Acceptable...Pleasing To God

Philippians 4:17-18 - Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

1 Corinthians 9:12 - If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?

2 Corinthians 2:14 - But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

1 Peter 2:4-5 - As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Conclusions:

• Paul had numerous rights that he did not claim because of his love for the Corinthians
• Because of love for others, believers should be ready to surrender their rights
• The Old Testament background is the sacrifice, not of atonement for sin, but of thanksgiving and praise
• The gifts received by Paul are acceptable and pleasing to God because of Christ’s work for us and God’s work in us
• “Leads us in triumphal procession” provides the imagery of a Roman triumph in which the victorious general would lead his soldiers and the captives they had taken in festive procession, while the people watched and applauded and the air was filled with the sweet smell released by the burning of spices in the streets
• So the Christian, called to spiritual warfare, is triumphantly led by God in Christ, and it is through him that God speaks everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ
• Believers derive their life from Christ, who is the original living Stone to whom they have come, the life-giving spirit
• These references to stones may well reflect Jesus words to Peter in Matthew
• The house is spiritual in a metaphorical sense, but also in that is formed and indwelt by the Spirit of God
• Every stone in the house has been made alive by the Holy Spirit, sent by the exalted living Stone, Jesus Christ
• The holy priesthood is the whole body of believers
• As priests, believers are to (1) reflect the holiness of God and that of their high priest, (2) offer spiritual sacrifices, (3) intercede for man before God and (4) represent God before man
• The New Testament refers to a variety of offerings: bodies offered to God, offerings of money or material goods, sacrifices of praise to God and sacrifices of doing good
• Sacrifices are acceptable to God through the work of our Mediator, Jesus Christ
• Believers are living stones that make up a spiritual temple in which, as a holy priesthood, they offer up spiritual sacrifices

Application:

• Are you ready to surrender your rights?
• Are your gifts acceptable and pleasing to God?
• Does God spread the knowledge of Christ through you?
• Do you reflect the holiness of God?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible