6 Attributes of a Christian - Part 1 Sacrifice

Our men’s group at church just completed a six-week Bible study that was centered on those who are truly persecuted in the world for their Christian faith. The study comes from the organization The Voice of the Martyrs and centers on six attributes that the people we met in the study, exhibit in their lives. As I thought about those people across this world who are not free to worship without risking their lives, as we are here in America, it became clear that these six attributes are just as important to us in our own Christian lives.

The six attributes are sacrifice, courage, joy, perseverance, forgiveness, and faithfulness. I think it would be good to take a glance at what God says to each of us about these attributes and then think about how we can apply these to our own, personal walk.

The first in the list is sacrifice. Certainly, those who live and serve in places where faith in Christ can and does get people killed and imprisoned, we see sacrifice. Sacrifice for them, is an everyday experience. But what about us? Are we expected to sacrifice?

Jesus said this in Luke 9:23
And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

That sounds like sacrifice. If we want to follow Jesus we must deny ourselves. The dictionary defines sacrifice as “destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else” and “something given up or lost.” Surrender, it’s a good word to describe the Christian life.

To the persecuted people of the world, sacrifice is real. Safety and comfort have been surrendered. When you call yourself a Christian in Iraq, you’ve lost a lot immediately. In America, we have to be more involved in our sacrifice.

What does sacrifice mean to the American Christian? What is expected of us? Again, the simple answer is found in the Bible.

Romans 12:1
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.

Paul’s appeal is clear and it lines up with Jesus commanding us to deny ourselves. Sacrifice to the New Testament Christian is commanded and that sacrifice is expected to be a total sacrifice of ourselves to God. Hebrews, chapter 13 lists three things that become our sacrifice.

Hebrews 13:15-16
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.  

Praise God, do good, and share with others. This kind of sacrifice pleases God.

But as we look back at the Old Testament we see that it is possible to sacrifice with a wrong heart.

Psalm 51:16-17
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

The psalmist was not saying the people were not to continue to follow the sacrificial laws. He was pointing out that externals are not how God judges His people; He judges hearts. He looks at motive. This does not change for us as New Testament Christians. Of course, God wants us to sacrifice things by using them to shine the light of Christ. But we must search our hearts and be sure our motives are pure. Hear the Word of God as written by Peter.

1 Peter 2:4-5
 As you come to him, 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.

What are spiritual sacrifices? They are things such as prayer, thanksgiving, praise, and repentance. But when our actions are motivated purely in love, even giving our time, our money, and any other practical, physical act done for others in Jesus’ name, are spiritual sacrifices.

New Testament Christians are supposed to sacrifice. Not to earn our salvation, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice who has settled the matter of our guilt forever. But we are, in response to what we have been given, commanded to give back.

Some Christians will die physically for their faith in Christ. Others will suffer the loss of many things and life will be harsh. But all of us need to learn what sacrifices God wants from us. The answer is found in seeking God’s will through prayer and reading His Word. Then let the Holy Spirit be your guide.