Jesus is our great High Priest who offered himself as an all-sufficient, once-and-for-all substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. But Holy Scripture teaches us that we are all priests of a holy priesthood who offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Christ (1 Peter 2:5). These sacrifices are not sin offerings (expiatory), for that work was performed by our High Priest. They are of the nature of consecration offerings and are typified especially by the grain offerings of the Old Testament.

What are some of the offerings of consecration which we bring to our God as his holy priests? Obviously, we should consider the offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice, laid on God's altar in proper response to his mercy (Romans 12:1). He who understands the nature of a gracious salvation when he actually deserved eternal wrath can find no other outlet for his gratitude than to offer himself body and soul to the God who has saved him.

And as God uses us to lead people to Christ, the fruit of our labors in evangelism, when blessed and sanctified by the effectual work of the Holy Spirit, allows us to bring these precious souls to God as an offering of consecration, as Paul so offered his Gentile converts (Romans 15:16). God is glorified with such a sacrifice.

The fruit of our lips, in giving thanks to God in holy praise to his name, is a sacrifice (Hebrews 13:15). Especially is this an appropriate sacrifice when offered in the context of holy Christian assembly on the Lord's day, although it is appropriate anywhere at anytime. Let us remember that although we are edified by worship and enjoy the experience, that worship is first and foremost a sacrifice of praise to our God. And that sacrifice must be offered continually and in profound thanksgiving.

Our lives of doing good and sharing with others becomes a sacrifice that is acceptable to God (Hebrews 13:16). Paul echoes this thought in 2 Corinthians 9 (see especially vv. 12-13) in urging these brothers to give for the needs of others. Paul calls the gift which Epaphroditus brought him from the Philippian church a "sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God" (Philippians 4:18).

Paul says that as God leads us triumphantly in Christ, our lives exude the fragrance of his knowledge. Of course, he refers to the teaching and influence of Christians in the world which becomes the wonderful fragrance of Christ, an aroma of life leading to life among those who are being saved while being an aroma of death among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

And, finally, for God's holy people, the ongoing aroma of Christ's love for us in giving himself for our sins on the cross and becoming an offering and a sacrifice to God, a sweet-smelling aroma, becomes an example and guide for our lives. Paul writes to the Ephesian church and urges them to imitate his example in their daily lives, walking in the same spirit of love in our daily lives with each other.

How wonderful to enjoy the privileges of being a holy priesthood. May we offer our sacrifices continually and with reverence and godly fear.