Preached in Markham Baptist Church, January 28, 2007

The New Testament book of 1 John begins with the words, “That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.”   John is describing an intimate relationship with God.  And as we hear these verses we realize that this is our aim, this is our goal. We want to hear God speak to us, we want to see God – we want to touch God.  This is our goal - we want God. We don’t want religion, we don’t want second-hand knowledge, we want a deep and intimate relationship with God Himself.  Indeed this is what the Christian faith promises and this is what we want.  We are tired of all the play-acting and the posturing and going through the motions  – we want the real thing for ourselves, an intimate relationship with God. 

And you will remember the good news that we have discovered in our study so far is that it is possible to have an intimate relationship with God because that is what we were created for and God wants to be intimate with us.  He longs for a deep relationship with us, to walk in the garden with us.  He can be known personally and because He wants to have the relationship with us - it is possible.  He has instigated the whole thing - He wants that deep relationship with us because He loves us, He likes us.  

He loves us so much, we discovered last week, that He will even drive us into the desert places of life in order to strip us of all self-dependency so that we thirst after Him, and long for Him, and desire Him with our whole being. 

Just to follow up with last week, some of you were asking, “Pastor are you sure we should be praying God send us into the desert places of life? It sounds a bit risky.”  And I’ve been thinking of this and the answer that keeps coming back is “Yes”.  If we do not hunger for God it is a sign of sickness and therefore we need those desert places of life to bring us to Him.  And remember we do not go there alone. God gives us His promises, He gives us His presence.  And I would argue that if in those desert places we become sick of self and fond of God, then those desert places are not really desert places at all but are springs, an oasis where we have discovered the one thing that is needful in life and that is relationship with living God. 

We’ve also discovered that the key to an intimate relationship with God is an undivided heart.  God gives us that great promise in Jeremiah 29:13 - “You will find me when you seek me with your whole heart.”  “If God be God, then let us love Him and serve Him with our whole heart.  Let’s seek Him, let’s pursue Him. No more religious games, no more half measures, no more holding back, let’s consider every day that does not draw us closer to God as a wasted day.”¹  And if the desert places make us seek Him with our whole heart, then yes, we should pray, God send me into the desert.

We have a great God who seeks intimacy with us.  And it is what Christianity is all about, it is about a living, intimate relationship with the living God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Now long ago God demonstrated His desire for intimacy when His people were in the desert and He said to Moses, “have the people build me a sanctuary, a tabernacle that I may dwell among them.”  (Exodus 25:8) and there God said He would “meet with them.” (Exodus 25:22). 

Now, having laid the foundation for our study, we begin our study of the tabernacle in earnest.  We study this because I believe it holds the key to understanding intimacy with God.  In the book of Hebrews we read that the tabernacle is a “copy and shadow of what is in heaven.” (Hebrews 8:5)  So the tabernacle is therefore an earthly picture of spiritual realities. 

In your daily devotions you discovered that the people did exactly as God commanded.  They built a tabernacle. They used the finest materials to build this movable sanctuary - gold, silver, bronze, the finest linens, the finest fabrics, the finest oils, spices, and precious stones.  It measured about 75 feet wide and 150 feet long.  It consisted of an outer court, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.  The outer court was created by a large linen fence that was held up by posts covered in brass.  You will see that there is only one gate into the tabernacle. There was only one way into God’s presence through that gate.  To this day there is only one way into God’s presence and that is through the door who is Jesus Christ – Jesus said, “I am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7)      

Some people complain that there is only one way to God – saying that it’s not inclusive of everyone. What we need to realize is that God in His grace has given one gate and all are invited to enter, all are invited to come to enter His presence through faith in Christ.  In a sense it is very inclusive.   The gate of the tabernacle was 30 feet wide. It’s a big gate - all are invited to come, says Jesus, but we must come through that one gate who is Christ and Christ alone.             

We complain that the entrance into God’s presence is exclusive but the problem is not with God – it is with our own nature.  For if God had provided us two ways to be intimate with Him, we’d complain and say, “it’s not fair - we want three.” If God provided three ways to come into His presence, we’d complain and say, “It’s not fair - we want four.”  If God should provide a thousand ways to approach Him, we would say, “it’s not fair we want a 1,001.”  God has provided us a very clear and open way to be intimate with Him - through the one gate who is Jesus Christ.

As we enter the gate of the tabernacle the first thing we see is the bronze altar.  It is about 7 feet square and about 4 feet high. It is made of acacia wood, a very tough wood found in the wilderness, tougher than oak, and it is covered with bronze, brass.  Halfway down the altar is a bronze grating.  This allowed a fire to burn below it and the ashes to drop through the grating and be used as God prescribed. 

