13.2 Willingness to offer and sacrifice

13.2 Willingness to offer and sacrifice God. The determining factor in whether He graciously accepts an offering is the attitude of the one bringing gifts to Him. The Mosaic Law prescribed a multifaceted, strictly ritualised sacrificial service. It included burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offer- ings, and trespass offerings that were presented to God (Leviticus 1–7). Apart from the daily sacrifices for the morning and evening, the priests would, on certain days in the calendar, bring special offerings on behalf of the people. The sins of the people of Israel were thereby covered. Furthermore, there were sacrifices which individual Israelites made for various purposes, for ex- ample to atone for unconscious trespasses (Leviticus 4 et seq.) or bodily un- cleanness (Leviticus 15: 14 et seq.). All of the Old Testament sacrificial service, as determined in accordance God’s will, lost its significance once and for all through Christ’s sacrifice (Hebrews 8 to 10: 18). In the New Testament, sacrifice takes on a new dimension. Thus Apostle Paul calls upon the Christians to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Romans 12: 1). This means that one should fashion one’s life in accordance with the standards of the gospel: Christians surrender themselves to God with everything they have and are. 13.2.2 Jesus Christ—the model of willingness to sacrifice The conception of sacrifice demonstrated in Romans 12: 1 is to be seen against the backdrop that Jesus Christ gave His body—that is Himself—out of love, as a gift and sacrifice for us (Ephesians 5: 2; Hebrews 10: 10). For be- lievers, Jesus’ sacrifice is holy and incomparable. They are aware that only Christ’s sacrifice has the power of redemption. Even though no other sacrifice can be compared with that of the Lord, His willingness to make this sacrifice serves as an example to be emulated. Already before His suffering and death, Christ’s willingness to sacrifice was revealed in His self-abasement (Philippians 2: 6–8). His devoted love was already evident in the fact that He had left the glory of His Father in heaven, 455 13 New Apostolic Christians and their life of faith come to earth, renounced His divine form, and taken on the lowliness of human nature. Apostle Paul made this the measure for every Christian’s conduct: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2: 3–4). This demands a willingness to offer and sacrifice that should also be manifest in congregational life. 13.2.3 Willingness to offer and sacrifice based on faith, gratitude, and love A sacrifice in the Christian sense should not be considered an enforced obliga- tion. Neither should it be made in expectation of reward, but rather freely, out of faith, out of gratitude, and out of love. If one sacrifices with such an attitude, it will no longer feel like a sacrifice, even if it should require great effort. So it is that believers often do not think of it as a burden, but rather a joy, to engage their gifts and talents for the benefit of the congregation and their neighbour. The willingness to offer and sacrifice springs forth from love. If the willingness to offer and sacrifice is defined by love, the believer ful- fils the will of God and acts in the mind of Jesus. Those who give of that which they have received—be it in material or non-material gifts—thereby express their thankfulness and love. In Hebrews 13: 16 we are admonished to “do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased”. The willingness to offer and sacrifice may find its expression in many forms. Much of what takes place in congregational life is only made possible through the members’ deep conviction and love for God and His work. Thus many brothers and sisters in faith donate a considerable portion of their free time, energy, and abilities in service to God and the community: many help along in the music and instruction of the Church, others take on tasks relat- ing to the care of the church property and building, decorating the altar, and other duties. With few exceptions, ministers work in an honorary capacity. 456