The Prominence of the Altar

Not only was the altar prescribed by God; it was prominent.  It was the first thing seen as one entered the door; he couldn't miss it.  The brazen altar was also prominent in that it as by far the most often used of all the tabernacle furniture.  The high priest went into the Holy of Holies only once a year. He went into the holy place morning and evening, but he was at the altar all through the day as the people came with their sacrifices. This should be true in our preaching today. Paul was "determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Co. 2:2). in  Corinthians 1:11-25 great stress is put upon :preaching of the cross". Much that is called Gospel preaching today is a million miles from it, for not one word is mentioned about the cross or Christ's death for our sins. Occasionally a preacher has the audacity to stand and beg lost people to be saved when he has not told them a thing about how to be saved. if we leave the gospel out of our witnessing, we have left out everything. There is no salvation apart from it.

In so many Gospel tracts today there is not one word about Christ suffering and dying for sins, but people are exhorted to "give their hearts to Christ" or "to ask Jesus to come into their hearts."  The Word of God clearly tells us to preach the Gospel, "how that Christ died for our sins...was buried, and...rose again and seen by hundreds" (1 Cor. 15:3) and exhort sinners to "believe" this Good News for themselves. Most preachers would vow and declare they "preach the Gospel" and give the Gospel in their witnessing, but one who listens carefully will discern how little is mentioned of the cross, whether in public, private or print. As Vance Havner has said "They almost say it and most will think they have said it, but they make a neat detour at the cross."

The Presentation at the Altar

The altar was the place of personal presentation of sacrifice and public profession of faith. Some of the details for offering a sacrifice as a whole burnt offering are in Lev. 1:2-5.

                    Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man
                    of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering
                    of  the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be
                    a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish:
                     he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the taber-
                     nacle of the congregation before the Lord. And he shall put his
                     hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted
                     for him to make atonement for him. And he shall kill the bullock
                     before the Lord: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the
                     blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is
                     by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

The offerer brought his offering personally and willingly.  At the moment we are saved today, it must be just as real as if we reached out and extended a lamb in our hands to the Lord and that Lamb were the Lord Jesus, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29). God looks at the offering we make just

as He looked at the offering of Cain and Abel.   ABC Sumner

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Acceptance at the altar

The first thing to meet the eye of one entering the courtyard gate of the tabernacle was the huge brass or copper altar. Notice first of all that it was prescribed by God. In Exodus 27 is the record of the brazen altar, as it is commonly known. God said, "Thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood" (v. 1). The word "altar" comes from a Hebrew word meaning to slay or slaughter.  On the brazen altar all the animals were slain and sacrificed for our sins. Every time we read about the Israelites offering an animal sacrifice in the Old Testament we can remember that in some way it pictured the cross of Calvary.

There was a specific reason for His becoming a man. God gave a remedy: Moses must put a brazen serpent upon a pole; if they looked on the serpent, they would live.  Sure enough, everyone who looked did live, John 3:14-15 clearly says that this serpent was a type of the Lord Jesus, for God says, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have  eternal life." How was all this to be? God illustrated by the picture of the brass serpent in the wilderness that Another would be judged for Israel's sin. When they looked at this brass serpent, they realized this substitution, and God forgave them on the basis that another paid the penalty for their sins. The Lord Jesus Christ was lifted up for us on the cross as a sinless man, but He was covered over "with brass," or judged, for our sins. When we look at Calvary and the cross through faith in His Word, we understand that Another was judged for our sins and we are forgiven and receive eternal life.

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What about those who have never heard the gospel?

Many ask, "What about those who haven't heard the gospel?" That's easy, "because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:19-20).  Notice the plain, strong language of Scripture. God has made manifest unto them, has shown unto them; the things of God are clearly seen, they are understood. But the unbelievers have been foolish and changed the glory of God, which was manifest unto them and made an image instead.

If a child hasn't learned and accepted that two plus two equals four, you would never try to discuss algebra with him. Similarly, those who have rejected the ABC's of God, will not hear the rest of the story! But if anyone accepts the ray of light God gives him, God says, "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (Jn. 7:17).

A beautiful example of this is in Acts 8:26-38. The Ethiopian from Africa had not yet heard the Gospel, but he did respond to the light which he had. Because he had responded and was ready for more light, God  took Philip out of a revival meeting and sent him to the Ethiopian. When he heard the Gospel, that Christ died for his sins, was buried, rose again and was seen by hundreds, he received it and was saved. God will see to it that missionaries get to anyone who wants the truth.  Missionaries from all over the world can tell of just such incidents, that when they went into a new territory, perhaps only one person at first, but someone, had responded to the light they already had and immediately responded to the Gospel when it came.  We can be sure that God is good and just; no one will ever go to hell who ought not to be there!

It took just one step to be inside that gate to the tabernacle. Today it takes but a single step of faith to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but you must take that step yourself. No one can force it on you. If you want to get to heaven, just enter the door through Christ; He will take you all the way to heaven.

"I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus today"

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