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Sermon #2378 — Miscellaneous Sermons

 

Title:                           Christ Our Altar

 

Text:                            Exodus 27:1-8

Subject:                     Christ Typified by the Altar of Brass

Date:                          Tuesday Evening — January 2, 2018

                                                Sovereign Grace Fellowship

                                                Wasilla, Alaska

Reading:       Hebrews 13:1-15

 

(Hebrews 13:1) ÒLet brotherly love continue. (2) Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (3) Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. (4) Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and           adulterers God will judge. (5) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (7) Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (8) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (9) Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. (10) We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. (11) For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. (12) Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (13) Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (14) For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.Ó

 

Introduction

 

As the chosen sinner came to worship God in the days of Moses, he would approach the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. It was not much to look at from the outside. It was a tent, covered with badgersÕ skins, surrounded by an enclosed court. There was only one way of access into the Tabernacle, one gate, or door, really just a curtain. But that was the only way the worshipper could come to God. He must come through that one entrance.

 

As he pulled back the curtain and passed through the door, the first thing he saw was a huge bronze altar — 7 1/2 feet wide, 7 1/2 feet long, and 4 1/2 feet high. It had four large horns, one on each corner. This great brazen altar was the first thing to meet the eye, as the sinner came to worship God. LetÕs read about it (Exodus 27:1-8; 29:36-37).

 

(Exodus 27:1-8) ÒAnd thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits. (2) And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. (3) And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. (4) And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof. (5) And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar. (6) And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass. (7) And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it. (8) Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.Ó

 

(Exodus 29:36-37) ÒAnd thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it. (37) Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.Ó

 

The brazen altar was the place where the blood was shed and the victim consumed in the fire. It was the place that gave meaning to everything else connected with the Tabernacle. Without this brazen altar nothing was accomplished. This brazen altar typified Christ our Altar (Hebrews 13:10). That is my subject — Christ Our Altar. Oh, may God the Holy Ghost enable us to worship him at this Altar this hour and all the days of our lives.

 

As the brazen altar was the very first thing the ancient worshipper saw, as he approached the thrice holy God upon his throne, so Christ crucified is the first thing the sinner sees as he comes to God. The very first thing the Spirit of God teaches the heaven-born soul is accomplished redemption by the sacrifice and blood-atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The brazen altar first arrested the eyes of any who drew near to God. Every eye must first behold the altar. Every step must first approach this hallowed structure. There is no coming to God any other way. So it is that all heaven-taught souls are made to acknowledge Christ Jesus as the Altar of the Church. — ÒWe have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacleÓ (Hebrews 13:10).

 

Christ (his obedience, his blood, his sacrifice, his atonement) is first and foremost in the knowledge and worship of God. — Let him be first and foremost the affection of our hearts. Let him be first and foremost in all our doctrine, in all our preaching, in all our hymns of worship, in all our prayers, in all our praise!

 

That which is represented in the brazen altar is the sacrifice of Christ by which sinners are brought to God. This is the heart of the gospel; and this is the heart of all gospel preaching. The Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ died in our place, as our Sacrifice. As the bloody offerings were brought to the altar, each was consumed by the fire on the altar. But Christ is the Sacrifice that consumed the fire of GodÕs holy wrath and justice. — All the beauty of religion is vain without the blood of this altar.

 

Altar of Sacrifice

 

1st — Look at the Altar itself. — This brazen altar, called the altar of burnt offering in Exodus 40:29. It was place of sacrifice. It stood in the court between the gate of the court and the Tabernacle itself. The burnt offering, remember, was a sweet savor offering to the Lord (Leviticus 1:9).

 

(Leviticus 1:1-9) ÒAnd the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, (2) 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. (3) 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 tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. (4) 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. (5) And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, AaronÕs 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. (6) And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. (7) And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: (8) And the priests, AaronÕs sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: (9) But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD

 

Our Lord Jesus died upon the cursed tree as our sin-offering; and his death is declared to be a Òsweet savor offeringÓ to God (Ephesians 5:2).

 

The brazen altar was made by the hands of men; but it was made according to the pattern and purpose of God. So, by the hands of men our Lord Jesus was led outside Jerusalem and nailed to the cursed tree; but he died there according to the eternal decree and unalterable purpose of the triune God (Acts 2:23).

 

(Acts 2:22-24) ÒYe men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (24) Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.Ó

 

Christ submitted to men that he might offer himself a burnt offering and sacrifice to God and a sin-offering for chosen sinners (Hebrews 9:12, 26-28).

 

(Hebrews 9:12) ÒNeither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.Ó

 

(Hebrews 9:26-28) ÒNow once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.Ó

 

That is redemption! The Lord Jesus Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of himself!

 

The brazen altar was not a type, or emblem, or picture of the cross! The cross is not our altar! We glory in the gospel doctrine of the cross, Christ crucified, but not in the physical cross, or shape of the cross. The cross is not our altar. Christ is our Altar. The brazen altar typified our crucified Savior, but not the cross on which he died!

