My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IIN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS ONE OF SACRIFICE
In the book of Genesis in the Old Testament, we are informed that Adam and Eve bore two sons, Cain and Abel. "Now Abel was a shepherd of sheep but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Now in the process of time, Cain brought a sacrifice to the Lord from the fruits of the ground. Abel also brought a sacrifice from the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his sacrifices" (Genesis 4:1-5).
The Lord accepted Abel and his gifts because Abel had a good and discerning heart. The Lord rejected Cain and his gifts. Why? The inward state of his heart was not right with God.
Abraham Offers Isaac
"Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him: 'Abraham! Abraham!' "And he said, 'Here I am.' Then He said, 'Take now your beloved son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a whole burnt offering on one of the mountains I tell you.'
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son and he split firewood for the whole burnt offering, and arose and went to the place God told him. Then on the third day, Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. Thus Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.'
So Abraham took the firewood of the whole burnt offering and laid it on Issac his son. Then he took the fire in his hand, and a knife and the two of them went together. Then Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, 'My father.' And he said 'Here I am, my son.' Then he said, 'Look, the fire and the firewood, but where is the sheep for a whole burnt offering?' And Abraham said, 'My son, God will provide for Himself the sheep for a whole burnt offering.'...And Abraham built an altar there and placed the firewood in order; and he bound Isaac his son hand and foot and laid him on the altar; upon the firewood.
Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham! Abraham! So he said, 'Here I am.' He then replied, 'Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him, for now, I know you fear God since for My sake you have not spared your beloved son. Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him a ram was caught in a thicket by its horns. So he brought it for a whole burnt offering in the place of his son" (Genesis 22:1-20).
Abraham's faith was tested, and he obeyed the Son of God. Such faith and obedience made Abraham righteous and a friend of God (St. James 2:22-23).
Christ the High Priest
The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the Lamb of God Who is offered as a sacrifice for the life of the world; He is at the same time also He Who offers, the Performer of the sacrifice, the High Priest. Christ is "He Who offereth and is offered; that accepteth and is distributed" (the secret prayer at the Cherubic Hymn in the Divine Liturgy). He Himself is offered as a sacrifice, and He Himself also offers the sacrifice. He Himself both receives it and distributes it to those who come...those high priests had to offer sacrifice constantly; but Christ performed the sacrifice once, offering Himself as the sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27).
Those high priests themselves were clothed with infirmity, but this High Priest is perfect forevermore (Hebrews 7:28). Those were priests of the earthly tabernacle made by hands, but this One is the Sacred Performer of the eternal tabernacle not made with hands (Hebrews 9:24). Those high priests entered into the holy place with the blood of calves and goats, but this One with His own blood entered once into the holy place and obtained an eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).
They were priests of the Old Testament; whereas this One is Priest of the New Testament (Hebrews 8:6). (Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)
Institution of the Divine Eucharist
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (St. Matthew 26:26-28).
The Old Covenant (Testament) was sealed with the blood of bulls and goats. The New is sealed by the gift of Christ, Who shed His own blood to conquer sin and death and to reconcile us with God. Christ calls it the blood of the New Covenant, which is God's promise and the fulfillment of the Law. By new, He means this covenant brings immortality and incorruptible life; this covenant will always have the quality of newness.
What is our sacrifice to God? Are we willing to offer sacrifice to our Savior?
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George