GIVE UNTIL IT IS A SACRIFICE

______________________________________________________

"GIVE UNTIL IT IS A SACRIFICE."
"Is there a sacrifice to your giving?"
"It was not the cash amount that counted with the Lord, but the sacrifice."

These are all lines from a bulletin article I recently received. The idea behind them is very common. Unfortunately they are loaded. They tend to make people feel guilty about what they may not be giving. In my opinion such tactics are counter productive.

The term "sacrifice" by definition is a gift. Therefore, to make a sacrifice is to give. Whether one gives out of abundance or need, it is still a sacrifice. This person is denying himself the use of those resources.

The real problem is the attitude of the heart. Is the person giving to be seen? Is the person giving out of pride? Is the person giving with a false motive, such as getting a return from God? Is this person begrudging what he gives?

In the NT the noun “sacrifice” comes from thusia (Gk), which according to Vine’s “primarily denotes the act of offering; then, objectively, that which is offered.”

The English term sacrifice is derived from Latin [sacer = sacred; ficare = to make]. It categorizes a gift. It is the fact of giving to God that makes it holy or sacred or set apart, hence a sacrifice.

If I give a gift to my neighbor it is simply a gift. If I make a donation to a charity it is simply a gift. But when I give to God through the offering at church it becomes a sacrifice. That money has been set-aside for divine purpose.

By all means let’s exhort brethren to give all that they can. Let’s encourage them to simplify their lives so that they can free up more. Most financial advisers warn people about investing in things that depreciate in value. From an eternal perspective there is nothing material in this world that doesn’t depreciate. Giving to the work of the Lord is an eternal investment. Souls are eternal.

BAPTISMAL FORMUL?!?!

BAPTISM:
In the Name of Jesus
Or
In the Name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit?

At least one pentecostal/charismatic denomination in its denial of the doctrine of the trinity makes an issue of the “baptismal formula”. The Oneness Pentecostals were a split off of the Assemblies of God. They were classified for years by both the Assemblies of God and other evangelical/protestant denominations as theologically a "Christian Cult" not unlike the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. This label was applied to them because of their aberrrant view of the godhead. Historically the majority view in cristendom has been the trinitarian view.

Problems with the oneness view:

Jesus (1) was conceived by the Father (2) by means of the Holy Spirit (3)

At his baptism, Jesus (1) went into the water and came out, the Holy Spirit (2) came upon him like a dove, and the Father (3) spoke out of heaven.

Terms like Father and Son are grammatically speaking of subject/object distinctions. Jesus (1) went to the Father (2) that he might send another Comforter ... ie, the Holy Spirit (3)

Jesus himself COMMANDED that baptism be done "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt. 28:19)

What Peter did and/or said at Pentecost must have been in harmony with this command. The oneness people want to make a big deal out of it by pitting one passage against another. This approach to biblical truth is the way Satan operated with Jesus.

Matthew 28:19

Greek: eis to onoma tou patros kai tou huiou kai tou hagiou pneumatos

English: into the name (of) the Father and (of) the Son and (of) the Holy Spirit

NOTICE: The Greek preposition is "eis" and only occurs in the accusative case. This refers movement INTO (one's position) and therefore becoming the possession of.

Acts 2:38

Greek: en to onomati Iesou Xristou

English: in the name (of) Jesus Christ

NOTICE: The Greek prepostion is "en" and occurs in both the locative and instrumental cases. In the instrumental case it means "by means of". This refers to a matter of authority. Hence, the expression "in the name of" is understood as "by the authority of". Case in point in English..."Stop in the name of the law!"

Matthew 28:19 is about position or sphere while Acts 2:38 is about authority. They do no violence to each other.

The real problem is that neither of these was necessarily intended to be a “formula” to be spoken over a baptismal candidate. Rather, it is to be understood that one is entering into the possesion of the godhead and is doing so upon Christ's authority in baptism.