The Plan of Salvation Landscape

A sanctuary (tabernacle/temple) is a sacred place, a place set apart for a holy purpose, a place that separates holy things from sin, a place to commune with God in intimate fellowship, a place to worship Him "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24) — officiated by a High Priest, who is Christ Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The sanctuary is a consecrated place, a copy from Heaven which God gave to Moses to duplicate on earth. It was an object lesson of how He would save mankind from sin, and how man can spiritually change his character and prepare a habitation to receive the Spirit of God. The earthly sanctuary illustrated Christ's great sacrifice at His first coming, and also illustrates His intercession going on in Heaven now, in His work in the heavenly sanctuary as our High Priest.

There still exists a sanctuary in us, and in Heaven, of which Christ is still officiating, atoning for our sins with His blood. Every part of the sanctuary had significance for His plan of salvation and judgment, and every piece of furniture represented Christ and the preparation man had to make to be a habitation for the Spirit of God.

Removing Sin Through the Sanctuary

What is sin? "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Step 1: The Altar of Sacrifice

Nothing of real value comes to us without real sacrifice. A biblical faith is one that recognizes the priority of sacrifice and the willingness to give rather than to get (John 3:16). The first thing to greet us after entering the door is the altar of sacrifice, representing Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), typified as the Lamb of God.

Accepting Christ's sacrifice by faith, we are forgiven and justified by His sacrifice as payment for our sins — freeing us from sin's penalty, death (Romans 6:23) — while at the same time His righteousness is imputed to us through His blood, and Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20).

Step 2: The Laver of Water

The primary meaning of the laver of water is cleansing, or baptism, typifying repentance. This cleansing applies to the child of God, for only priests served at the laver. Now forgiven of our sins, and the penalty paid, we need to cleanse our ways and stop sinning — never to go back to the old ways — and we can only do this with the help of Christ.

"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean... A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you" (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

Step 3: The Table of Shewbread

God places supreme importance on His written word. Reading and educating ourselves in the words of God fills us spiritually, and is typified as eating His flesh. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).

We should try to go deeper into the Scriptures, deepening our understanding of the knowledge of Christ — meat, not just the milk of the gospel (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Step 4: The Seven-Branch Candlestick

Living a life that reflects Christ and bears fruit is what the seven-branch candlestick typifies — done through the word of God, which lights our path. The lamps in the earthly sanctuary burned continually, so the Christian is ever to let the Spirit of God rule in his life, shedding light for all to see. Only the High Priest could trim the lamp; with the knowledge of Christ from the bread of life, we are able to reflect Christ's life in us as light-bearers.

Step 5: The Altar of Incense

Christ restores communication between Heaven and earth after sin separated man from his Creator. The High Priest alone performed the sacred duty of placing incense on the altar of incense and making intercession on behalf of the saints — showing the work Christ is doing in Heaven for us. The altar of incense typified prayer, offered in the name of Jesus to consecrate it and make it acceptable to God.

Step 6: The Ark of the Covenant

For God's Spirit to dwell in us (Emmanuel — God with us), it has to mirror His heavenly habitation and heavenly throne room, built on His character, transcribed in His Ten Commandments — the foundation of His kingdom, over which mercy and grace now reigns. Keeping the commandments is proof of love (John 14:15) — not done out of duty or fear, but of love. Once God's Spirit manifests in its habitation, bearing fruits of the Spirit becomes possible (Galatians 5:22).

Conclusion

Since a sanctuary still exists in Heaven, we should endeavor to keep it, and its furniture, spiritually — for it to be a home for the Holy Spirit. Till Christ shall finish His ministration on our behalf in the sanctuary in Heaven, we are under grace (Romans 6:14). The law served the purpose of a mirror — it told us where we went wrong, and through the blood of Jesus Christ we have the power to wipe away the sin, and to live righteously and transgress the law no more.

The sanctuary also serves as a pattern of deliverance, more like a GPS — "thy way, O Lord, is in the sanctuary" — since we are lost because of sin. Only in the presence of God can sin be totally removed (Hebrews 12:14). We've seen that all the furniture in the sanctuary typified Christ; just as Christ is our example (1 Peter 2:21-25), we must follow His steps as He leads us back to the Father, for we are as sheep gone astray (Isaiah 53:6).

Continue to: Cleansing of the Sanctuary →