What are the “spiritual sacrifices” in 1 Peter 2:5?

Question

1 Peter 2:5 NASB

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

What are the “spiritual sacrifices” Peter is referring to?

Answer 1

Prayer, Praise, Holiness and Fasting these are some of the spiritual sacrifices.

Prayer

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2 AKJV)

Praise

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15 AKJV)

Holiness

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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1–2 AKJV)

Fasting

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17 AKJV)

Related to fasting Isaiah 58:3-7 the does and don't while fasting!

Answer 2

Before answering, we should note that the community of Christians that compose the "Kingdom of God" is, according to Peter (Quoting Ex 19:5, 6):

1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Thus, every Christian is a priest with Christ as our Great High Priest (Heb 13:15, 1 Peter 5:1-5), and, every priest must have something to offer (Heb 8:3).

The NT explicitly lists the spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5) that the Holy Nation of Priests must offer:

1. Heb 13:15 - Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
2. Heb 13:16 - And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
3. Rom 12:1 - Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
4. Eph 5:2 - and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God, into an aroma of a sweet smell.
5. Phil 4:18 - I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.