Spiritual Sacrifice
Spiritual Sacrifice
( , pneumatika thusai): A figure taken from the victim slain and offered on the altar, as e.g. the paschal lamb; thus signifying the complete and acceptable offering of the self-dedicated spirit. As the temple, priesthood and God Himself are spiritual, so is the sacrifice of the consecrated believer (1Pe 2:5); compare living sacrifice (Rom 12:1); sacrifice of praise (Heb 13:15, Heb 13:16). Any self-dedicating act of the inner man; the devout, renewed, consecrated spirit, e.g. Christian benevolence (Phi 4:18); to do good and to communicate (Heb 13:16); mercy and knowledge of God, instead of material and outward sacrifice (Hos 6:6). This is defined and beautifully illustrated in the classic verse on this theme, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, etc. (Psa 51:17).