Topical Bible: Offerings: Christ's offering of Himself

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The concept of offerings in the Bible is deeply rooted in the sacrificial system established in the Old Testament, where offerings were made to atone for sin and to express devotion to God. However, the ultimate fulfillment of these offerings is found in the New Testament through the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ Himself. This act is central to Christian theology, representing the culmination of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Old Testament Background

In the Old Testament, offerings were a crucial part of the covenant relationship between God and His people. Various types of offerings, such as burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings, were prescribed in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 1-7). These offerings served multiple purposes, including atonement for sin, thanksgiving, and fellowship with God. However, they were ultimately insufficient to fully remove sin, as they had to be repeated continually.

Christ's Offering in the New Testament

The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the ultimate and final offering for sin. His sacrificial death on the cross is portrayed as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system. The Epistle to the Hebrews provides a comprehensive theological explanation of Christ's offering, emphasizing its superiority and finality.

1. The Perfect Sacrifice: Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament, Christ's offering was once for all. Hebrews 9:12 states, "He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption." This highlights the sufficiency and completeness of His sacrifice.

2. The High Priest: Jesus is depicted as both the High Priest and the sacrificial offering. Hebrews 4:14-15 describes Him as a High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way, yet without sin. As the High Priest, He offers Himself, making His sacrifice unique and efficacious.

3. Atonement and Reconciliation: Christ's offering achieves what the Old Testament sacrifices could not—complete atonement and reconciliation with God. Romans 5:10 states, "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by His life!" This underscores the transformative power of His offering.

4. The New Covenant: Jesus' offering establishes a new covenant between God and humanity. Hebrews 9:15 explains, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." This new covenant is characterized by the internalization of God's laws and a direct relationship with Him.

5. The Lamb of God: John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). This title connects Jesus to the Passover lamb, symbolizing His role as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

6. Voluntary Offering: Christ's offering was voluntary and motivated by love. Ephesians 5:2 exhorts believers to "walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." His willingness to lay down His life is a model of selfless love and obedience to the Father.

Implications for Believers

The offering of Christ has profound implications for believers. It assures them of forgiveness, grants them access to God, and calls them to live lives of holiness and service. Hebrews 10:19-22 encourages believers to "draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith," made possible by the cleansing power of Christ's sacrifice. Furthermore, believers are called to offer themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1), reflecting the sacrificial love of Christ in their daily lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling smell.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Epistle to the Hebrews
... and offerings, and whole burnt offerings, and offerings for sin ... the words of the
writer himself, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/denney/the death of christ/chapter 4 the epistle to.htm

Leviticus.
... Christ. These offerings are. (a) the burnt offering, in which Christ willingly
offers himself without spot to God for our sins,. (b ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii leviticus.htm

Whether the Effect of Christ's Priesthood is the Expiation of Sins ...
... Objection 3: Further, in the sin-offerings of the Old Law, a he ... 38:3,4. By which
it was signified that the offering up of the true lamb, ie Christ, was the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of christs.htm

Whether Christ was Himself Both Priest and victim?
... the old Law the sacrifice of peace-offerings was offered up ... victim for sin, victim
for a peace-offering, and a ... Reply to Objection 1: Christ did not slay Himself ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ was himself both.htm

Blemished Offerings
... Will an offering of that sort be considered a compliment or ... the measure in which
we have accepted Christ as our ... not offer unto the Lord burnt offerings of that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/blemished offerings.htm

The New Covenant.
... Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin Thou wouldest not, neither ... If Christ's offering of Himself had only ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

The Typical Significance of the Scriptures Declare their Divine ...
... Burnt, the Meal and the Peace "sweet savor" offerings, which proclaimed ... Abel was
a type of Christ. ... was in his shepherd character he brought an offering to God ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter six the typical significance.htm

The Feast at Simon's House
... He accepted the offerings of children, and blessed the ... ever made,"the gift of Himself
as the ... Christ's offering was exceedingly abundant to reach every soul ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 62 the feast at.htm

Christ's Priestly Office
... offered up millions of holocausts and burnt-offerings, we could ... Who redeemeth thy
life from destruction!' Christ gave himself a sin-offering for us ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/4 christs priestly office.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... This was done, not by many offerings, but by one sacrifice, and ... the Scriptures no
such idea as that of Christ perpetually offering himself; it is a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm