Sacrifice lies at the very heart of religion.  Very early in the text of Sacred Scripture Abel’s offering of “the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof” is mentioned (Gen. 4:4).  Abel offered by faith (Heb. 11:4), but one cannot do something by faith unless a word from God has first been given to instruct (Rom. 10:17).  Thus, we conclude that God must have originated the practice of sacrifices and instructed Cain and Abel to offer them.  While Abel took God at his word, Cain did not (Gen. 4:5).  The rejection of Cain’s offering only makes sense if he had refused to follow God’s previous instructions, not recorded for us in Holy Writ.

From the time of Genesis 3, when sin had entered into the world, sacrifice was necessary for man to have a restored relationship with God.  God decreed the penalty of death for sin (Gen. 2:17).  Because man sinned, he must suffer the penalty of sin; however, God devised a way that His law could be honored while at the same time He offered mercy to mankind, “to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26).

Animals took man’s place in suffering the penalty of sin throughout the Old Testament. Blood had to be shed for the remission of sins (Heb. 9:22).  After Cain and Abel, the Bible records Noah gathering the animals to be placed on the ark – the clean by sevens and the unclean by two (Gen. 7:2).  The additional clean animals were gathered for sacrifice later when the flood waters were assuaged and the land was dry enough for them to exit (Gen. 8:20).  Animal sacrifices were offered by the patriarchs (Gen. 22:13), detailed in the law of Moses (Leviticus), and were still practiced at the time when Jesus was on the earth preparing to die for the sins of the world (Luke 22:7-8).

All of these animals sacrifices could not take away sin (Heb. 10:4), but they looked forward to their fulfillment: Jesus Christ’s death and mediation, a better sacrifice that once and for all would pay for sin (Heb. 9:23-26).  Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29), a plan God had from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). Perhaps because we live on this side of the cross, with the sacrifice already made, we are tempted to take for granted the sacrifice made for us.  Whenever we sin, we do not have to see death right in front of our eyes for what we’ve done.  Do we think of sin as no big deal?  God has given us instructions to remember and cherish the sacrificial death of Christ every week when we come together (1 Cor. 11:17-29).  Do we take the Lord’s Supper lightly?  The more we grasp how monumental Jesus’ death was for us, the more we will be motivated to live for Him, “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15).

-Mark Day

A steward is one entrusted with caring for the goods of a superior.  The Bible reveals that often stewards were set over an entire household (Gen. 15:2; 39:1-9; 43:19; Matthew 20:8), though the same word in the original can also refer to a guardian or curator (Gal. 4:2).  The apostle Paul recognized that he was a steward of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1).

Really all Christians are stewards (1 Peter 4:10).  In fact, every human being, Christian or not, is a steward of what God has bestowed (Matt. 5:45; James 1:17). In reality we own nothing.  We came into this world with nothing and we will leave it with nothing (Job 1:21; Ecc. 5:15; 1 Tim. 6:7).  Everything really belongs to our superior: God (Psa. 24:1).  As stewards we will be held accountable for how we have managed what the Lord has placed in our charge (Luke 16:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:2).  Those who have faithfully managed what God has entrusted them will be recompensed by being ruler over many things, but those who mismanage will be punished (Matt. 25:14-30).

The most valuable possession with which God has entrusted each of us is the soul.  Jesus asked, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).  One’s soul is more valuable thant all the possessions the world can boast.

Our souls belong to God (Ezek. 18:4). At death, they will be returned to His possession (Ecc. 12:7).  God did not design the soul to be lost.  He gave His own Son as a sacrifice so that through His blood we can be saved (John 3:16; Heb. 5:8-9; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). He has provided the power for our souls to be saved in the Gospel (Rom. 1:16), which is His word (James 1:21).  We must choose to save our souls (Acts 2:40) by getting in the water as God has directed (1 Pet. 3:21) and continuing in a faithful life of service (Gal. 6:9; Heb. 10:38-39; Rev. 2:10).

Sadly, however, there are many who will choose to waste what God has given them and lose this most valuable possession.  If a man does nothing, then his soul will be lost and the torment he suffers in the life to come will be in the face of all that God has provided and intended for him (Matt. 25:25-30).  How are you caring for your most valuable possession?

