NAME: Lanz Cameron Khrystoffer D.

Ege
DATE/TIME: 07/20/2020 3:00PM to 5:00PM
Location: Home
Course: Studies on the Doctrine of the Sanctuary
Reading Log 6: “The Altar and the Cross” from the book “The
Atoning Priesthood of Christ” by Frank B. Holbrook
PUBLISHER: Review and Herald Publishing Association

Annotation:
Three essential concerns underscored the priestly activities
in the sanctuary parable:

(1) The offering of animal sacrifices

(2) The ministration of sacrificial blood and the intercession
at the golden altar
(3) The ministration of final judgment

The writers of the New Testament is unambiguous to equate the

ritual sacrifices of the earthly sanctuary services to the once-
and-for-all death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. The
many references to the all-sufficient "blood" of Jesus allude to
the sacred practice (rf. Heb. 8:3; 9:26; 10:12). Arguably, the
blood of Jesus is superior to the ceremonial cleansing by animal
blood. All these foreshadow the one, great, antitypical death of
Jesus Christ.

The sacrificial activities occurred during the morning and

evening (daily), and the private offerings of the people are only
in connection with the altar of burnt offering. The daily is the
centrepiece of the Sanctuary (Ex. 29: 38-42) as it took "priority
over all other sacrifices and was central to Israel's worship". It
was never to go out (Lev. 6:9-13), and it was comprehensive in
that the priests for all Israel offered it.

The ever-burning sacrifices were a symbol of "the constant

availability of God's forgiveness and acceptance through
consecration to God". The hours appointed for the daily became
national hours of prayer. It should be noted that it was not a
"limited" atonement as the sacrifices were made for all of Israel
since God intended for the Sanctuary to be "a house of prayer for
all people" (Isa. 56:7), so even Gentiles are embraced in the
efficacy of the sacrifices as they are drawn to the worship of the
true God by His Spirit and the witness of His people.

The death of Christ was prefigured in the Old Testament, the

merits of His sacrifice is available to all who will believe and
receive Him (rf. John. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). God
forgiveness is always “a prayer away”.

Private sacrifices meanwhile, "involved the believer in the

act of slaying the victim, and thus enabled the worshipper to
appropriate more directly and forcefully the grace and mercies of
God." The major categories of private sacrifices are Burnt
Offerings (Lev. 1), Peace Offerings (Lev. 3), Sin/Guilt Offerings
(Lev. 4-6), & Accessory Offerings (Lev 2). These all teach us
different facets of our relation to God such as the importance of
dedicating and consecrating our lives to God (Burnt Offering), the
communal meal of the "peace offering" points to the Christian rite
of the Lord' Supper wherein we are constantly reminded of our
"peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1) every
time we partake it, we can find grace and acceptance through our
confession. God indeed forgives even the vilest sinner if he/she
repents (Sin/Guilt Offerings), and lastly our “grateful dependence
on the gracious Creator” in prayer (Accessory Offerings). Since
all these bloody sacrifices foreshadow Christ’s atoning death (cf.
Heb 9:22; John. 1:29), every time the Israelites act in these
offerings was like praying “in the name” of the coming Redeemer.

P.T. Forsyth, in his book "The Work of Christ", stated that

"Without a holy God there would be no problem of atonement. It is
the holiness of God’s love that necessitates the atoning Cross. .
. .” (emphasis mine). God's character, as reflected in His law has
been transgressed and tarnished, rebellion has been raised against
His authority and government, and His holy nature is challenged as
a direct result of sin. "The Rock [God], his work is perfect; for
all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without
iniquity, just and right is he” (Deut 32:4). “Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord of hosts” (Isa 6:3).

Frank Holbrook emphasizes that “God is not like some

insensitive, stone sphinx. He is a living, vibrant Person. Sin is
an open affront to His sinless Being. It cannot be tolerated in
His presence or in His universe. God's internal holiness, as well
as His external authority as Sovereign, must react against the
sinful rebellion of His creatures. He must judge sin for what it
is and eradicate it. The very security of the universe of
intelligent beings rests upon the Creator’s being true to His holy
character." Sin must and should be dealt with that is it satisfies
His demand for holiness and justice, with His character or love
and mercy. John Stott in his book "The Cross of Christ" describes
this very well when He wrote that: The way God chooses to forgive
sinners and reconcile them to himself must, first and foremost, be
entirely consistent with his character. It is not only that he
must overthrow and disarm the devil in order to rescue his
captives. It is not even only that he must satisfy his law, his
honour, his justice or moral order: it is that he must satisfy
himself.”
 In explaining the answer to the question: Why must Christ
have to die? The NT writers are united in telling us that it was
necessary of Christ to die if He is to accomplish His mission to
save sinners.

