Temple Baptist Church - 4-27-2014
Exodus 25:17-22
Introduction:
A. Over the past few months, we have taken a short look at the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and its foreshadowing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This morning, I want to look at the culmination of the Person and work of Christ found at the Mercy Seat.
B. The Mercy Seat is the culmination of everything that we have been preaching through these months. It is here that the blood is applied!
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
C. Without the application of the blood:
1. The Way of salvation is lost!
2. The Sacrifice of Christ was in vain!
3. The Resurrection of Christ was to no avail!
4, The Blessed Hope of a Christ filled eternity is just a dream!
D. After the resurrection, Jesus Christ, our High Priest took His blood (every drop of it!), entered into the Holy of Holies in heaven and applied it to the Mercy Seat.
1. Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven twice: once as a purified High Priest and enter once into the Holy Place with His eternal blood and, later, ascended into heaven where He remains our High Priest, Intercessor, Advocate, and Apostle of our salvation.
2. I thank God this morning that the blood is still there! You can attack the blood, you can deny the blood, but IT IS STILL THERE! We are not saved by His death; we are saved by His blood!
E. The Mercy-seat, (the Propitiatory) derived its name from the blood of propitiation which was sprinkled thereon.
1. The Mercy Seat was not the place where propitiation was made, but instead, the place where it’s abiding value was borne witness to before God.
2. The word “propitiate” signifies to appease, to placate, and to make satisfaction.
3. It was at the Mercy Seat that:
a) The wrath of a thrice holy God against sin was pacified!
b) The righteous demands of the Law were satisfied!
c) The Lord alone is glorified!
F. I want to look at the progression leading up to the work of Christ at the Mercy Seat.
1. Propitiation of the Lamb – The death of the Substitute Sacrifice - 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (Propitiation took place at the Brazen Altar in type in the Old Testament and found its fulfillment at Calvary in the New Testament.)
PROPITIATION – to appease by substitution. Christ completely satisfied the just demands of a holy God for judgment on sin by His death on the Cross. Propitiation literally means to make favorable and specifically includes the idea of dealing with God’s wrath against sinners. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin!” (The root word for Propitiation is also translated “mercy seat.”)
Romans 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
2. Consecration of the High Priest– The Sanctification of the High Priest - Hebrews 7:25-28 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (27) Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (28) For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (Christ was purified and about to ascend with the blood. Later, they held Him by His feet because the blood was on the Mercy Seat in heaven.)
3. Expiation of the Sinner – 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (Expiation took place at the Mercy Seat only after the blood was applied.)
EXPIATION - Expiation literally means to make pious and implies either the removal or cleansing of sin. “That we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
4. Association of the New Birth - 1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
5. Communication of the Lord with His Children - 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. (It is upon the basis of the applied blood of Christ that we have both access and boldness to approach the Lord. Through Christ, we have communion with God.)
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