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Spiritual sacrifices are any words or deeds motivated by a desire to glorify God alone. Jesus promised us rewards for every kind action done in His name (Mark 9:41; Revelation 22:12). But we don’t offer spiritual sacrifices for what we will get out of it.
Offering up spiritual sacrifices is a way to draw closer to God and live a life that is pleasing to Him by aligning our hearts and actions with His will, turning away from worldly ways, and cultivating a relationship with Him.
The NT explicitly lists the spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5) that the Holy Nation of Priests must offer: Heb 13:15 - Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. Heb 13:16 - And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
What does it mean to offer God spiritual sacrifices through Christ? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper answers that question from 1 Peter 2:4–8.
The Bible has a lot to say about spiritual sacrifices. At a high level, spiritual sacrifices refer to offerings and acts of worship we make to God from the heart. They go beyond external rituals and physical sacrifices to involve our inner being – our spirit.
The only sacrifices that we now can offer are spiritual sacrifices of praise and good deeds, and these may only be offered “through Him.” If you have not come to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the substitute for your sins, you may not offer anything to God.
Spiritual sacrifices are sacrifices from Christ and through Christ and for Christ. They get their power from the Spirit of Christ, they get their content from the Word of Christ, and they have their goal in the glory of Christ.
Any self-dedicating act of the inner man; the devout, renewed, consecrated spirit, e.g. Christian benevolence (Philippians 4:18); "to do good and to communicate" (Hebrews 13:16); "mercy" and "knowledge of God," instead of material and outward sacrifice .
Our lives should be “spiritual sacrifices” that God will accept (1 Peter 2:5). In contrast, most aspects of the sin and trespass offerings are not described as a sweet aroma. These offerings are given because of sins, and God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19).
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The point here is not to present to God your bodies and not your mind or heart or spirit.