Temple Baptist Church - 2-9-2014
Exodus 25:1-9; 27:14-16
Introduction:
A. After Israel’s delivery from Egypt, God met with them at Mt. Sinia and gave them two things:
1. God gave Moses the Law: the moral law, ceremonial law, and civil law. These three aspects of the Law were to govern man’s relationship to a thrice holy God and with each other.
2. God gave Moses the specifications of the Tabernacle which was patterned after the heavenly one.
B. Over the next 2 ½ months preceding Easter Sunday, I want to look at this Tabernacle while giving an analogy to our Lord Jesus Christ. God gave the Tabernacle and, later, a more permanent structure when Israel were established in their “sanctuary” called Canaan.
C. God gave the children of Israel the Tabernacle and, later, the Temple for many reasons but I want to look at two of these this morning.
1. God gave the children of Israel the Tabernacle that His presence might be continually with them in something that could be seen. It gave great assurance.
2. God gave the children of Israel the Tabernacle that they might have a place of corporate worship where, previously, they met with Him sporadically through Christophany, theophany, and anthropomorphisms.
3. These are beautiful types of Jesus Christ and the local church in the New Testament.
D. In the New Testament, our Lord said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
E. In the Tabernacle, there were actually 3 types of access found:
1. There was the opening to the outer court. This initial opening to the outer court, which was available to all: both Jew and the strangers or non-Jews who dwelt among God’s people. Later, in the Temple, this initial access was divided into two parts: the Court of the Gentiles where the “strangers” could go and the Court of Israel where only Jews could go.
2. There was the opening into the Tabernacle itself. The first place was called the “Holy Place” which was reserved for those of the Levitical Priesthood who performed the daily tasks of the Tabernacle. The same went for the Temple later as only the Priests could enter there.
3. There was an access (possibly pulling back the edge of the Veil of the Tabernacle) that allowed only the High Priest access to the Holy of Holies. This access was only available once a year when the High Priest offered the blood of the atonement. The Temple access into the Holy of Holies was the same.
F. Therefore, we find that the three “accesses” became more restrictive in nature as one approached this thrice holy Jehovah God: our Lord Jesus Christ.
G. I want to make an application of John 14:6, which gives 3 descriptions of our Lord Jesus Christ, to these 3 accesses found in the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1. The Door to the Brazen Altar of Personal Salvation: a type of Jesus Christ, the Way. John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 12:32-33 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (33) This he said, signifying what death he should die.
a. It was a door which gave access to all or the “door of the many” for this morning. No doubt both saved and lost enter this access because we find the Korah’s, etc. of the Old Testament who as there were many who were religious but lost.
b. The preaching of the gospel is the “lifting” up of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of all mankind. Many recognize this name with many even “naming” the name of Christ without being born again. All may enter here and come to the Brazen Altar where the sacrifices were made. All may come to the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of sin, and accept the payment made at Calvary through faith. The Old Testament Brazen Altar involved recognition of sinfulness, the offering of sacrifice, and the acceptance of forgiveness.
c. You MUST enter here to be saved! All who entered this door by faith in the sacrifice of the Messiah to come were eternally saved just as you and me. It was the door of faith which brings salvation.
2. The Door to the Holy Place of Priestly Service: a type of Jesus Christ the Truth. You can be saved but not serving.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
a. This door was only accessible to those priests who had washed at the Laver and enter into the Holy Place of service. The Laver was made of the brass looking glasses of the ladies. It was a place where only the saved could go and a cleansing was necessary to enter this particular door. Nothing defiled could enter in to the Holy Place of Service.
b. Within the Holy Place, we find three things. I will not deal with them in depth because we will look at them later in the series but they were three things that could only be obtained through cleansing or holiness.
1) The Candlestick of Testimony
2) The Table of Shewbread of Communion
3) The Golden Altar of Incense of Prayer.
c. On our day, the Priesthood is no longer valid as we that are saved are individual priests. We go to God through our Advocate-Priest-Intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ for cleansing. We do not confess our sins to sinful men but to God the Father through the intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ.
d. There are many today who know not the Truth of salvation and still operate under the ignorance of religion instead of the freedom of salvation! We are free from the Law; we are free from condemnation; we are free from the judgment of men; free, praise the Lord, free at last! You must stop at the Laver, wash, and enter here to serve!
3. The Door to the Holy of Holiness of the Presence of His Presence: a type of Jesus Christ, the Life. The door of access into the presence of God. You can be saved and serving to some degree and not realize the full presence of God.
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
a. This door gave access to the very presence of God. It here, in the Holy of Holies, that a singular man met with God! Exodus 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
b. It is here that we meet with God in communion. This is what the Tabernacle was all about: presence and communion. “I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat.” It is here that our prayer becomes two-fold. We have access to the ear of God and He has access to the ear of our heart. The most important aspect of prayer is the time when we become quiet and allow Him to speak to us.
1. Jesus, The Way - The Door to the Brazen Altar of Salvation – the access to the Outer Court – the door of the many – the door of God’s Salvation - John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
a. Here we find sin’s penalty: death.
b. Here we find the Saviour’s suffering: beyond human comprehension.
c. Here we find the Lamb’s sacrifice: the innocent for the guilty.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?
2. Jesus, The Truth - The Door to the Holy Place service – the access to the Holy Place - the door of the few – A door of God’s Invitation - Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
a. Here we find the Christian’s testimony: the candlestick.
b. Here we find the Christian’s sharing: the table of showbread.
c. Here we find the Christian’s praying: the Golden Altar of Incense.
Are you serving the One who gave His all to serve you?
3. Jesus, The Life = The Door to the Holy of Holies of Singleness – the access to the Holy of Holies -the door of the God’s Presence - Exodus 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
a. Here we find the Lord’s presence: I.
b. Here we find the Lord’s communion: meet.
c. Here we find the Lord’s peace: Mercy Seat.
Are you walking in communion with the One who loves you?
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