On each of the four corners there are horns.  The horn in Scripture is an image depicting strength, power, help and sanctuary.  And so this altar is a symbol of all those.  Through the sacrifices that were offered there sins are powerfully forgiven, help to the guilty is given by way of mercy, and to those who are guilty they find sanctuary here as they offer their sacrifices. 

The first five and half chapters of the book of Leviticus detail the offerings that are to be sacrificed on the altar. One of these is a grain offering voluntarily given to God and speak of the sacrifice that deals with self  (Leviticus 2), but the rest of the offerings that are given are blood sacrifices and they all deal with sin (the burnt offering Leviticus 1; the sin offering and guilt offering Leviticus 4-6; and fellowship offering Leviticus 3). 

As we think of the altar and what it teaches us about intimacy with God, let’s consider first the offerings that deal with sin.

We read in Leviticus 1:3-6, “If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect.  He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord.  He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.  He is to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against he altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.” 

Yuck.  Now as we read this we see that if we wish to be intimate with God, there must be a blood sacrifice offered.  God says, in that text that if the offering is made, “it will be accepted on behalf of the worshipper and make atonement for him.”  That word atonement means, “to make amends for.”  He’ll be forgiven.

For those of us who have been in the Christian church for any length of time are automatically aware that all of this points us to the truth of Jesus Christ.  We know that He is called the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  (John 1:29).  We know that the “blood of Jesus, …, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)  We know that we are “freed from our sin by his blood.” (Revelation 1:5) We know that it is not “with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)   

Now if you are like me you get a bit queasy with this whole mention of blood.  Why do we have to speak of the blood of Christ?  I’d rather speak of the life of Christ, or the reigning majesty of Christ. But why do we have to think, or speak of, even give praise for the blood of Christ?  It seems so archaic, and something that belongs to a previous generation.  Surely it’s not that important? It’s just old language.  

But this is a wrong attitude.  It does not belong to a previous generation. The blood is a truth that belongs to the Word of God. Hebrews 9:22 says, “In fact the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  This truth does not belong to a previous generation – it is a great truth that belongs to you and to me. We cannot be intimate with God without the forgiveness of sin and we cannot have the forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. 

Why?  Let me give you three equations.  The first equation is this:  God = life.  Jesus Christ is God in the flesh and Scripture tells us that “in him was life.” (John 1:4) “Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)   

The second equation is sin = death.  We read in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.”   Genesis 2:15-17 tells us that Adam and Eve could eat of any fruit tree in the garden, but if they ate “the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would surely die.”  Death is the result of their sin, of their disobeying God. 

We are all sinners – there is no one who is righteous so we are all subject to die. 

Do you know what makes me more queasy than blood?  It’s death.  Have you ever sat and thought about death – I mean really sat and thought about it, just sat there in complete quiet and thought about death?  I have.  Lots of times. And it gives me the willies.  I have thought about what it would be like to be dead.  To have no plans for the future, to think of nothing, to feel nothing, to be far from God.  It’s difficult to do since I’ve never been dead before.   My mother would often look at me lying on the couch in front of the TV and say, “What are you dead or something?”  No!

I’ve never been dead but to think of it is awful. Why?  Because ultimately it is separation from God.  

It is what awaits all those who are not forgiven of their sin –  death.  Jesus said in John 5:24, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

Therefore, those who do not believe have not crossed over and are lost, dead now and eternally.  Death is the result of sin.

The third equation is this:  blood = death.  The whole idea of blood in Scripture is connected to death.  That’s what blood represents - death.  Leviticus 17:11 says that the “life of a creature is in the blood”.  So the penalty for sin is death – and the only way that sin can be paid for is by death – blood.   

We are getting closer to an answer – why does blood have to be shed for us to be intimate with God?  Because it is the payment for sin.

O but we say, “Why does God punish sin with death?  Why, when he was speaking to Adam and Eve in the Garden, why didn’t He say to them, You can eat of any fruit tree you like – except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for if you eat that tree … you will gain twenty pounds and your hair will go frizzy.”

Can you imagine Adam speaking to Eve after she has eaten the fruit? “Eve you’ve put on a little weight? And your hair looks a little frizzy. Have you been eating that fruit?”

Why did God say the penalty for sin is death?  Because sin is rebellion against God.  It is turning our back on God and saying we want things our way and not your way.  It is saying I don’t want anything to do with God.

And we know that God won’t have anything to do with sin. “You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.”  (Psalm 5:4).

