Articles
Sacrificing Ourselves to God
Twice in the NT Paul refers to pouring himself out as a sacrifice to God. The earlier reference is to the Philippians: “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (2:17). Philippians is a “prison epistle,” written by Paul from Rome while awaiting his first trial before Nero.
He refers to the Philippians’ faith as their offering to God, and he adds that the potential shedding of his own blood resembles the wine poured on certain sacrifices under the Mosaic system. Perhaps Paul has in view his conversion of the Philippians and the close bond he shares with them as they faithfully serve the Lord. At any rate, what is obvious is the close tie between Paul and the Philippians and the sense that their service is intertwined.
The second reference is in 2 Tim 4:6 where death appears more imminent: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.” These words are probably sadder to us than to Paul, for it is obvious that he had long before come to terms with death.
When mentioning the prospect of dying to the Philippians Paul said he was “glad and rejoice with you all.” Glad about dying?! The only way a man can say that is if his faith is real and his devotion to God absolute.
Now as he writes to Timothy, his expectation of dying is stronger and the finality of his earthly life leads to something greater: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim 4:7-8).
In his commentary Marshall Patton notes that Paul “views the whole of his life from a fourfold viewpoint: introspectively, retrospectively, prospectively and circumspectly” (Truth Commentary 227).
“Introspectively, he is ready!” (228)
“His retrospective view gives him unspeakable joy” (229).
“Paul now looks prospectively to ‘what remains,’ namely, receiving the eternal reward” (229).
Patton quotes Lenski on Paul’s outlook: “Noble words! The sun is setting blood-red but is shot through with golden glory. Indeed, so should this great life close! These words have left an indelible impression upon all future ages. Socrates’ attitude toward the cup of hemlock has been admired; it is the best that paganism can offer. But how pitifully empty is it when it is placed beside these few words of Christian triumph … which are looking up to the Lord, the righteous Judge, with all those who are loving his epiphany and awaiting their crowning!” (228).
And so Paul circumspectly evaluates his life as its end nears. Death is seen in the perspective of living and sacrificing for Christ; thus, it is not the dreaded monster of fear and doubt but the avenue to ceremonial crowning. How differently things look to the Christian! How can life and death be so optimistically defined by the believer? Only by what God reveals about them and embracing the truth. Only then can we see life as a sacrifice for God and death as eternal reward.
