Sunday, November 23, 2008

The Sacrificial System and the Church

Despite the fulfillment of Law and final atoning sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, the sacrificial system continues to apply today. The Tabernacle provides a model for Godly living. The system instructs Christians how God is still to be approached in spirit and by action. First, the tent of the Tabernacle had to first be approached with a confessing, contrite spirit. Likewise, the blessings and redemptive work of Jesus Christ are powerless to save if one does not first come to the Tabernacle contrite of heart. Confessing of the divide between God and man one then approaches the altar aware of the continual necessity for sacrifice. Just as Christ gave Himself for the Church, Christians are to die to self (Gal. 2:20). Paul exhorts believers, “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
After making the spiritual sacrifice at the altar of the Tabernacle, Christians are to wash themselves at the laver before proceeding further. Though one’s sin is lifted by the sacrifice at the altar God further desires to sanctify the believer through spiritual cleansing and purification. The Word of God sanctifies the believer drawing their spirit and mind into tighter communion with the Father (Eph. 5:26). The believer should purify their hearts by seeking God earnestly (James 4:8). Most importantly one must be washed at the laver with the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9).
Having offered oneself spiritually as a living sacrifice, being washed and cleansed at the laver, one can enter into communion with God in the holy place. Christ enables believers to feast at the Table of God’s Presence. He who has performed the aforementioned tasks now may in a spiritual sense partake of the body and blood of Christ recognizing the provision God has made for man. Communion with God is to be marked by incessant prayer (1 Thess. 5:17). The believer lifts up his soul to God in prayer as modeled in the Altar of Incense making supplication and thanksgiving. The holy place reminds Christians that as the Golden Lampstand they are to be a spiritual light to the world (Matt. 5:14-16). All these features in the holy place testify to the Christian’s rightful place in relationship with the Father.
The Tabernacle both testifies to the perfect and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ as well as provides the model for rightful communion with God the Father. Christ marks the way through the Tabernacle beckoning the believer to follow. The sacrificial system thus represents both a refuge for the Christian saved by grace as well as the charge to Godly living and self-denial. In following Christ through the Tabernacle the Church heeds the words of the apostle Peter to be a, “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession,” (1 Pet. 2:9).

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