Faith Forum by Gloria Wessner - Sacrifice

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Researchers tell us they believe the concept of 'sacrifice' is basic to all of humanity. They say in one way or another that all cultures have practiced sacrifice, though not all of them to the extreme of human sacrifice. It was important to their social beliefs and most of those were religious. As they say it:
“Almost every human being, whether religious or not, throughout history, has 'sacrificed' or 'offered' something in return for a goal. Whether the sacrifice is one of time (as we sacrifice our time to study or to work) or, in the extreme case of human beings, the notion of sacrifice has been with us since the beginning of time.”1
In the first two thirds or so of God's word, often referred to as the 'Old Testament,' that is, the time period before Jesus Christ came, sacrifices of animals (never human which was strictly forbidden by God) were commanded by God. Without going in-depth into the subject, God designed sacrifice as a way for his people to seek forgiveness and to restore a relationship between Him and them. These offerings taught the people and guided them in bringing back their relationship to God, helping them to realize that …“the animal symbolically took the sinner's place and paid the penalty for sin (wrongdoings) and… the animal's death represented one life given so that another life could be saved.” At that time, these symbolic offerings acted as a 'covering' over their wrongdoings – in other words, a temporary solution. These were but substitutes for the punishment the people themselves should have paid for those wrongdoings.
In the last part of God's word, known typically as the 'New Testament,' God made a permanent and lasting solution regarding sacrifice and closing the gap that our wrongdoings made between us and God. The animal sacrifices, up to this point, covered the price of the wrongdoing; but it did not redeem the person himself. However, God's solution did. This is what God himself says about this switch from the animal sacrifices over to his own Son, the perfect sacrifice given for us:
“First, Christ said, 'You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them' (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, 'Look, I have come to do your will.' He cancels the first covenant (which included the sacrifices in the Old Testament) in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest (Jesus) offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy… And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.” (Heb. 10:8-14, 18 NLT)
There is nothing we can add to that perfect sacrifice, already offered. Our part is to accept his sacrifice that he made for us in love and then choose to live our lives for him and not for ourselves. With such a sacrifice made at such a high price – we can go forward with confidence that he has in mind only what's best for us, wherever and whatever that may lead us, because we choose to walk each day hand-in-hand with the best friend we'll ever have.

Readers are encouraged to write Gloria at: gloriawes@hotmail.com.

1.http://gallery.sjsu.edu/sacrifice/home.html