Topical Bible: The Death of Christ: Acceptable, As a Sacrifice to God

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The death of Jesus Christ holds a central place in Christian theology, particularly as it pertains to the concept of atonement and sacrifice. The New Testament presents Christ's death as an acceptable and sufficient sacrifice to God, fulfilling the requirements of divine justice and providing redemption for humanity.

Old Testament Foreshadowing

The sacrificial system of the Old Testament, particularly the offerings described in Leviticus, foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. The sacrifices of bulls, goats, and lambs were instituted by God as a means for the Israelites to atone for their sins. However, these sacrifices were temporary and pointed forward to a more perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 10:4 states, "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." This sets the stage for the necessity of a more perfect offering.

Christ as the Perfect Sacrifice

The New Testament identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, a title that underscores His role as the ultimate sacrifice. John the Baptist declares in John 1:29 , "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This identification aligns with the Passover lamb, whose blood spared the Israelites from judgment in Egypt, as described in Exodus 12.

The Apostle Paul elaborates on the sacrificial nature of Christ's death in Ephesians 5:2 : "And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." Here, Christ's self-giving love is portrayed as a pleasing aroma to God, echoing the language of acceptable sacrifices in the Old Testament.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

The death of Christ is also seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the suffering servant. Isaiah 53:10 prophesies, "Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer. When You make His soul a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand." This passage highlights the divine purpose and acceptance of Christ's sacrificial death.

Atonement and Reconciliation

The sacrificial death of Christ is central to the doctrine of atonement, which holds that Christ's death reconciles humanity to God. Romans 3:25 states, "God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand." This passage emphasizes the role of Christ's blood in satisfying divine justice and enabling forgiveness.

Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." This exchange underscores the acceptability of Christ's sacrifice, as He bore the sins of humanity, allowing believers to be clothed in His righteousness.

The Once-for-All Sacrifice

Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament, Christ's sacrifice is described as once-for-all. Hebrews 9:26 affirms, "But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself." This definitive act underscores the sufficiency and acceptability of Christ's offering, rendering further sacrifices unnecessary.

Divine Acceptance and Exaltation

The resurrection and exaltation of Christ serve as divine confirmation of the acceptability of His sacrifice. Philippians 2:8-9 states, "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names." The exaltation of Christ is a testament to the Father's acceptance of His sacrificial death.

In summary, the death of Christ is portrayed in the New Testament as an acceptable and perfect sacrifice to God, fulfilling the requirements of the Old Testament sacrificial system, satisfying divine justice, and providing a means of reconciliation between God and humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
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

1 Thessalonians 5:10
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Sacrifice
... of the Death of Christ. 1. Christ died, not that we should be excused from offering,
but that we might be enabled to offer the one acceptable sacrifice to God, ...
//christianbookshelf.org/beibitz/gloria crucis/viii the sacrifice.htm

Whether Christ Died Out of Obedience?
... it is written (Rom.5:10): "We are reconciled to God by the death of His Son," in
so far as Christ's death was a most acceptable sacrifice to God, according to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ died out of.htm

Whether we were Reconciled to God through Christ's Passion?
... 10): "We are reconciled to God by the death of His ... I answer that, Christ's Passion
is in two ways the ... way, inasmuch as it is a most acceptable sacrifice to God ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we were reconciled to.htm

What a Sacrifice Is, and what are the Species of Sacrifice.
... by the Holy Ghost, ie, that the Gentiles might be offerings acceptable to God ... in
the Law the slaying of victims signified both the death of Christ and the ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 30 what a sacrifice.htm

St. Paul, all Through, Promises Eternal Life to the Body.
... challenge pronounced against it: "O death, where is ... course after the resurrection,
because Christ Himself was ... as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xlvii st paul all through.htm

The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the Best Knowledge
... The death of Jesus Christ has turned ... for, and knowledge of him who died and rose
again, to render all, even our most ordinary deeds, acceptable in the ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the knowledge of jesus christ.htm

In the Name of Christ
... but one God, who is a Spirit, who hears prayer, there is but one spirit of acceptable
prayer ... Christ's life and work, His suffering and death"it was ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter xi in the name.htm

Christ Our High Priest.
... under the Christian dispensation can not offer acceptable worship as ... death, hence
it was after His death that He ... It is through Christ as high priest that we ...
/.../xi christ our high priest.htm

Priest and victim
... was strong and vigorous even at the moment of his death. ... but we know that our Lord
Jesus Christ "offered up ... we are certain that he offered an acceptable and an ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/priest and victim.htm

The Voice of the Blood of Christ
... offered, however costly they might be, and however acceptable to God ... Blood for blood!"
The murderer must die the death. But what saith Christ's blood in heaven? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the voice of the blood.htm