Seeking the Saviour in the Sacrifices

Berean Baptist on August 19, 2019

The Old Testament is often ignored in many churches without people realizing it holds the key to many New Testament references. At first, the only Bible New Testament preachers could use was the Old Testament. This meant they were continually seeking Jesus in Old Testament texts. Even Jesus referenced the Old Testament testimony of Him. He taught two disciples on the road to Emmaus immediately after He arose from the tomb. He explained the Old Testament text beginning at Moses and the prophets to show them He was the true promised Messiah.

In the New Testament era, God speaks through the living word, Jesus Christ, as revealed in the written word, the Bible. We have no other way of knowing Him in the fullness of His splendor except as we understand Him through scripture. We need not expect any other revelation because scripture testifies to its sufficiency. It tells us everything God wants us to know in this present day. Yet, God spoke in various ways in times past. Sometimes He gave dreams and visions. Sometimes He appeared in theophanies. These were manifestations of His presence through other forms. For example, He spoke to Moses in a burning bush or appeared as a stranger conversing with Abraham. Joshua saw Him as an angel and Jacob wrestled with Him at Peniel. Those were unusual occurrences even for Old Testament times. The more common way of God teaching about Himself was through the pictures of worship.

God gave Moses the plan for the tabernacle, a tent-like structure, made from a pattern of the divine in heaven. Each part of the building, the materials, the articles of furniture, the superstructure, the surroundings, and the priests who served were types of the Lord Jesus Christ. There were also many sacrifices classified as either sweet savour or non-sweet savor.

I am convinced there is no better way to learn the person and work of Christ than to study Old Testament worship. If Jesus used the Old Testament to teach His work to confused people, and if the apostles had nothing but what they learned from the Old Testament to guide them at first, surely an examination of Old Testament worship is time well spent. As the authors wrote the New Testament, it gave life to the types the Old Testament portrayed. The Israelites could not see it as well as we do today. The recognition of a type requires the unveiling of the antitype. We more recognize the types/antitypes because we have a completed Bible. But what good does it do to have the antitype if we do not recognize the type? You see, the dilemma is the same. If you do not know the Old Testament, the antitype is largely unrecognized.

There are many of these in the scriptures. We miss much meaning if we do not take time to study and learn them. As the Old Testament and New Testaments complement each other, so does Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon at Berean. Sunday afternoons are usually the deeper of the two services and affords the opportunity to increase your understanding of scripture. How much you grow in the Lord depends on how much you know about scripture. If you don’t know about the sacrifices of the Old Testament, you are missing important information you really need to know.

Christ taught Himself and the apostles taught Him by using the Old Testament. If the New Testament is all you know about Christ, you haven’t learned enough. Be sure to study the Old to find Him in more ways than you can imagine.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Worship in the Beauty of Holiness

Berean Baptist on October 24, 2015

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Psalms 29:2)

 Several years ago, the church went through a study of the Tabernacle which is the Old Testament’s most complete and vivid picture of Jesus Christ. Every part of the Tabernacle had a corresponding relationship to some aspect of the person and work of our Saviour. It is clear from the Bible’s first institution of public worship that Jesus Christ was to be the focus of the scriptures.

In the Tabernacle, this focus is shown in a variety of ways. One of the most interesting is the golden lamp-stand that was placed inside the Tabernacle. This lamp-stand was the only source of light since the Tabernacle was a tent like structure with no windows. There was no natural light that shined into the structure. When the priest entered and let the heavy curtain door fall shut behind him, the place was completely dark—nothing could be seen. But when the wicks in the oil in the lamp-stand were touched with a flame, the interior of the Tabernacle became visible, and what a beautiful sight it was! The light danced off of the walls that were lined with gold. The intricate embroidery of the ceiling and of the holy veil became visible. The exquisite beauty of the golden table of shewbread and the golden altar of incense marvelously shined before him. Though the Tabernacle was plain on the outside, it belied the beauty that was on the inside. How was the beauty seen? The priest had to go in and have the light illumine it to him. This is emblematic of the beauty of Christ. He is not attractive nor understood until one is “in Christ.” His beauty is not visible until the Holy Spirit shines the light upon Him. This is when He is revealed in the beauty of His holiness.

The Old Testament worship of the Tabernacle was dependent upon a lot of work by priests and others to make worship possible. There were rituals to be performed, and each head of the family was responsible to bring a sacrifice and to pay the tax of the sanctuary. Many such rituals were done and God was very particular that every detail was done right.

Today, we are not asked to bring sacrifices. The all sufficient sacrifice of Christ has been made. We are not asked to wear priest’s garments or wave odorous censors. God does not require holy water to be sprinkled as in Old Testament times. Nonetheless, He still requires that Christ be worshiped in the beauty of holiness.

In this age, our sacrifices are spiritual and are concerned chiefly with the heart. David had amazing spiritual insight when he wrote: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalms 51:17). He knew the rites and rituals of Israel’s worship foreshadowed a much more important principle. God was looking for clean hearts and a right spirit (Psalms 51:10). Why is this important at this point? It is because we have gathered to worship and yet many of you cannot. You believe you are as you sing the songs, pray the prayers, and give your tithes. You do, therefore you worship. “Not so,” says God. The preparation for worship is not made here. It is made in your heart before you ever entered this building.

God still demands holiness for worship. He is an immutable God which tells us this requirement will not and cannot change. Whether Tabernacle, Temple, the church, or your heart, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

 Pastor V. Mark Smith