In his newest book, Rudy Gonzalez seeks to expose readers to an aspect of the Bible that is often overlooked. While many devout Christians read the Bible for the comfort it provides, or for the encouragement through difficult times it offers, its function as an implement of sacrifice is rarely, if ever, fully understood.

For Gonzalez, the Bible’s primary function is like that of a blade in the hands of a skilled Levitical priest, slaughtering sacrificial animal victims and preparing them for the fiery altar. Thus, Dr. Gonzalez takes us through a fascinating and yet foreboding interpretation of Hebrews 4:1–13 using the Levitical Sacrifices of Israel (Lev. 23) as his interpretive lens. This allows the reader to understand “sacrificial” language in the New Testament—as in, for example, Paul’s challenge to present their bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1)—in a new and sobering way. Gonzalez also brings new insight into the well-known Christian concept of “rest.” Thus, beyond limiting a believer’s rest as tantamount to “trusting in the promises,” Gonzalez advances the view that “rest” is a necessary and preparatory state of deep humility and surrender as one voluntarily comes under the authority of the written word of God to perform spiritual surgery. The ultimate aim of the Bible is to turn believers into “living sacrifices” that honor God in word and deed.

Dr. Gonzalez is up-front in his challenge to all readers. It is very unlikely that after having read this brief but densely packed book, one can ever read the Bible casually again.

Isaac, the Exception to the Rule

Our analysis of what Paul is asking us to do brings us to a paradox, for suitable animals died while only inferior rejects remained alive. It would seem that there is no way to reconcile the two elements—to be a sacrifice and yet to live. But as it turns out the Bible does provide an example of a real living victim that survives the ordeal. Under divine instruction, Abraham is told to offer his son Isaac for sacrifice (Genesis 22). Here we must resist making this Mount Moriah incident anything less than the real thing because we know the ending. From the vantage point of the child, this was not role playing. Had the Angel of the Lord not intervened to stop Abraham’s hand (vv. 11-12), Isaac would surely have died and been offered up as a burnt offering on that day.

The story is rich with profitable instruction for us. God was certainly showing us something about the nature of faith and obedience (Genesis 22:12-18; cf. Hebrews 11:17-19). And in the provision of a ram caught in a thicket (Genesis 22:13), Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice was also being foretold (1 John 4:10). But we must not lose sight of Isaac, for this boy who survived the harrowing moment has much to teach us as well.

Could Paul be echoing back to Isaac as he challenges us to be a living sacrifice? The controlling verb in Romans 12:1 is “present,” and carries the basic intent of “placing oneself beside,” or “putting oneself at someone’s disposal.” In this consideration, isn’t Isaac’s trust amazing? There he is, lying on the altar, perhaps more aware than at any other moment in his young life. Animals about to be sacrificed are not conscious of their impending slaughter, but Isaac surely knew why he was being placed on the wood pyre. Days before he had asked his father about the lack of a sacrificial lamb as they made their way to Moriah (Genesis 22:7) and know he knew the answer. And so Isaac lays there, his heart pounding while the glistening knife in the hand of his father hovers over him. For those few fearful moments, Isaac, a living sacrifice, prefigures for us the nature of the sacrifice we are called to embrace.

We cheapen the call to sacrifice when we suggest it is nothing more than giving up some questionable behavior or attitude as if it were something totally under our control. Whatever “surface” flaws we give up do not begin to cover all that God wants to bring under His divine knife. Sacrificial language in the Bible is always deadly serious for the victim; it was for Isaac, and it must be for us also. The sacrificial experiences we will outline in the following pages goes beyond the things we surrender to things we may not want to forsake, or even know to surrender. The force of the command “present” in Paul’s admonition says nothing about whether our surrender is to be all at once, or continual in some way. What it does say quite simply is that it must happen. Like Isaac, we too must willingly hand ourselves over to a sacrificial experience complete with knife and all. There is certainly a sense of dread in such a prospect, but it is an experience we dare not water down in any way. Jesus refused the narcotic that was being offered to Him to deaden His senses (Matthew 27:34) and Abraham placed his son on the sacrificial alter fully aware. Even so, God calls us willingly to present ourselves knowing it is He who chooses to cut and where to do the cutting. When such a choice happens, it is but the start of an internal work in us that will probably take a life-time. The Bible has more to say about this prospect for us as followers of Christ, and we shall turn to this in the pages that follow.

Rudy Gonzalez (PhD, Baylor University) is dean of the William R. Marshall Center for Theological Studies and professor of New Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, San Antonio campus. Prior to his assignment at Southwestern, Dr. Gonzalez served as director for interfaith evangelism, North American Mission Board, and associate professor of New Testament, Golden Gate Seminary, Mill Valley, California.

Rudy Gonzalez is a well-known speaker and preacher in Southern Baptist conferences throughout the U.S., including numerous state conventions. Proficient in English and Spanish, Dr. Gonzalez has also lectured in the field of New Testament studies and Greek exegesis throughout Latin America, in Israel, and in Spain.

Dr. Gonzalez’s service has always been paired with a strong commitment to the local church. Throughout his almost four decades of ministry, he has served as pastor of churches in New Mexico, Texas, and California. Dr. Gonzalez has a passion for the New Testament, but this passion is always thoroughly grounded in the Scriptures of Ancient Israel, Jesus, and His apostles. Dr. Gonzalez has a unique gift for making the New Testament come to life as its Old Testament foundation is understood and revealed in all its wonder. Dr. Gonzalez is a regular contributor to LifeWay publications, such as The Biblical Illustrator, the Explore the Bible series, and the Spanish devotional Quietud. Dr. Gonzalez also contributes as an editorial writer for Baptist Press and the Spanish BP en Español.