The Sanctuary and its services illustrate the meaning of the

Cross. Frank Holbrook summarizes these when he remarks that “(1.)
Convicted of sin, the penitent brings the specified sacrifice to
the altar. (2.) Placing his hand on the head of the animal, the
penitent confesses his sin and guilt, thereby transferring the
same to the animal as his substitute. (3.) After the penitent slays
the sacrifice, the attendant priest catches the blood and
administers it according to the appropriate directions. (4.) The
priest thus makes atonement for the sin, and the penitent is
forgiven.”

By witnessing the death of an innocent Sacrifice, we are all

taught that “In the governance of a holy God, sin and rebellion
cannot be winked at nor ignored. The universe is secure only if
the Creator is truly just. The penalty for sin must be enforced.
Imagine the instability of any nation whose judicial system ceased
to punish transgressors!" Hence, God made Jesus be the
"propitiation [b]in His blood through faith. This was to
demonstrate His righteousness because in the forbearance of God He
passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration,
I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would
be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Rom.
3:25-26).

The sacrifice is to demonstrate both God's mercy and justice

in forgiving repentant sinners, satisfying the holy demands of His
law while being gracious to the ungodly.
 The sacrificial animal also pointed to the transfer of the
accountability of sin. The repentant sinner symbolically
“transfers” his sins into the animal. The animal symbolically takes
full accountability of the sins committed and serves as the
sinner's substitute and foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ in
which for our sake "God made Him (Jesus Christ) to be sin who knew
no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
(2 Cor. 5:21).

Another facet we learn here is the repeated instructions for

the sacrificial animal to be spotless as it foreshadows the sinless
Redeemer (rf. 1 Pet. 1:18; 19). Holbrook powerfully comments that
"It is argued in some quarters that Christ came to earth with a
self-centred, egotistical bent such as we have, but that He
resisted its clamours. However, there is not the slightest hint
given in Scripture to suggest that His self-will naturally sought
to be or to act independently of the Father. The sanctuary parable
serves to correct this aberrant theology by emphasizing the
unblemished qualities of the promised Redeemer. Only a sinless
Saviour could make the atoning death that would provide salvation
for the world.” (emphasis mine)

In slaying a living animal for the sacrifice of sin, the

penitent Israelite acknowledges God’s divine judgment of sin and
the horrible effect of sin as it takes the life of the animal.
Thus, in every death of an animal and even in the death of our
Lord, we see the reality of God's judgment upon sin (cf. Eze. 18:4;
Rom. 6:23). Holiness and Sinfulness cannot exist, and sin must be
dealt with. This consequences of this divine judgment are eternal
separation and death to those who remain impenitent and rebel
against God.
 In becoming our sinless Substitute, God demonstrated His love
for sinners and His antagonism to sin. Instead of us taking the
full force of His anger, the Godhead assumed the responsibility of
our sins through the Person of the Son Jesus Christ. This is Divine
Love in all its fullness in the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus.

PERSONAL GLEANINGS:

In this reading, I have learned that the love of God to guilty

sinners is unfathomable. In the sacrifices that foreshadow the
sacrifice of Christ, we see mercy and justice kiss.

I shall endeavour to apply these concepts in my personal life by

taking God's word on sin seriously. To live a holier life for Him
who died for me and to bless others as they see Jesus in me.

In my ministry, these concepts should be emphasized as many

are still unsure of their standing with God and if God has truly
forgiven their sins. The Sanctuary and its services provide us
with a parable of the Gospel in that our Sinless Redeemer has dealt
with our sins on the Cross, establishing our peace with God and
giving us full access to His presence. I will strive to emphasize
this in my ministry in my preaching and teaching, and also how I
treat with other people.