Sermon: Acceptable Worship and Pleasing Sacrifices

14th Sunday after Pentecost, 2010

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

Hebrews 13:1-17

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

One school year, we visited a friend attending Texas A & M in College Station. While on campus, she pointed out to us a certain plot of grass that was set apart from the rest. No one was allowed to walk on the grass. It was deemed unacceptable and it would not please the cadets. It was clear that I was not at liberty to determine what behavior and practice on that campus was deemed acceptable and pleasing. Now before you think that this was just some silly ritual followed on the campus to Texas A & M, note that we have the same type of ideas of what is acceptable and pleasing. We know that it would not be acceptable and pleasing to the county if a person were to ride a motor cycle on the golf course. We know that it would not be acceptable and pleasing if a person drove a car on to Sullivan football field at the high school. We know that it would not be acceptable and pleasing to park a big RV on your neighbor’s front lawn without asking permission. You can’t just go into someone else’s house and make up your own rules of etiquette.

It is the same way in the church. We are called to offer acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices to God. Chapter twelve in the book of Hebrews closes with this remark, "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, ESV) And from today’s lesson in chapter thirteen we hear these words, "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:15-16, ESV)   So what is acceptable worship? What are sacrifices that are pleasing to God? What does it mean to continually offer up sacrifice of praises?

In the late 1700’s, the founding fathers of this nation felt that the freedom of religion was a natural right of all men. However, this understanding was forged out of a belief that the individual has the right to choose what is acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices to God. Also, this feeling was based upon the idea that any religion that teaches man to be good is a good religion and therefore good for society.

In his book Rights of Man, Thomas Paine describes religion as “…man bringing tohis maker the fruits of his heart; and though these fruits may differ from each other, like the fruits of the earth, the grateful tribute of every one is accepted.” And also he says, “Why may we not suppose, that the great Father of all is pleased with variety of devotion.” For Thomas Paine acceptable worship is a fruit of the heart. In other words, if the person is sincere, then the worship is acceptable. Likewise, Paine concluded that God must be pleased with a variety of devotion which shows individual creativity.

In the Old Testament scriptures, God makes it clear what type of worship is acceptable to Him and what sacrifices He is pleased with. He definitely did not accept the worship of the Canaanites nor was He pleased with their sacrifices. Their religion was based upon creation just like that of the Deist in the days of Thomas Paine. Acceptable worship is not determined by what is pleasing to the worshiper, but rather by the One who is worshiped. When Israel tried to copy the style of their contemporaries, they were not accepted and they did not please God. God alone determines what is pleasing and acceptable to Him. 

First, we must understand that these sacrifices do no remove sin. In the book of Hebrews we learn about the sacrificial system instituted by God. Under the Old Testament, the high priest was appointed to act in behalf of men to offer gifts and sacrifices as Hebrews chapter five tells us. (Hebrews 5:1, ESV) However, these gifts and sacrifices that they offered could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper as Hebrews chapter nine tells us. (Hebrews 9:9-10, ESV) These sacrifices offered were shadows of the reality to come which would make us perfect as Hebrews chapter ten teaches us. (Hebrews 10:1, ESV) 

Jesus is the reality both as the true High Priest and as the true sacrifice. For this reason, the Son of God took upon a body in order to die and cleanse us with His blood. Through His sacrificial death we have been sanctified. He put away sins once and for all. Only the sacrifice of Jesus removes sin, makes perfect, and purifies the conscience. By his blood we have been freed from our sins and made into a kingdom and a royal priesthood. (Revelation 1:5-6, ESV)

Second, when we are told to continually offer up acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices to God we recognize that the words “acceptable” and “pleasing” are the same Greek word. Our spiritual sacrifices are acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus because His sacrifice makes us acceptable and pleasing to God. Thus, we are told to offer up these sacrifices through Him. In today’s epistle, we are told, "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice.” (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)   In First Peter chapter two we are told, "As you come to him [Jesus], a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5, ESV) The sacrificial death of Jesus has enabled us to be a royal priesthood as the baptized. 

Third, these sacrifices are done through faith in Christ. Hebrews chapter eleven tells us,“And without faith it is impossible to please him,” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV) Again, we have the same Greek word that refers to the acceptable worship, pleasing sacrifices, and being pleasing to God. When we trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect pleasing sacrifice, we are made perfect and pleasing to God. Hebrews chapter also teaches us that this is the difference between the sacrifice offered by Abel and the one offered by Cain. We are called to offer up sacrifices of praise that are the fruit of lips that confess the name of Jesus. Where there is faith in the name of Jesus, there is fruit from the Holy Spirit.

As His people we are called to offer acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices. Through the waters of Holy Baptism, we have been marked as the children of God and heirs of the kingdom. The pleasing sacrifices from the pleasing priesthood are not optional. As those who are called acceptable by God we are called to offer acceptable worship.

It would be like going to purchase a new car and the salesperson giving to you a list of optional items that are expected to come with the car. As if he asked, “Would you like the optional package that comes with tire? Would you like the optional windows and front windshield? Would you like the optional doors and seatbelts?”   See when you go to purchase a car that has been made to transport you from point “A” to point “B,” these essential items are not optional. You don’t have to wonder whether or not your new car will come with a steering wheel. That’s not an option. It comes with a car that was built for driving.

The LORD your God has created you and redeemed you and made you into His holy priesthood to offer acceptable worship and pleasing sacrifices. In Hebrews chapter eleven we are warned, "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." (Hebrews 10:26, ESV) In today’s epistle, we are given a list of unholy actives that we are to flee from. These activities are not acceptable and they are not pleasing to God. We are to refrain from being unloving, not hospitable to strangers, forgetful of those in prison, sexual immorality, the love of money, dishonor to the leaders in the church, following false teachings about Jesus.

These are unacceptable and not pleasing uses of our bodies that have been made holy through the body of Jesus. In Romans Paul writes,

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2, ESV)

Because Jesus took upon our flesh and died in our place, He has made our bodies holy and acceptable to God. His body was used for our good. Because our bodies are made good by Him, we are to use our bodies for the good of our neighbor. Our good works do not make us good. God does not need our good works but our neighbor does.

It’s because of Jesus, through Jesus, and in faith, trusting what Jesus has done that makes us pleasing and acceptable to God so that we can do acceptable and pleasing things for our neighbor. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, ESV) Jesus is unchangeable. He is holy. In Him, we are holy and those we are being changed from sinners to forgiven sinners who serve other sinners. 

Out of great love for us, Christ gave up His life for us. As He first loved us, we are learning to love others by sacrificing our own selfish desires to serve them. Our sacrifices are the fruit of lips that confess the name of Jesus trusting that He has made us acceptable and pleasing to the Father. Because of Jesus and through Jesus we offer these sacrifices in faith. In this way, we offer acceptable worship and sacrifices that are pleasing to the Lord our God. Amen.