Faith & Reason Nexus

WHAT IS THE ALTAR?

1. The Altar is a PLACE OF SURRENDER
   • Genesis 21 – Abraham’s willingness to offer his son Isaac is a powerful symbol of surrender. He submitted to God’s will, showing his trust in God’s plan.
   • Romans 12:1 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
     • The altar is a place where we surrender ourselves fully to God, offering our lives to Him as living sacrifices in worship and obedience.
2. The Altar is a PLACE OF SACRIFICE
   • Genesis 4 – Abel’s offering was pleasing to God because it was a sacrifice made in faith and obedience, unlike Cain’s.
   • Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
     • The altar is where we offer our sacrifices, the things that matter most to us, in obedience to God. It’s a place where we lay down our lives for Him, just as Christ laid down His life for us.
3. The Altar is a PLACE OF SURE DEATH
   • Leviticus 16 – The Day of Atonement was centered on the altar, where sacrifices were made to cover the sins of the people. Death, symbolized by the shedding of blood, was necessary for forgiveness.
   • John 12:24 – “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
     • The altar represents the necessary death of the old self, of sin, and of our will, so that we can live fully for God. Through sacrifice, we experience spiritual life and growth.

The Altar is where the Giver and the Receiver Meet… Where the Gift is Given and the Gift is Received!

• At the altar, we bring our offerings of surrender, sacrifice, and death, but it is also where we receive God’s grace, forgiveness, and blessings. It is a mutual exchange — God giving His love, mercy, and life, while we offer our hearts in return.

WHAT HAVE YOU OFFERED TO THE LORD?

• Are you willing to surrender your all on the altar? Have you made the sacrifice of your life, placing your will and desires before God? What is your offering to Him?