sacrifice – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:18:13 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-LaVistaBanner-Copy-1-32x32.png sacrifice – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms 32 32 157465916 Was Christ’s sacrifice applied to all people at once, or applied as needed? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/was-christs-sacrifice-applied-to-all-people-at-once-or-applied-as-needed/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:18:13 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=94489

by Terry Wane Benton

The sacrifice itself was once‑for‑all, complete, and never repeated.

Hebrews 10:14 teaches that Christ’s offering is finished, final, and never needs to be repeated: “By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” The atoning act is complete, final, and historically accomplished at the cross. This is the objective accomplishment of redemption.

But the application of that sacrifice is not automatic or universal.

Scripture consistently teaches that the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice are applied personally, not indiscriminately: faith is the avenue through which a person receives them (Romans 3:25; Ephesians 2:8). Repentance is commanded of all (Acts 17:30). Thus, a faith that repents is a necessary part of saving from sin. People remain “in their sins” until they believe (John 8:24) and are baptized in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:38). Believers are said to be “justified” at the moment of buried and risen faith expressed in baptism (Romans 5:1; 6:3-6). One is “baptized into Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-6). If the application were automatic for all people for all time, none of these passages would make sense. So, the cross is sufficient for all, but applied only to those who obediently believe.

Hebrews 10:14 itself shows this two‑stage reality. Notice the wording:

  • “perfected forever” — the objective work is complete.
  • “those who are being sanctified” — the group receiving the benefits is specific, not universal. We are being sanctified (an ongoing process). So, the blood is being applied as the process continues.

The verse does not say “He perfected all people,” but “He perfected those who are being sanctified,” meaning those who belong to Him.

Putting it together

  • The sacrifice: once for all, never repeated. A single, perfect, historical act.
  • The application: personal, individual, and in time. Applied when a person believes and is baptized into Christ, not automatically at the moment of the cross (Mark 16:15-16). The blood of Jesus is what saves, and baptism is when the blood saves from past sins and condemnation.
  • The result: complete salvation for those united to Christ

The cross doesn’t need to be repeated, but its benefits are extended to people as they come to faith. As people live by faith, they “confess their sins” and He is faithful to forgive (I John 1:7-9). So, the sacrifice is complete, while the application of that sacrifice comes into play in our belief and confession. Past sins are forgiven at baptism, and then the same sacrifice is applied as we get new dirt on us and penitently confess our sins. Application is distributed as needed, not before our sins are even committed.

]]> 94489 Once for All https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/once-for-all-2/ Sun, 22 Feb 2026 20:54:06 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=94158

by Hugh DeLong

"For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself" (Hebrews 5:1-3).

In Hebrews 5, we are instructed about our priesthood and sacrifices (see the text below). Things have changed under this New Covenant. The function of priests included offerings for sin repeatedly. Now, we have a new Great High Priest – Jesus. Notice what the Hebrew writer affirms in the coming chapters.

First: "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man" (Hebrews 8:1-2).

Second: "Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself" (Hebrews 7:27).

And Third: "But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12).

Such a change in the priesthood required a changing of the very law pertaining to the priesthood: “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also” (Hebrews 7:12).

And in the change in priesthoods, “there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness“ (Hebrews 7:18).

This is a huge change involving the whole relationship between men (us – you) and God. We now have a new law or covenant, and a high priest who understands and knows what the darkest and strongest temptations are like; knowing this, He will deal gently with us as we continually approach God.

It is this change that allows us to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Thank you, Lord. Increase our trust in Jesus!

]]> 94158 Propitiation https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/propitiation/ Wed, 31 Dec 2025 17:34:34 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=92966

by Terry Wane Benton

"Propitiation" is not a word used very often anymore, but it has to do with “appeasing” the righteous wrath of someone. In the case of humans who have sinned against the Holy Creator, justice needs to be satisfied, righteous anger appeased. Jesus is the propitiation needed.

Notice that the “propitiation” was for the sins of “the whole world” (I John 2:2).

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" (I John 2:1-2).

Calvinism says that “propitiation” means the appeasement has already happened. If that is so, then it is already true for “the whole world.” The Calvinist must believe in universal salvation already in place. The truth is that the payment has already been paid but not yet credited to our account. An insurance company may have the millions already in place to insure our houses, but it is not credited to us until we call upon them and recognize the need. God has paid a price for the sins of the whole world, but does not credit that payment to our account until we call upon Him and sign the claim in our repentance and baptism (Acts 2:37-41).

Did the 3000 already have the blood of Christ applied to their account before their repentance and baptism? No! They met these conditions “for the remission of sins.” They got the propitiation applied when they so acted “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Remission of sins is applied to our account at this moment.