So if sin is separation from God in whom there is life, then logically sin has to result in death – it cannot result in just gaining 20 pounds and frizzy hair. Death has to occur if sin is going to be paid for - there has to be the spilling of blood. 

Do Adam and Eve die?  Well not physically right away, but they do die spiritually.  The relationship they have with God is no longer intimate, they hide from Him, they are naked in their shame. 

But God wants a love relationship with you and me and so He provides a means by which humanities sin can be covered – through the sacrifice of an animal.  In Genesis 3:21 we read that the “Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”  A sacrifice was made.  Blood was spilled. 

And then God says to the Israelites in the wilderness - I am going to dwell in your midst, I want to meet with you there, but before you can meet with me there has to be the shedding of blood – so  the first thing I want you to encounter in the tabernacle is the altar - build an altar and sacrifice a bull, or a lamb or a bird, just make sure it is the best you can get and lay your hand on that animal and it’s blood will pay for you and you can come into my presence. 

The rest of Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”  (atonement = to make amends)

All of this of course gives us a greater understanding and appreciation for what Christ did for us on the cross. It is by the precious blood of Christ, by His death  that we are made new – and it is by His blood that we are able to be intimate with God.  

As we understand what went on at the tabernacle we begin to understand that Jesus’ death was substitutionary - He died instead of me. It was my death that Christ died, my penalty.  Sure we are responsible for our sin. Now through faith in Christ’s sacrifice we owe nothing for it.  Jesus has paid it in full.

Some would say this is barbaric of God - taking my sin and placing them on someone else.  Unfair!  And that would be true, if that statement is right.  God did not place the penalty of sin on someone else - He took our sin on Himself! 

“I should have died,” people say, “it was my sin and I should have died.”  And the truth is – you did.  As a result of your faith in Christ you are indwelt by His Holy Spirit and you are brought into union with Christ which involves His death.  So God’s Word says, “We have been united with him like this in his death … for we know that our old self was crucified with him.”  (Romans 6:5-6)

In Christ, God saw me die in union with Him and the penalty of my sin has been fully paid for.  To be sure, I am in debt to God for His mercy and His love which initiated the whole thing but I am no longer in debt to His justice, for God’s just demand for punishment has been fully and finally met. 

This is the joy of our salvation! This is the freedom we have!  This is the thrilling part of it all!  Our sin has been paid for.   So now instead of earning death, we now have the gift of life.  I don’t need to sit and think about death any more because death will never touch me - it’s been done away with, along with my sin.  I don’t need to feel queasy about death because I will never, ever experience it – only life. 

But there’s more.  Not only is the death of Christ substitutionary, it is satisfactory.  For a long time the people of God had to sacrifice bulls and lambs – but it never satisfied the demands of the law fully. We know that because they had to be offered all the time.  The priests never stopped offering these sacrifices on the altar.  But this sacrifice of Christ is satisfactory.  God requires nothing more.  Here is the perfect man sacrifice, the perfect spotless human being, offered voluntarily, giving Himself for us.  Christ’s death satisfies the requirements of the law.

In the pictures of the tabernacle you’ve seen, do you notice that one piece of furniture you will never find there? Chairs! There are no chairs.  There is no place for the priests to sit down!  That’s because they were constantly offering sacrifices 24 hours a day.  They could never sit down - their job was never done.

Do you know what the writer of Hebrews says Jesus Christ did after He offered the sacrifice of His blood for our sins?  It says He sat down! (Hebrews 10:12)  He is saying that the sacrifice is done, completed, there is nothing more for you to add, nothing more for you to do.  Christ’s death is satisfactory! 

And then Christ’s death is sufficient. There is no sin that you have committed that cannot be cleansed by the blood of Christ. There is no depth that you have sunk that God cannot pick you up and make you new. Total forgiveness is possible because of Christ’s sufficient sacrifice.

But then there are the sacrifices on the altar that deal with self. These offerings were voluntary and were usually presented with some animal sacrifice in order to show the connection between forgiveness and the consecration of the person to God. 

I am going to cover this next week and consider the bronze laver. But for this week, the good news for us is that the blood of Christ has done what the blood of bulls and goats could never do – fully cleansed you, given you a good bath so that you are now through faith in dressed in clothes of white, of righteousness. Now the way is open for you to be intimate with God.  It is done, it is finished - that which used to separate you from God is now gone. 

So this week, now, as God tells us in the book of Hebrews, “Let us have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” 

Copyright MBC and Tom Cullen - January 2007

ENDNOTES:

1. Dennis Ignatius, Fire Begets Fire (Vancouver: Vision Publications Ltd., 2006) 60.

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