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The Catechism in Questions & Answers
- Introduction
- Contents
- 715. What do we mean when we talk about prayer?
- 716. Is praying necessary?
- 717. What references are there to prayer in the Old Testament?
- 718. What instructions did Jesus give concerning prayer?
- 719. What does the Bible relate about the prayer life of Jesus?
- 720. What is the “intercessory prayer”?
- 721. What do we know about the prayers of the early Christians?
- 722. How are we to pray?
- 723. What is the content of a prayer?
- 724. What is the source of adoration and worship?
- 725. For what things do we express our thanks when we pray?
- 726. What petitions do we bring before God?
- 727. Why do we intercede for others?
- 728. What are the effects of prayer?
- 729. What do we mean when we talk about the “willingness to offer and sacrifice”?
- 730. What do people generally mean when they talk about “offerings and sacrifices”?
- 731. How do we understand our sacrifices?
- 732. What was the significance of sacrifice in the old covenant?
- 733. What is the significance of sacrifice in the new covenant?
- 734. Who is the greatest example of willingness to sacrifice?
- 735. What is the basis for our willingness to sacrifice?
- 736. How is willingness to sacrifice demonstrated in congregational life?
- 737. What is a spiritual sacrifice?
- 738. What is the relationship between sacrifice and blessing?
- 739. What is marriage?
- 740. What can we derive from the account of creation concerning marriage?
- 741. What is the significance of the wedding blessing?
- 742. What significance does the Christian faith have for the success of the marriage?
- 743. What is the significance of sex in marriage?
- 744. What is the New Apostolic Church’s position on family planning?
- 745. What is the New Apostolic Church’s position on fulfilling one’s obligations in one’s profession and society?
- 746. How does the New Apostolic Church perceive its responsibility to society?
- 747. Do New Apostolic Christians participate in public life?
- 748. What is the position of the New Apostolic Church toward the state?
- 749. How is the relationship of the New Apostolic Church with other churches, denominations, and religions?
- 750. What is the social commitment of the New Apostolic Church?
738. What is the relationship between sacrifice and blessing?
Basically, human beings can only bring sacrifices because God has already blessed them beforehand. These sacrifices are therefore an expression of gratitude for that which they have received.
In the case of any sacrifice, the attitude of heart is the deciding factor. If the sacrifice is made willingly out of thankfulness and love, blessing will be associated with it. This can be experienced in earthly life, for example in the form of natural wellbeing. However, blessing is primarily of a spiritual nature, which includes the imparting of divine salvation out of the merit of Christ (cf. Ephesians 1: 3-7).
“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9: 6-8