). Remember God’s free Gift in salvation (undeserved) He – presented or gave to us?

·         We can never out give God, in the old test. He put in place a series of animal sacrifices because He had not sent His Son yet to be a perm. Sac for us. Think of that he sent His Son not only to re-establish His Kingdom here on earth but through His Son, a permanent sacrifice or gift was given to each on of us.

your body -  a temple -  1 Cor. 6:19 – A temple is where sacs were made

a living sacrifice – your reasonable service  - acceptable to God

Rom 15:16                  Gal 2:20 – after what He has done for us it’s the least we can do for Him.

                                                We are Crucified with Him – if we are joint heirs with Him Rom 8:17

Like any father all God wants for us is the best.  (His Children)

1.   He thru Paul, tells us to give ourselves over to Him and His way of thinking, His service (by working for Him, in our church, by helping and building each other up, etc. what ever He wants you to do specifically) He speaks to us most of time thru His Word, Pray – listen/spend time being quiet specifically to listen to God. 

2.   He tells us not to be like the unbelieving world but transform or change your thinking to the way He thinks. (He says that the least we can do) – when we do that (the more we think like Him. Or our thoughts line up with His, then it’s easier to discern His voice)

3.   We learn what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God the more we meditate on His Word. It’s a circle of Gods Love toward us: The more we meditate on His Word the more He reveals to us and the more He reveals to us, the more we meditate on His Word.

Consider this in-light of understanding through daily meditation of               God’s Word:

Luke 8:18New International Version (NIV)   ¹⁸ Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

4.   . The more we learn about Him the more we will want to learn - for who can resist then The God of the universe?

(read)  Isaiah 28: 9&10 “line upon line, precept upon precept”

5.   Paul telling us to meditate (think about, mull over, kick around) The Word

6.   When we do this, our view of situations – good or bad, begins to change to the way God see them. This is what He wants for us and tells us to meditate on His Word in many places in the Bible.

Luke 7

1.     Roman Centurion’s Servant   (vs. 1-10)

a)     After teaching  - Sermon On Plain

b)     2^nd year of ministry

c)      Vs 2 – His headquarters after hometown rejection (Matt 4:13)

d)     Centurion in chrg. of 100 soldiers

e)     Understood authority essential (just say the word) – Jesus impressed….bigtime!

2.     Jesus Resurrects Widow’s Son  (vs. 11 – 18)  

a)     Full of compassion

b)     He just happened upon funeral procession.

c)      Jesus acting in His sphere of influence – Fully man – could

Only deal with those in immediate area – not everyone in Israel.

d)      Jesus did influence the world. Although He did heal and teach

Many, He did it within a radius of about 150 miles. He did not

Heal or teach everyone in the world at that time, just those within His immediate sphere of influence.                                 

                       

                                                                                                                                  (maps courtesy of  Generation Word) 

e)     Power over death by Holy Spirit without measure.  (John 3:34)  

f)        He had not yet conquered sin and death but soon would. (Romans 6:, Rev 1:8)                                                                                                      

3.     John The Baptist’s Questions (vs. 19-20)

a)     John in prison  (Matt 4:12)

b)     John must have wondered why he was in prison if Jesus doing miracles.

c)      Perfect God, our understanding is imperfect 

d)     The isolation of prison will make you question many things; who your friends are, what they are thinking, why they do the things you think they are doing, etc.

e)     John was a righteous man, committed to his calling and knew Jesus well. At Jesus’ baptism he was sure Jesus was the Messiah but the isolation of prison made him confirm what he once knew to be true.

f)       I’m convinced John wanted to know whether his ministry was over, if it was time to step aside or keep proclaiming the coming Messiah. 

g)     John became unsure if Messiah was military leader as well as spiritual like everyone else?                                 

4.     Jesus Answers Questions   (vs. 21 – 23)

a)      Jesus understood where John was coming from and did not get offended.

b)     Jesus instead of a rebuke gave John a clear answer from scripture. Jesus knew John knew the signs from The Law and Prophets but just needed to be “coached” that he was right.

c)      Lesson on infallibility of Law. Is what New Testament based on.  (Luke 16:17, Gal. 3:24)

d)     Jesus came to fulfill Law, not abolish it. We are not under Law because He kept it for us. Impossible for man to keep law in fallen state.  (Luke 16:17, Gal. 3:24)

        5.   Jesus’ Testimony Of John The Baptist  (vs. 24 – 29)

               a)   Jesus not only pointing out character of John but also pointing out Johns faithfulness to his calling     

b)   Jesus once again pointing out infallibility of Law and Prophets (Isa 35:3-6)

c)    Prophesy fulfilled  (Mal 3:1, Isa 40:3)

d)   John’s baptism and message was one of repentance – being sorry for not keeping law  and future purification through The Messiah.  (John 1:26-27) 

e)   cannot be emphasized enough:  Pharisees believed they had nothing to repent of,              

5.     Jesus On Unbelief  (vs. 30 -  35)

a)     Pharisees reject baptism because they though themselves had no need to repent and they did not want to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. I believe they knew who He was all along. To acknowledge Him would be to deny self – which is the whole point.  (Gall 2:20)

b)     vs. 35 even babies and children believe – faith of a child (Psalm 8)

6.     First Anointing   (vs.36 – 40)

a)     I am always amazed at the fact that this woman had the fortitude to go to that Pharisees’ house as he was a very powerful man and had great social standing. Would this not be like crashing a party?

b)     Nothing could keep her from worshiping her Lord and Savior.

c)      Not same event as in John, Matt or Mark

7.     Parable Of Creditor  (vs. 41 – 47)

a)     In eyes of Jesus, all are equal, all people are precious an of same value.  

·         Acts 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

b)     All sin and forgiveness the same in eyes of Jesus but not man. Man’s mind finite – must see in degrees to comprehend.

c)      Parables for those looking for truth – “those with ears to hear”

        

         8.   Jesus Forgives Woman Of Sins  (vs. 48 -50)

a)                Did not speak in a parable, wanted to give clear answer so everyone would understand.

b)     Jesus not snotty ever. Sometimes He seems to give a snotty answer, but I am convinced that we think that because the question was. I believe it was not in His nature to be rude.

c)      Jesus was of course critical of the Pharisees.

d)     He was annoyed by the fact that they were controlling people through their position – in essence using God.

                    Once again shows Himself to be God

            e)    Shows compassion

             f)   Her faith in and acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord and Savior cause Jesus to forgive    

                     the sin of her fallen state.  

g)   The fact that she came there despite the disdain of the Pharisees, she wouldn’t be stopped            from worshiping her Lord and Savior.