"To Do Good and Communicate": Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and communicate and forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased.
Excursions in Exegesis
by: H. Fred Nofer
© 2001 All Rights Reserved Browse Guest Columnists
Topics:Priesthood of the Believer
Texts: Philippians 4:18, 1 Peter 2:5-9, Revelation 1:6
The Christian's Sacrifice
As a matter-of-fact, the New Testament specifically tells believers today that we, all of us, are priests to the Lord (I Peter 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6) and, actually, as priests of the Lord, there are five sacrifices specifically identified which are our duty and privilege to offer to Him. For instance, in the familiar passage, Romans 12:1, we are besought by the Lord through the Apostle Paul to "present our bodies a living sacrifice" to God. He does not ask us necessarily to die for Him, though this has been and may still be the case for many believers, but He does ask us to live for Him daily. He explains how in verse 2. Also Hebrews 13:15 we are told to "offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Here is a minute by minute sacrifice that true Christians today are to make to the Lord constantly. How many other things cross those lips instead of praise and thanksgiving?
The third sacrifice believers today are told to present to the Lord is found in the very next verse: to "do good and communicate." The NASB has "doing good and sharing" and, Paul adds, "with such sacrifices God is pleased." Doing good should be a characteristic of believers in Christ. A fourth sacrifice is recorded in Philippians 4:18 where Paul speaks of the monetary gift the Philippians had sent to him. He confirms that it was received and says that it is "a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God." One of the sacrifices a believer is to offer to the Lord today is his money.
The final sacrifice mentioned in the New Testament that believers are to make to the Lord is also found in Philippians but in chapter 2 and verse 17: "...the sacrifice and service of your faith." Our life of faith and trust and belief in Him is a sacrifice that brings glory to God and peace to us.
These, then, are the five spiritual sacrifices we believers ought to be continually offering to the Lord every day as expressions of our positions as spiritual priests of the living God and our worship of Him.
The Sacrifice of Service
Lest we get spiritual and think we are only to go around thanking God all day, God gave Hebrews 13:16: But to do good and communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
God is well pleased with active service and communication with others on his behalf. Ouch. That's going to cost a little more, huh? Don't worry, with all of God's requirements He gives us a measure of faith to live them out.
A Sermon by Charles Chauncy
The Opening Words
Prepared by Leesa Cross
The Idle-Poor secluded from the Bread of Charity by the Christian Law.
Thessalon 3.10-This we commanded you; that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
The Law of Love, is in a singular and distinguishing Manner, the Law of Christianity. This is MY commandment, says our Saviour, that ye love one another. And again, a NEW Commandment give I unto you, that ye love another. And yet again, By THIS shall all Man know that ye are my Disciples, if ye have love one to another. And by this were the first Christians distinguised from other Man, and known to be the Disciples of Jesus Christ. And they discovered their Benevolence, not in Word only, neither in Tongue, but in Deed and in Truth; never forgetting to do good and communicate, as they had Opportunity. They did not judge, they could ever do too much, in a Way of Charity, for the Relief of the poor and needy.
And of Inconvenience, one would think, could arise from the Liberalities in which they abounded. And yet, it was owing to this, in part at least, that among those who took upon them the Name of Christians, there were some who indulged in Idleness; wither not working at all, or not with a becoming Diligence.
Of this Character there seems to have been a considerable Number among the Christians at Thessalonica. The extraordinary Charities, common in that Day, might encourage those, who were before disposed to be idle, to neglect the Business of their proper Callings. The Hope of having their Wants supplied, by the Bounties of their Christian Friends and Neighbors, might insensibly slack their Diligence, and betray them into an indolent inactive way of Life.
Chauncy, Charles. "The Idle-Poor secluded from the Bread of Charity by the Christian Law-A Sermon. Charitable Impulse in 18th Century America-Collected Papers. Rothman, David J. New York: Arno Press and the New York Times, 1971.
by: H. Fred Nofer
© 2001 All Rights Reserved Browse Guest Columnists
Topics:Priesthood of the Believer
Texts: Philippians 4:18, 1 Peter 2:5-9, Revelation 1:6
The Christian's Sacrifice
As a matter-of-fact, the New Testament specifically tells believers today that we, all of us, are priests to the Lord (I Peter 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6) and, actually, as priests of the Lord, there are five sacrifices specifically identified which are our duty and privilege to offer to Him. For instance, in the familiar passage, Romans 12:1, we are besought by the Lord through the Apostle Paul to "present our bodies a living sacrifice" to God. He does not ask us necessarily to die for Him, though this has been and may still be the case for many believers, but He does ask us to live for Him daily. He explains how in verse 2. Also Hebrews 13:15 we are told to "offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Here is a minute by minute sacrifice that true Christians today are to make to the Lord constantly. How many other things cross those lips instead of praise and thanksgiving?
The third sacrifice believers today are told to present to the Lord is found in the very next verse: to "do good and communicate." The NASB has "doing good and sharing" and, Paul adds, "with such sacrifices God is pleased." Doing good should be a characteristic of believers in Christ. A fourth sacrifice is recorded in Philippians 4:18 where Paul speaks of the monetary gift the Philippians had sent to him. He confirms that it was received and says that it is "a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God." One of the sacrifices a believer is to offer to the Lord today is his money.
The final sacrifice mentioned in the New Testament that believers are to make to the Lord is also found in Philippians but in chapter 2 and verse 17: "...the sacrifice and service of your faith." Our life of faith and trust and belief in Him is a sacrifice that brings glory to God and peace to us.
These, then, are the five spiritual sacrifices we believers ought to be continually offering to the Lord every day as expressions of our positions as spiritual priests of the living God and our worship of Him.
The Sacrifice of Service
Lest we get spiritual and think we are only to go around thanking God all day, God gave Hebrews 13:16: But to do good and communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
God is well pleased with active service and communication with others on his behalf. Ouch. That's going to cost a little more, huh? Don't worry, with all of God's requirements He gives us a measure of faith to live them out.
A Sermon by Charles Chauncy
The Opening Words
Prepared by Leesa Cross
The Idle-Poor secluded from the Bread of Charity by the Christian Law.
Thessalon 3.10-This we commanded you; that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
The Law of Love, is in a singular and distinguishing Manner, the Law of Christianity. This is MY commandment, says our Saviour, that ye love one another. And again, a NEW Commandment give I unto you, that ye love another. And yet again, By THIS shall all Man know that ye are my Disciples, if ye have love one to another. And by this were the first Christians distinguised from other Man, and known to be the Disciples of Jesus Christ. And they discovered their Benevolence, not in Word only, neither in Tongue, but in Deed and in Truth; never forgetting to do good and communicate, as they had Opportunity. They did not judge, they could ever do too much, in a Way of Charity, for the Relief of the poor and needy.
And of Inconvenience, one would think, could arise from the Liberalities in which they abounded. And yet, it was owing to this, in part at least, that among those who took upon them the Name of Christians, there were some who indulged in Idleness; wither not working at all, or not with a becoming Diligence.
Of this Character there seems to have been a considerable Number among the Christians at Thessalonica. The extraordinary Charities, common in that Day, might encourage those, who were before disposed to be idle, to neglect the Business of their proper Callings. The Hope of having their Wants supplied, by the Bounties of their Christian Friends and Neighbors, might insensibly slack their Diligence, and betray them into an indolent inactive way of Life.
Chauncy, Charles. "The Idle-Poor secluded from the Bread of Charity by the Christian Law-A Sermon. Charitable Impulse in 18th Century America-Collected Papers. Rothman, David J. New York: Arno Press and the New York Times, 1971.
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