Thayer says that the word “propitiation” means that Jesus is “the means of appeasement.” God is not already appeased toward each and every sinner. The basis of appeasement was in place by means of the cross, but application to us is “By His knowledge My Righteous Servant shall justify many” (Isaiah 53:11). We learn about the cross and respond to it in knowledge. Through that knowledge, He justifies many. Without the knowledge, we cannot be justified, and thus the basis for the appeasement is “in vain” until that knowledge comes into us and us into Him. We let Jesus die in vain for us when we do not seek and learn from Him.

The gospel spreads the knowledge of Him. It is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16) because the propitiation is not applied apart from the knowledge of Him and what such knowledge calls us to do in response. If Jesus’ blood alone means propitiation is applied to our account, then how can “the gospel” be “the power of God unto salvation”? The gospel is what moves the payment into our account. Faith is produced by the hearing of the word of God (Romans 10:17), and without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). The fact alone that Jesus died for us, yes, even “the whole world,” does not mean the whole world gets the propitiation applied to their account.

Abraham was “accounted” righteous, not because he already was from the foundation of the world, but because his faith reached a pleasing level, so God applied righteousness to his account. We are “accounted” righteous by means of Jesus’ blood, but at a particular moment in faith. That moment of faith for us in the New Testament age is when we bury the old self with Christ in baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-6). At this moment in faith, God “accounts” us as righteous. Propitiation is now applied to our account. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9). Propitiation is on the table for “the whole world.” Still, it will not be applied to anyone’s account without meeting the conditions of entrance into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). Those conditions are available for the whole world (Mark 16:15-16).

Don’t let Jesus’ propitiation be in vain for you!

]]> 92966 Being a Living Sacrifice https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/being-a-living-sacrifice/ Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:16:06 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=87542

by Zeke Flores

Being a "living sacrifice" sounds hard. Few people like the word "sacrifice," it sounds too much like giving something up that you'd rather not. And a 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 sacrifice? Well, that sounds even harder.

But the more you become one, the less of a sacrifice it seems. What once felt like loss becomes a grateful act of relinquishment. We freely offer our selfish wants, lustful desires, and everyday burdens for Christ, allowing us to focus on the things in our lives that are pleasing to God, leading to a life of purpose. What was once a sacrifice becomes a blessing.

"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24).

]]> 87542 Take Your Only Son https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/take-your-only-son/ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:54:49 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=86901

by Terry Wane Benton

The test for Abraham was a type of the test that God Himself would undergo. In Abraham’s case, offering his only son, Isaac, was a test of his love for God. Would he trust and love God above his emotional attachment to his only son?

Even though the command made no sense, since God had promised to build a great nation through Isaac (Genesis 17:16), Abraham figured that God would keep His promise, even if it took raising Isaac from the dead. He trusted God would work it out, and he loved God enough to pass the test (Genesis 22:1ff).

Little did the Israelite people know that as Moses shared this story with them about their father Abraham, it was also foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate sacrifice of God. God was demonstrating that He would undergo a test of His love for humanity.

Would God love man enough to give His “only Son?” There was an inward struggle in Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, but He took His great love for mankind in hand and went to the very hill on which Isaac had almost been sacrificed, and laid down His life for us. The ultimate test of God’s love was displayed for us to see and remember.

How much did God love me? "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 NKJV).

There is no doubt that I do not deserve this kind of love. But, it would be a disbelief to think I am not worth it to God. When you put yourself down as worthless, you are saying that you do not believe in God. You are saying that God made a mistake in making you, and you are saying that God was wrong in valuing you enough to give His only begotten Son for you. While you should be feeling mighty important, unbelief has a way of undermining the truth within us.

The test for us is to believe God does not make junk, and He took His only Son to show us how valuable we are to Him. Do you believe God knows better than you what value needs to be assessed in you? Do you realize that unbelief is the reason we put ourselves down? You can be on your way to eternal life if you start believing the evidence of God’s love for you. Why not believe God and obey the gospel of Christ?

]]> 86901 The Sacrifice of Self https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-sacrifice-of-self/ Wed, 17 Jul 2024 19:40:47 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=68876

by Jefferson David Tant

One familiar Bible passage is Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice…”

We hear much about “sacrifice” and the “spirit of sacrifice.” This is all well and good, for our hope of heaven depends upon our willingness to give self to God. But do we really understand what self-sacrifice or the spirit of sacrifice is? Have you ever given serious thought to the matter? Please do so with me.

A sacrifice is offered as an expression of thanksgiving or homage and devotion. In this sense, the amount of self we give (whether time, money, or talent) represents our love for God. The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament involved the complete giving of whatever was offered. The term “sacrifice” implies that he who offers presents it entirely — no reservations, no “Indian giving.” Therefore, the giver has no more claim on it, for it has been submitted to God to do with as he wills.

A true sacrifice represents something of value to the giver—it really means something. The “sacrifices” of Malachi 1:8 were a joke. The people were offering their lame, blind, and sick animals to the Lord, and God said it was contemptible.
And so one says, “I’ve given up so much to be a Christian. I’ve given up drinking, drugs, and smoking.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you ever liked those things.”
“Well, I couldn’t stand them.”
That, my friend, represents no sacrifice.

