Sacrifice and Atonement

Animal sacrifice is one of those things in the Bible that can be hard for modern readers to come to terms with. Though it may seem strange, animal sacrifice was a common practice across the ancient world. The practice is introduced in the Bible in Genesis 22 when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of surrender. 

Wait, what?! 

Let’s back up. God had promised Abraham that he would bless the world through his family, but instead of trusting and surrendering to God, Abraham tried to fulfill the promise on his own. This led to broken relationships, oppression, and violence. So God tested Abraham to see if he would give up his way and trust in God’s way. And Abraham trusted God, following his instruction to sacrifice his son, and, right on time, God provided a ram as a sacrificial substitute. The story of Abraham and the practices of sacrifice in the Torah all point us to Jesus. Jesus followed God’s plan for blessing the world and became the sacrificial substitute. And Jesus’ sacrifice is one we can rely on. When we go to the mountain to sacrifice ourselves to God, we’ll find Jesus there offering himself in our place. In this week’s study, we’ll reflect on the concept of becoming “living sacrifices” in response to Jesus’ ultimate act of sacrifice. 

- Jon Collins

Here's the intro by Jon 

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  Romans 12  THE VOICE

       Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. 2 Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete. 

 Paul urges those who read and hear his letter to respond to the good news by offering their bodies—eyes, ears, mouths, hands, feet—to God as a “living sacrifice.” Paul knows well enough that sacrifices end in death, not life. But the sacrifice of Jesus changes everything. His resurrection steals life from death and makes it possible for those who trust in Him to become a sacrifice and yet live. But how do we live? We do not live as before, wrapping ourselves in the world and its bankrupt values. We live in constant renewal and transformation of our minds. = THE VOICE 

 3 Because of the grace allotted to me, I can respectfully tell you not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith. 4 For in the same way that one body has so many different parts, each with different functions; 5 we, too—the many—are different parts that form one body in the Anointed One. Each one of us is joined with one another, and we become together what we could not be alone. 6 Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given. If prophecy is your gift, then speak as a prophet according to your proportion of faith. 7 If service is your gift, then serve well. If teaching is your gift, then teach well. 8 If you have been given a voice of encouragement, then use it often. If giving is your gift, then be generous. If leading, then be eager to get started. If sharing God’s mercy, then be cheerful in sharing it. 9 Love others well, and don’t hide behind a mask; love authentically. Despise evil; pursue what is good as if your life depends on it. 10 Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers. Be first to honor others by putting them first. 11 Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work. Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord. 12 Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer. 13 Share what you have with the saints, so they lack nothing; take every opportunity to open your life and home to others. 14 If people mistreat or malign you, bless them. Always speak blessings, not curses. 15 If some have cause to celebrate, join in the celebration. And if others are weeping, join in that as well. 16 Work toward unity, and live in harmony with one another. Avoid thinking you are better than others or wiser than the rest; instead, embrace common people and ordinary tasks. 17 Do not retaliate with evil, regardless of the evil brought against you. Try to do what is good and right and honorable as agreed upon by all people. 18 If it is within your power, make peace with all people. 19 Again, my loved ones, do not seek revenge; instead, allow God’s wrath to make sure justice is served. Turn it over to Him. For the Scriptures say, “Revenge is Mine. I will settle all scores.”[a] 20 But consider this bit of wisdom: “If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink; because if you treat him kindly, it will be like heaping hot coals on top of his head.”[b] 21 Never let evil get the best of you; instead, overpower evil with the good. 

Footnotes
12:19 Deuteronomy 32:35
12:20 Proverbs 25:21–22
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Sacrifice and Atonement Video by The Bible Project

 In the letter to the Romans, Paul writes about Jesus’ sacrificial mercies towards us and invites us to put our hope in these mercies. In light of what Jesus sacrificed, Paul calls us to offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” in response. This means relying on what Jesus has already accomplished through the cross and joining in his sacrificial lifestyle—becoming like him. This is a totally different way to live because the world teaches us to pursue goodness, pleasure, and perfection apart from Jesus. When we become living sacrifices, we are transformed by the good, pleasing, and perfect will of Yahweh, leading to a life of sacrificial love and humility that serves others and overcomes evil with good. 

What stands out to you most in this chapter from Paul's words to the Church in Rome?   What happens to communities when we rely on Jesus’ sacrifice but neglect to join him in a sacrificial lifestyle? Why is belief followed by action so important? (Consider Belief without Action... now imagine Action without Belief.  How can we find the proper balance?)

Paul gives some practical guidance for what it means to be a living sacrifice. A transformed lifestyle includes a humble mindset (3-5), that serves in community (6-13), and overcomes wrongdoing with good (14-21). - Jon Collins

How did Jesus model and empower this lifestyle? How is this lifestyle different from what you’ve seen in the world, and how does it display Yahweh’s good, pleasing, and perfect will? What is one area where you relate more to the world’s lifestyle than to Jesus’ humble, serving, and overcoming lifestyle? 

Let us all pray for a renewed mindset. 

Jesus’ humble sacrifice made us one in him. Reflect on the connection between sacrifice, humility, and unity in verses 1-5. 

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The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.