– Mark Day

Certainly withdrawal of fellowship, the final phase of church discipline, is rarely convenient, but it is the Lord’s directive (2 Thessalonians 3:6). It certainly was easier for the church at Corinth to remain proud in their religion rather than dealing with the fornicator in their midst, but it was not what God wanted (1 Corinthians 5:2). Paul, appealing to the authority of the Lord, commands, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:4-5). The purpose of this discipline is to try to save the soul of the individual who presently is not repenting of sin.

However, even if the impenitent brother/sister is not swayed by withdrawal, at least the sinful influence is removed.  First Corinthians 5:6 asks, “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” If one in the midst of the body of Christ persistently engages in a public sin without facing discipline, then others in the congregation will feel free to engage in open sin as well. If this attitude permeates a congregation long enough, returning to the Lord’s way may take the withdrawal of so many that a split in the congregation may occur as a result. It is best then to follow this command and nip each problem in the bud before the sinful influence spreads. The purity of the church is an oft-forgotten aim of withdrawal; regardless of whether the disciplined person repents the purity of the church will be maintained.

Some wonder about the legal ramifications of such an action; others are concerned about the reputation of the church in the community when this practice is administered.  But the bottom line is, when it comes to carrying out this command, (or any of our Lord’s commands for that matter), we should look up to God, rather than looking around to see which way the wind is blowing. We must learn to trust God’s wisdom in this matter. This is an oft-neglected command not because it is difficult to understand but because it is difficult to administer. It has never been easy to follow this, but it is so essential to the health of the church.

–Mark Day

All Christians should be studying their Bible. Bible study is a lifelong pursuit, an enjoyable endeavor that does not end until we close our eyes in the sleep of death. Growing in our knowledge of God’s Word will increase our faith, Romans 10:17. Bible study is to be a major part of our lives and as such, I offer some thoughts on Bible study.

1. I Recommend Getting a Good Bible. Not only should it be a reliable translation (the King James Version and the American Standard Version are the two most accurate in my view), but I also mean a good quality Bible. I developed a preference for wide margin Bibles early in my Christian life. However, the one I purchased initially was bonded leather. After 5 years I had to have it rebound. I have replaced it now with a good quality leather bound Bible. If you want your Bible to last for years of longer use, a good quality Bible is important.
2. Decide A Specific Time for Bible Study and Develop a Habit. The time you choose to study daily will vary from person to person. One may prefer to study shortly after arising before beginning their day in earnest. Some study at lunch time at work. Some prefer the quiet time of the evening to wind down from the day in Bible study. Whatever time you choose, make it a habit. We develop good habits and we develop bad habits. Bad habits are hard to break, but so are good ones. The world will try to crowd into your life and crowd out your Bible study time. Be firm in your resolve to study your Bible and resist anything that would take you away from that time in your day.
3. Be Systematic in Bible Study. A person decided to study their Bible and not knowing how to begin decided to let their Bible just fall open and pick a verse at random and see what they would learn. Letting their Bible fall open and picking a verse at random, they pointed at 1 Samuel 31:6, “And Saul died…” Well they said to themselves, I learned that Saul died. The next day they decided to try their “method” again and let the Bible fall open, pointed at a verse, and read Acts 9:26, “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples…” Shutting their Bible the person exclaimed “I can’t understand the Bible. At one point it has Saul dead, then later has him going into Jerusalem”. This humorous illustration (I thought it was humorous anyway) points to the fact that if we just jump from one chapter to another, this method will not increase our understanding of the Bible. Choose a book of the Bible to study, or a topic, or a character (could it be the Saul’s in our illustration was not the same person?). Read the Bible through or the New Testament through. Bible study is much more effective if an orderly method is used.
4. Take Notes. Keep a notepad next to your Bible when you study. Write down any questions that may arise so you can go back to them at some point. Do this as you study as you may forget what your question was. Your spouse, Bible class teacher, elder, preacher, or a good commentary can help you with the answers.
5. Make Bible Study a Priority. In our daily life of “to do lists”, don’t put Bible study at the bottom. If we really want to know the will of the Lord, if we want to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), and increase in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10) we will put daily Bible study at the top of our daily to do list.

-Jerry D. Sturgill