Sacrifices That Please God—Part III – “…for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Hebrews 13 : 16b

“Sacrifices That Please God—Part III” “…for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Hebrews 13 : 16b

It seems very appropriate that God would talk about sacrifices in the epistle to the Hebrews. They knew better than anyone about sacrifices. The Old Testament is filled with special instructions concerning the many offerings that God’s people were to make under the law. Now, God is trying to make the Jews understand that the final sacrifice has been made for sin, and no other is needed, in fact, no other is available. “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin” (Heb. 10:18). Of course, we are referring to the Lamb of God who shed His blood on the cross to take away the sin of the world. (cf. John 1:29). God is pleased or propitiated by Him. When we trust Christ, we are eternally saved and baptized into Christ (cf. Rom. 6:3 & I Cor. 12:13). Now, we have been made priests, commissioned to offer a different kind of offering, such as the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving (Heb. 13:15). In the next verse, we are told that doing good is also a sacrifice that pleases God. How can this be a sacrifice? Try doing good sometime, and you will see.

There are two aspects of doing good. First, it means not doing bad. It’s easy to do wrong and hard to do right. Paul tells us this in Romans 7:15-25. He knew what was wrong, but he couldn’t keep from doing it. He concluded that the problem was ” … sin that dwelleth in me.” (Rom. 7:17) (cont.) — R.C.

Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread” March 26th, 2020 devotional by author DR. REX COBB, Baptist Bible Translators, Bowie, TX. With permission from Tim Green, editor Baptist Bread.

Hebrews 10:18 (KJV) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

John 1:29 (KJV) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Romans 6:3 (KJV) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Hebrews 13:15-18 (KJV) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

Romans 7:15-25 (KJV) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.