The Fragrant Offering: Understanding Christ's Sacrifice

Devotional

Day 1: The Finality of Christ's Sacrifice

The sacrifice of Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of old, which could never fully remove sins, Jesus' self-offering was a once-for-all act that perfected those who are sanctified. This decisive act brought forgiveness and cleansing to all who believe, marking the end of the old system and the beginning of a new covenant. Jesus' sacrifice was not just a historical event but a transformative moment that continues to impact believers today. It calls us to live in the reality of this completed work, embracing the forgiveness and sanctification it offers. [02:22]

Hebrews 10:10-12 (ESV): "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."

Reflection: How does understanding the finality of Jesus' sacrifice change the way you approach God in prayer and worship today?

Day 2: The Fragrance of Obedience

Jesus' sacrifice was a fragrant offering to God, pleasing because of His perfect obedience. This obedience, even unto death, led to His exaltation, as God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name. The fragrant offering signifies God's pleasure in the Son's obedience and sacrifice, which was both a curse and a blessing. Jesus' obedience is a model for us, calling us to live lives that are pleasing to God through our own acts of obedience and love. [04:40]

2 Corinthians 2:15 (ESV): "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you offer your obedience to God as a fragrant offering today?

Day 3: The Mystery of Dual Realities

The mystery of Jesus' sacrifice lies in its dual nature: He bore the curse and wrath of God for our sins, yet His obedience was infinitely pleasing to God. This reveals the depth of God's salvation plan, where in the moment of Jesus' greatest suffering, God saw Him as both condemned and infinitely pleasing. This dual reality should deepen our admiration, love, and worship of God, as we recognize that through Jesus' sacrifice, we are delivered, forgiven, accepted, and adopted as loved children of God. [09:24]

Isaiah 53:10-11 (ESV): "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities."

Reflection: How does the dual nature of Jesus' sacrifice challenge your understanding of suffering and obedience in your own life?

Day 4: Condemnation and Beauty in Sacrifice

In Jesus' sacrifice, God was able to see both condemnation and beauty. This dual perspective should deepen our admiration and worship of God, as we recognize the profound mystery of our salvation. Jesus' sacrifice was both a curse and a fragrant offering, revealing the complexity and depth of God's love and justice. As we reflect on this, we are invited to see our own lives through the lens of this mystery, understanding that God can bring beauty out of our brokenness. [10:35]

Romans 5:8-9 (ESV): "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust God to bring beauty out of brokenness?

Day 5: Walking in Love as Adopted Children

Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are delivered from condemnation and adopted as loved children of God. This truth should inspire us to walk in love, imitating God as we live out our faith. As adopted children, we are called to reflect the love and grace we have received, living lives that are marked by love, forgiveness, and compassion. This calling is not just a duty but a privilege, as we participate in the divine nature and share in the mission of God in the world. [11:18]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: How can you intentionally walk in love today, reflecting your identity as an adopted child of God?

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians 5:1-2, we are called to be imitators of God, walking in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. This passage reveals a profound mystery and glory in the sacrifice of Jesus. The Old Testament sacrifices, which were repeated and could never fully take away sins, pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Jesus' self-sacrifice was the final, decisive act that ended the old sacrificial system, as He offered Himself once for all, perfecting those who are sanctified.

The sacrifice of Jesus was not only a necessary act for our salvation but also a fragrant offering to God. It was pleasing to God because of Jesus' perfect obedience, even unto death. This obedience led to His exaltation, as God bestowed upon Him a name above every name. The fragrant offering signifies God's pleasure in the Son's obedience and sacrifice, which was both a curse and a blessing. Jesus bore the wrath and curse of God for our sins, becoming a curse for us, so that we might be relieved of our condemnation and forsakenness.

This dual reality of Jesus' sacrifice—being both a curse and a fragrant offering—reveals the mystery of God's salvation plan. In the moment of Jesus' greatest suffering, God saw Him as both condemned and infinitely pleasing. This mystery should deepen our admiration, love, and worship of God, as we recognize that through Jesus' sacrifice, we are delivered, forgiven, accepted, and adopted as loved children of God.

