Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:1–5

Introduction

A. Physical Israel’s quest for justification ended in failure because they thought they could find it in the offering of lifeless sacrifices.

B. Paul says that the kind of sacrifice that God really wants (and has always wanted for that matter) is one that lives, and lives for Him (Romans 12:1–2).

Discussion

I. The sacrifice that God wants is a living sacrifice.

A. Physical Israel offered thousands of dead offerings throughout their history (1 Kings 3: 4; 8:63).

B. These lifeless offerings were never what God really wanted (Jeremiah 7:21–23; Psalms 51:15–19; Isaiah 1:10–15; Amos 5:21–24).

C. What God really wants is us (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:14–15).

II. This kind of sacrifice demands all that we are.

A. It demands that we surrender to God the use of our physical bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18–20).

B. It also demands the use of our minds, which are constantly being renewed (Matthew 22:37; Colossians 3:2; Philippians 3:8).

C. It demands that we allow the Spirit of God to lead us (Romans 8).

Conclusion

God isn’t interested in the dead offerings of money or anything else that society may value: what He wants is you.