Salvation in the sanctuary

August 19, 2023

Acquiring God’s free gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very first step in your new Christian life. As a new follower of Christ, merely acknowledging His death for your sins is only the beginning.

Before Christ
The Israelites practiced animal sacrifices to allow temporary forgiveness of their sins before Christ’s atonement. These ceremonial works were temporarily inflicted because of transgressions against the moral law (Galatians 3:19). Since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), the sinner would have to face death upon themself or instead provide a sacrifice to the Lord. For the latter option, the sinner would have to transfer their sin to a clean animal, which inherently consists of no sin. The transgressor would confess their sin to the innocent animal (resulting in the symbolic transfer of the sin), and then that animal would be put to death. The blood of the animal (representing the sin) is taken by the high priest into the tabernacle and he pours it onto the vail (Leviticus 4:6). This kept a record of the sins throughout the year and allowed the cleansing of sin from God’s people without having to confront death upon themselves. The tabernacle would be cleansed once yearly on the Day of Atonement, where the sins are symbolically removed.

The tabernacle
The sanctuary, otherwise known as the tabernacle, was a place of refuge. The tabernacle in the old covenant allowed a refuge from sin, as opposed to immediate death upon the transgressor. The courtyard of the tabernacle consisted of an altar (Exodus 27:1), where clean animal sacrifices occurred, and a bronze laver that held water for washing (Exodus 30:18). Inside the tabernacle, there is the altar of incense (Exodus 30:1), the bread of the presence (Exodus 25:30), and a menorah (Exodus 25:31-32). Inside the most holy place of the tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant, which housed the everlasting Ten Commandments written by God on two stone tablets (Deuteronomy 4:13; Exodus 31:18). The Ark of the Covenant was the ultimate dwelling place of God inside the tabernacle. Outside the Ark of the Covenant was the Mosaic law book (Deuteronomy 31:24-26), which included the ceremonial law forshadowing Christ (Colossians 2:14).

Justification
Jesus Christ’s path on earth symbolically resembles the articles of furniture in the sanctuary. Like the tabernacle, He is your refuge from sin and your only path to salvation (John 14:6).
Starting in the most holy place of the tabernacle, the Ten Commandments inside the Ark of the Covenant point to Jesus as He said: “…I have kept my Father’s commandments…” (John 15:10). Jesus had left the dwelling place of God in heaven to come to earth and offer his perfect, pure life as ransom for the sins of mankind. He declares that He is the ”...light of the world...” and that anyone who follows Him will not walk in darkness (John 8:12), resembling the menorah. Jesus became the bread of the presence, as He declared: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven:…” (John 6:51). The altar of incense also resembles Christ as He is the intercessor for prayer between man and the Father (Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5). This is why you must end your prayers with “in Jesus name”, which is a stamp of Christ's authority on your prayer. No person can come to the Father without going through Christ (John 14:6).
Outside the tabernacle, the bronze laver further depicts Christ as He explained: “…If anyone thirsts, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37). God's people will have “rivers of living water” flowing out of their hearts (John 7:38).
Finally, Jesus cleanses the sins of the world by becoming the Lamb of God and being crucified on the cross (John 1:29), resembling the altar where clean animals get sacrificed.

Sanctification
Christ's sinless life on earth and being sacrificed as the Lamb of God truly reveals the perpetual love of the Lord for wicked mankind.
As a prospective disciple of Christ, you walk into the tabernacle courtyard, first presented with the altar where Christ is crucified at the cross. Here, you recognize that you are lost and accept Christ as your Lord and savior through faith (Proverbs 14:12; Ephesians 2:8). You confess all your sins to Jesus, and He will forgive you from all past unrighteousness (1 John 1:9; Romans 3:25). You repent, or change your mind on everything contrary to what God expects of you and seek to do His will only (Matthew 4:17, 7:21), resulting in turning away from your sinful life. Next, you continue to the bronze laver, which represents baptism. Here, you get baptized as a public announcement that you have accepted Christ as your Lord and savior (Acts 22:16). You will then receive the Holy Spirit who will guide you in your new life (John 14:16-17; Romans 8:27), and convict you of sin and righteousness (John 16:8). At this point, you will be declared born again (1 Peter 1:23). Inside the tabernacle, the altar of incense resembles your communication with God through prayer. The smoldering smoke rising from the altar of incense is your prayers, which go up to the Lord in heaven. The bread of the presence resembles your study of God’s word in the Bible. Jesus declared that man must not live by bread alone but also by the word of God (Matthew 4:4). Just like you are to depend on food to live on earth, you must depend on God’s word for eternity that awaits. You are commanded by Christ to let your light shine to the world (Matthew 5:16). Your light bears witness to others revealing the changes God has made in your life, resembling the menorah.
Your journey through the tabernacle does not stop here!
Finally, you are called to enter the most holy place through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19), where the Ark of the Covenant resides and resembles God’s law being written into your heart and mind (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16). As a result, you should have a great desire to keep the commandments of God in your new life (1 John 5:3; John 14:15; Deuteronomy 10:12-13).

True saving faith
Your faith in Christ is God’s covenant, or agreement to His people that reveals His mercy to mankind. Through God’s covenant of mercy and forgiveness, God's people are justified in God’s eyes, as if they have never sinned before. God’s people are justified through the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
Your faith does not stop at the cross. You must proceed through the sanctuary and finally enter the dwelling place of God, where His commandments reside inside the Ark of the Covenant. Believe it or not, even the devils “believe and tremble” (James 2:19). Essentially, they know the truth, but their behavior does not change. God's people will notice great changes in their lives, not being dead to sin but living righteously (1 Peter 2:24).