The Sanctuary Pt. 5

We're continuing our Sanctuary study learning about the various aspects of the Sanctuary, it's services, it's meanings.
Typifying the ulimate sacrifice for our sins, Jesus Christ, the daily morning and evening animal sacrifices were made as well as the yearly Day of Atonement sacrfices. There is a lot to study here and so lets get on with it.
We're using studies from William Grotheer's Thought Paper to help us along, but most of all we're searching the Bible for the answers we need, praying to the Holy Spirit for understanding by the Grace of Jesus.
1981 Jun -- XIV 6(81)
THE GOSPEL IN THE LIGHT OF THE ATONEMENT -- Now having talked about the Atonement - God's atonement with man, and man's atonement with God - what is the Gospel, the good news about our redemption?
In the KJV of the New Testament, the word, atonement, is used only once.
In Romans 5:11, it reads - "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
The word translated - "atonement" - is the Greek word katallage (katallagh), which means reconciliation. This word is used only by Paul in the New Testament; and by Paul only in Romans, and his letters to the Corinthians.
In II Cor. 5:18-20, Paul sets forth this reconciliation - this atonement, and indicates that God has committed to us "the ministry of reconciliation."
The message to be given is - "Be ye reconciled to God."
God by the Cross has been reconciled to man, but now man must be reconciled to God.
The good news is that God can still be just; and yet the justifier of those who believe on Jesus.
The story of that reconciliation and how it is to be attained on the part of man, and how it will be achieved is to be found in the message of the Sanctuary for the way of God is in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13) This, too, is good news - the Gospel. To mitigate it, to deny it, is to preach an incomplete and partial gospel - another gospel.
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1989 Special 1 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 1
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Since the way of God, the way of holiness, is in the sanctuary, and we are admonished to follow "holiness, without which no man shall see God," it is mandatory that we know and understand the light which came from the Throne of God. (Ps. 77:13; Heb. 12:14)
((((Ps. 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a Godas our God?
Heb. 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without whichno man shall see the Lord)))
"If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:7)
Is not this cleansing the promised result of Christ's final atonement? Would not the "fellowship" fulfill the High Priestly prayer which Christ prayed just before entering the Garden of Gethsemane? (John 17:21-23; 18:1) Then let us walk progressively and understandingly in the light from the Throne, and soon we may walk in that light at the Throne.
(((({17:21} That they allmay be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, thatthey also may be one in us: that the world may believe thatthou hast sent me. {17:22} And the glory which thou gavestme I have given them; that they may be one, even as we areone: {17:23} I in them, and thou in me, that they may bemade perfect in one; and that the world may know that thouhast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
{18:1} When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forthwith his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was agarden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.)))
We would suggest that this Commentary, and the one to follow, be read only with the use of the Bible, and that every text cited be carefully checked and studied. It would be well not to read these issues unless one has time to think about what he is reading. In other words, do not read it hurriedly, but meditatively, comparing Scripture with Scripture and conclusion with conclusion. All human work is fallible, and only truth with asolid basis in the revealed Word of God gives a firm foundation. All else is sand. "But the path of the just is as a shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov. 4:18) As we approach that perfect day, we can expect the brilliancy of that light to increase. To ignore or to discard past light - the sanctuary truth - is to take us from the pathway to the Throne, and leave us stumbling on in darkness. God forbid!
Light From the Throne -- Part 1 -- At the John W. 0sborn Lectureship Series held in Riverside, California, October 23-25, 1988, commemorating the historic message given at the 1888 General Conference session, William G. Johnsson, Editor of the Adventist Review, presented a paper on "The Biblical Message of Righteousness by Faith." In this presentation, he said:
We gain insight into the biblical message of righteousness by faith as we look at the language of salvation the biblical models of salvation.
The Bible sets forth a series of models to describe the message of righteousness by faith.
What God has done and, is doing for us in Jesus Christ is too rich to be encompassed by any one term.
Among the many expressions the principal ones are justification, reconciliation, forgiveness, adoption, and sanctification.
While the New Testament does use these illustrations - illustrations drawn from a court of law, financial transactions, human relations, and family ties - the editor omits -other major illustrations, except by allusion - warfare, and the model revealed in the Scriptures for man's redemption, the sanctuary.
The book of Hebrews clearly declares that the saving work of Christ can be understood by the model which the Hebrew sanctuary services revealed. In that book, Jesus Christ is presented as the great High Priest, who at the Throne of Grace ministers, to those who come boldly, the mercy of God. (Heb. 4:14-16)
{4:14} Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that ispassed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us holdfast our profession. {4:15} For we have not an high priestwhich cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet withoutsin. {4:16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne ofgrace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help intime of need.