Another says, “My children give up so much to be Christians, and being in the school play means so much to Mary. It is one of the few things she can participate in. I’m sorry she will not be able to attend church on Sunday nights for the next two months. That is the practice night.” That is not the spirit of sacrifice, for Mary is not willing to give up something that is of great value to her when it conflicts with her obligations to the Lord. Whatever else she may have given up — whether dancing, friends, or fornication — the test before her now determines the extent of her willingness to sacrifice.

A girl wrote a letter in response to a tract I had written on “Modest Apparel.” I quote: “Dear Brother Tant, I just finished reading your article. It was very good. You covered everything. Many of the things I intended to use to ‘fight back’ were covered as I read on. I guess I’m just stubborn, but even though you presented such good arguments, I can’t bring myself to stop wearing my shorts and bathing suit…”

Now, aside from considering whether my arguments were correct, she did not have what Christ asked for in Matthew 16:24: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” She was convinced the arguments were correct but unwilling to sacrifice her practice. You can apply this same reasoning to ball games, homework, jobs, or anything that may be right in itself but which, in a given circumstance, conflicts with our duty to God.

Paul’s attitude was that nothing would keep him out of heaven (Philippians 3:7-14). He further declared the crucifixion of self so Christ could truly live in him (Galatians 2:20). But Jesus gave the greatest example (Matthew 26:39). You cannot image what great strength this spirit of sacrifice will provide you with to live for Christ. Where there is no race, there is no victory; where there is no self-denial, there is no fulfillment; where there is no cross, there will be no crown.

]]> 68876 The Beauty of Jesus https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-beauty-of-jesus/ Sat, 27 Apr 2024 20:08:35 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=67793

by Doy Moyer

We sing, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.” What is the beauty of Jesus? While we often connect beauty to outward appearance, that is not the sense in which the beauty of Jesus draws us, for “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). This does not mean Jesus was ugly, but it does mean that He didn’t stand out due to His physical appearance. He would have looked like anyone else.

How, then, shall we think about this? Psalm 27:4 expresses the desire to see the Lord’s beauty:

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” (ESV)

To gaze upon His beauty is more than seeing a visible manifestation of God. His glory is the sum of His attributes, and His beauty is the expression of His glory. Visions of God in His glory are connected to the recognition of His holiness: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3; cf. Revelation 4-5). To see God’s beauty is to see that He is holy, good, full of grace and mercy, forgiving, slow to anger, and keeping steadfast love. It is also to see that in Him is no sin, and that sin receives a just judgment (cf. Exodus 34).

Jesus is God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14). In Him dwells the fullness of deity (Colossians 2:10). Yet, coming in the flesh as a man, how can we gaze upon His beauty meaningfully? If there was “no beauty that we should desire Him” physically, what is the beauty upon which we may gaze?

The beauty of Jesus is in His nature and character. His entrance into this world brought a whole new level of showing people what God is like. From His healings and other miracles to His demonstrations of great compassion and forgiveness, the beauty of our Lord is eternal. Grace and truth came through Jesus in the greatest and fullest of ways (John 1:17). He is the Word of God, the exact imprint of His nature (Hebrews 1:3), the One who descended to show us the glory of God in a new light. This wasn’t about looks; it was about His demonstration of love, mercy, and compassion that comes from radiating God’s glory. He demonstrated these qualities because He is the epitome of the divine nature. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).

The beauty of Jesus is on full display in His service and sacrifice. He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He took on the form of the suffering servant (Philippians 2:7), and His service is beautiful. His sacrifice is beautiful. This also means that the beauty of Jesus is seen in the cross, which holds the drawing power. “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). While it may seem counterintuitive, the truth is that to see the cross is to gaze upon the beauty of our Lord. His glory can be seen in His humility and the love shown through His sacrifice. “We beheld His glory” (John 1:14). God’s love is beautiful, and no greater love has ever been shown than what is seen in Jesus (John 15:13; Romans 5:8). If we can see the beauty of love, then we see the beauty of Jesus through His love as He died for us.

Christ’s beauty is also demonstrated in His opposition to sin. His purity and holiness are manifested in His life; He did not condone sin. While He showed great compassion to sinners, He also taught the need for repentance. After healing the lame man, He told him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14). Because of who He is, He could never treat sin in a way that diminishes its consequences. Indeed, His going to the cross shows how serious He is about dealing with the problem, for there He “bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (I Peter 2:24). This is beautiful, making it possible for us to share in the beauty of forgiveness and righteousness.

To “let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me” means service and sacrifice in my life as well. “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (I Peter 4:13). It is to show a life that aims to please God, be a light to the world, and to love and serve our neighbors with dignity and honor. A life of beauty is a life that imitates and follows Jesus. Let it be seen in me.

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