Advent Words Day 9 ~ Sacrifice

 

Day 9: Sacrifice

“…while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:13-14

The greatest gift we could ever receive, salvation made available to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, should grip our hearts and motivate us to live for Him in every way. His sacrifice is expressed in the words of Titus 2:14 “who gave himself”.

That sacrifice was a work of both the Father and the Son. The Father sacrificed the son he loved.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son…” John 3:16

“He [God the Father] who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all…” Romans 8:32

The Son sacrificed first, some of the privilege and position he had a right to, and then his very life.

“Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:6-8

[Jesus Christ] “who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Galatians 1:4

The word “gave” implies a few things. First, it implies willingness. Christ willingly and voluntarily gave himself. God willingly gave his Son. Both made the sacrifice motivated by love.  We already saw this in John 3:16; it was because God so loved the world that he gave up his son.  But elsewhere we are told of this great motivation as well.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

The word “gave” also implies that this sacrifice was a gift. We do nothing to earn it. It is freely given by the gift-giver. We looked at this when we looked at grace on day 2. Christ’s sacrifice for us is a gift of God’s grace.

Our passage shows us there are two reasons for Christ’s sacrifice:

·        To redeem us from all wickedness.

·        To purify for himself a people that are His very own.

We will look at these two reasons in detail in the days ahead. But for now, the last thing we need to see about Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf is our call to view the sacrifice of Christ as both a model and a reason to live a life of sacrifice as well.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

As I said in the beginning of this post, this gift, this sacrifice of God on our behalf, should grip our hearts and motivate us to live our life for Christ. This is our call to grow in Christ’s likeness and to live as He did, a life of love and sacrifice. We must continually look at this gift with gratitude and respond with willing obedience. As Jesus did.

He died for our sake; we live for His sake.

 

Share how you express today's word on social media using #adventwords2021. You can also share in the Words Challenge Fcebook Group.