The sum of the whole matter is declared to be that we have an High Priest who is able to save to the uttermost, seated at the right hand of that Throne, "a minister of the sanctuary," even'"the true tabernacle." (Heb. 7: 25; 8:1-2)
{7:25} Wherefore he is able also to save them to theuttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever livethto make intercession for them.
{8:1} Now of the things which we have spoken this isthe sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on theright hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; {8:2}A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Paul further testifies that the Aaronic priesthood served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." (8:5)
{8:5} Who serve unto the example and shadow ofheavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when hewas about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, thatthou make all things according to the pattern shewed to theein the mount.
He further writes that when the wilderness tent had been erected, "the priests went daily into the first" apartment "accomplishing the service; but into the second, the high priest alone once every year." (See 9:6-7)
{9:6} Now when these things were thusordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle,accomplishing the service of God. {9:7} But into thesecond went the high priest alone once every year, notwithout blood, which he offered for himself, and for theerrors of the people:
It should be thoughtfully noted that it was the Holy Spirit who signified that this dual service was "cast down beside" the heavenly reality that we might understand its ministry (Heb. 9:8-9; see below on parabole).
{9:8} The Holy Ghost this signifying,that the way into the holiest of all was not yet mademanifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:{9:9} Which was a figure for the time then present, inwhich were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could notmake him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to theconscience;
The Holy Spirit sent to guide into all truth unequivocally set forth the duality of the Hebrew sanctuary service as the model.
This sanctuary model dominated the Old Testament revelation and became the foundation of Adventist theology. This is not saying that the New Testament illustrations are not found in the Old Testament, nor is it saying that Adventist theology rejects these New Testament illustrations. It is saying that true Adventist theology accepts the dictum of Jesus that "salvation is of the Jews." (John 4:22)
{4:22}Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship:for salvation is of the Jews.
This dictum must be understood in context. Jesus was conversing with a woman of Samaria. The different places held sacred by the Jews and the Samaritans had been interjected into the conversation. Jesus declared plainly - "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." Basically, the two religions did not differ much at the time of Christ, but Jesus declared the model associated with the temple revealed the way of salvation.
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The relationship of the earthly sanctuary model to the Heavenly reality is expressed by different words:1) Hupodeigma. In Hebrews 8:5, it is translated, "example" and in Hebrews 9:23, the word, "patterns," is used. It means: figure, copy, representation, or a delineation of a thing.2) Skia. In both Hebrews 8:5 and 10:1,
{8:5} Who serve unto the example and shadow ofheavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when hewas about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, thatthou make all things according to the pattern shewed to theein the mount.
{10:1} For the law having a shadow of good things tocome, and not the very image of the things, can never withthose sacrifices which they offered year by year continuallymake the comers thereunto perfect.
It is accurately translated, "shadow." The language of Hebrews 10:1 is emphatic that skia is the exact opposite of "the very image (eikon). Now eikon transliterated into English is "icon" or an idol. How often we have been guilty of making the "shadow" the very image, and have theologically worshipped the idols thus created by going into great detail, giving significance to every article and symbol of the sanctuary structure beyond the meaning and purpose revealed in Scripture. Whole series of studies have been built around the furniture, curtains, walls, and vestments of the ancient sanctuary layout, neglecting the objective indicated by the Holy Spirit the significance and lessons of the service performed.
3) Tupos. Transliterated this word is "type," but translated "pattern" in Hebrews 8:5.
{8:5} Who serve unto the example and shadow ofheavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when hewas about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, thatthou make all things according to the pattern shewed to theein the mount.
It means "the pattern in conformity to which a thing is made."
4) Parabole. This word is translated "figure" in Hebrews 9:9.
{9:9} Which was a figure for the time then present, inwhich were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could notmake him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to theconscience;
Transliterated it is our word, "parable," and means literally - "to cast down beside." It is a comparison of one thing with another.
This last concept, that the earthly sanctuary is a figure, a comparison - "symbolic" (NKJV) - needs to be rigidly adhered to; and that in comparing the two, we dare not project onto the reality, the limitations of the "shadow." The prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple needs ever to be kept in mind.
He asked - "But will God in very deed dwell with men on earth?" Then in answering declared - "Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built!" (II Chron. 6:18)
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Pausing here for today.
Seriously studying this we find this-
Ps. 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
Heb. 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
I John 1:7 If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
We need to understand the symbolic aspects of the sanctuary. We can't however bring God down to our level. We have to look up to His level, not that we'll understand fully, but we are in danger when we try to bring God down to us. God will forever be our Creator, Christ our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit our guide, anything that can help us to learn the ways of the the Lord, ways that can guide us and enlighten us are worth studying.
May God continue to bless us as we delve into things even further.
{4:14} Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that ispassed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us holdfast our profession. {4:15} For we have not an high priestwhich cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet withoutsin. {4:16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne ofgrace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help intime of need.
By His Grace.
Amen.