Key Takeaways

1. The sacrifice of Jesus is the final and decisive act that fulfills and ends the Old Testament sacrificial system. His self-offering was once for all, perfecting those who are sanctified and bringing forgiveness and cleansing to all who believe. [02:22]
2. Jesus' sacrifice was a fragrant offering to God, pleasing because of His perfect obedience. This obedience led to His exaltation, as God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name. [04:40]
3. The mystery of Jesus' sacrifice lies in its dual nature: He bore the curse and wrath of God for our sins, yet His obedience was infinitely pleasing to God. This reveals the depth of God's salvation plan. [09:24]
4. In Jesus' sacrifice, God was able to see both condemnation and beauty. This dual perspective should deepen our admiration and worship of God, as we recognize the profound mystery of our salvation. [10:35]
5. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are delivered from condemnation and adopted as loved children of God. This truth should inspire us to walk in love, imitating God as we live out our faith. [11:18]
** [11:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Introduction to Ephesians 5:1-2
[00:36] - The Greatest Event in History
[01:19] - Jesus' Sacrifice as the Final Offering
[02:22] - The End of the Old Testament Sacrificial System
[03:36] - The Fragrant Offering
[04:25] - Jesus' Obedience and Exaltation
[05:11] - The Lord's Will in Jesus' Sacrifice
[05:58] - Fragrant Offering in Paul's Writings
[07:12] - Jesus Bearing God's Wrath
[08:01] - Christ's Condemnation for Our Sin
[09:03] - The Mystery of the Sacrifice
[10:19] - Dual Nature of Jesus' Sacrifice
[11:01] - Our Deliverance and Adoption

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:1-2
- Hebrews 10:11-14
- Philippians 2:8-11

---

Observation Questions:

What does Ephesians 5:1-2 call believers to do, and how is this connected to Christ's actions? [00:19]
According to Hebrews 10:11-14, how does Jesus' sacrifice differ from the Old Testament sacrifices? [02:22]
In Philippians 2:8-11, what was the result of Jesus' obedience, and how did God respond to it? [04:25]
How does the sermon describe the dual nature of Jesus' sacrifice as both a curse and a fragrant offering? [09:24]

---

Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean for believers to be "imitators of God" in the context of Ephesians 5:1-2, and how does this relate to walking in love? [00:19]
How does the concept of Jesus' sacrifice as a "fragrant offering" deepen our understanding of God's pleasure in obedience? [04:10]
In what ways does the dual nature of Jesus' sacrifice (being both a curse and pleasing to God) reveal the depth of God's salvation plan? [09:24]
How does understanding Jesus' sacrifice as both condemnation and beauty affect our view of God's character and our relationship with Him? [10:35]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you found it difficult to walk in love. How can the example of Christ's love and sacrifice inspire you to act differently in similar situations? [00:19]
Jesus' obedience led to His exaltation. In what areas of your life is God calling you to obedience, and how might this lead to spiritual growth or transformation? [04:40]
The sermon highlights the mystery of Jesus' sacrifice. How can embracing this mystery enhance your worship and admiration for God? [10:50]
Consider the idea of being both condemned and pleasing in God's eyes. How does this paradox challenge or affirm your understanding of grace and forgiveness? [09:24]
How can the truth of being delivered and adopted as loved children of God influence your daily interactions and decisions? [11:18]
Identify a specific way you can imitate God's love in your community this week. What steps will you take to ensure this is a genuine reflection of Christ's love? [00:19]
Reflect on the concept of Jesus bearing the curse for our sins. How does this impact your view of sin and the importance of repentance in your life? [07:40]

Sermon Clips

The self-sacrifice of Jesus is the final decisive sacrifice that ends the Old Testament system. [00:02:19]

When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. [00:02:46]

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. So this offering here is the single once for all final sacrifice of Jesus to the Father ending all sacrifices. [00:03:02]

The Father loved the Son for many reasons but among them was he's going to obediently lay down his life, and that moves us now to fragrant offering. This sacrifice to God was fragrant; it was fragrant to God. [00:03:32]

God loved the Son for the Son's obedience in offering himself. It was a fragrant offering, not just a sacrifice. Here again is God's pleasure at the obedience of the Son. [00:04:03]

God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him a name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. [00:04:37]

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. When Christ died, God cursed Jesus. [00:07:31]

God put our curse on Jesus so that he became a curse for us. That is the height of God's displeasure. [00:07:47]

God is able, in the moment of the Son's greatest suffering and death, to look upon him as a curse because of our sins being counted as his, and as a condemnation, and as forsaken. [00:09:51]

He knows and he sees this is my Son who is being perfectly obedient to me, and he cannot see that as anything other than infinitely beautiful and pleasing. [00:10:27]

God is able to look at Christ in both of those ways as he died, and it should be a part of our admiration for God, our love for God, our worship of God that we know both things were happening when Jesus died for us. [00:10:39]

He was infinitely pleasing the Father, and he was coming under the Father's infinite condemnation, all of it so that we could be delivered and forgiven and accepted and adopted as loved children. [00:11:01]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

The Fragrant Offering: Understanding Christ's Sacrifice

Devotional

Day 1: The Finality of Christ's Sacrifice

Day 2: The Fragrance of Obedience

Day 3: The Mystery of Dual Realities

Day 4: Condemnation and Beauty in Sacrifice

Day 5: Walking in Love as Adopted Children

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Fragrant Offering: Understanding Christ's Sacrifice

Share