 

The altar was the place of sacrifice. Every animal sacrificed to God was laid out on this huge altar. How large it looked, with a little turtle-dove laying on it. Yet, how small it must have looked with a year old calf laying on it. But on what Altar can the Christ of God place himself? What altar can sustain the weight of this sacrifice? The promised God-man came to die. — What arms might be able to bear him up?

 

All things below are worse than worthless for such glorious use. If structure could be raised, in which each stone were brighter than a million suns, it would be black beside him. Creation has nothing that can hold him! When JehovahÕs own fellow came to die, none could possibly sustain him but himself! We cannot imagine the burdens pressed him down. The least transgression of GodÕs righteous law is load beyond all thought. Its weight sinks the sinner deeper and deeper through unending ages in the unfathomable gulfs of hell!

 

But our Lord Jesus Christ bore all the weight of the countless sins of countless multitudes, when he was made sin for us. What could support him when the avenging fire of infinite justice fell, and he cried, ÒMy God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me?Ó No angel could uphold the weight of such a sacrifice. The help of multiplied worlds would crumble into dust. Earth could supply no prop or pillar to sustain him. Where is the altar to hold this sacrifice? — Christ himself is the Altar! Christ alone could uphold himself, with all the load and weight of our sin and our guilt, with all the load and weight of GodÕs furious anger! ChristÕs only Altar is himself (Isaiah 63:3-5).

 

(Isaiah 63:3-5) ÒI have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. (4) For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (5) And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me

 

Pause now, my ransomed soul! Behold GodÕs Altar and GodÕs Offering.

  • Christ stood as the sacrificing, fire-applying Priest.
  • Christ came as the fire burned Lamb.
  • Christ bore all as the fire-sustaining Altar.
  • Christ died as the fire-consuming Sacrifice!

 

ÒWith one tremendous draft of love

He grank damnation dry!Ó

 

Yes, blessed be his name, our Lord Jesus Christ is the sacrifice that consumed the fire on the altar. This sacrifice satisfied forever the wrath and fury and justice of the holy Lord God! All was sufficient, for all was divine. There was enough in all, for God was in all. The wrath broke forth. The fury was outpoured. Vengeance demanded her due. The law exacted its curse. But this one great burnt-offering was fully adequate and satisfactory!

  • Every divine attribute was magnified.
  • Every sin of the whole family of God was expiated.
  • Christ bore the whole, because he is the Altar of GodÕs making, who is himself God!
  • He is the Priest who made the sacrifice, the Sacrifice offered, and the Altar that sustained the Sacrifice.

There is no sweeter thought on earth, there is no louder song in heaven, than praise to the Priest who offered, to the Lamb who suffered, to the Altar who sustained.

 

The Components of the Altar

 

2nd — Look at the specified components of this great brazen altar, and behold the magnificence of Christ our Altar.

  • The shittim wood speaks of our LordÕs humanity.
  • The brass represents his deity.

The frame was made of choice wood, combined, overlaid with, and encased in brass. The wood alone could not suffice. The flames would have consumed it. An altar of unmingled brass would be too heavy to carry through the wilderness. The union of wood and brass made an altar fit for its destined purpose (John 1:14).

 

The altar was square, solid and strong, able to bear every weight put upon it. It stands the massive symbol of solidity. It cannot be overthrown. Faith sees this and rejoices! Christ our Altar is stronghold. He is our Rock and our Salvation.

 

The altar had four horns. The horns represented power. Christ our Altar and our Sacrifice is omnipotent, prevailing, and effectual. Adonijah and Job fled to the altar and took hold of its horns, hoping to escape te fury of King Solomon; but they were slain holding the horns of that physical altar. Now hear me. — If you flee to a physical altar, take refuge in a physical altar, and take hold of the horns of any physical altar, you will not escape the fury of GodÕs wrath. But, any sinner who takes hold of the horns of this Altar shall live forever! — Behold, the efficacy of ChristÕs Sacrifice.

  • For Satisfaction!
  • For Forgiveness!
  • For Justification!
  • For Victory! — The Unicorn (rhinoceros) pushes with power that none can resist! — ÒCanst thou bind the unicorn?Ó

 

These four horns, one on each corner, represented the fact that ChristÕs one great sacrifice for sin reaches to the four corners of the earth.

  • See the live coals caught on the grate! — (Isaiah 6)
  • Take the fleshhook of faith and grab the Sacrifice, you who have been made priests of God!

 

Every Sacrifice

 

3rd — Every sacrifice was offered to God upon this one altar. No Israelite could get ceremonial absolution for his sins, or a blessing from the priest, except he come to this altar with a sacrifice. He claimed the victim laid on the altar as his substitute, laying his hands upon its head, and was accepted. He was pronounced ceremonially clean. Everything and everyone brought to the altar was sanctified and accepted by the altar.

 

The AltarÕs main design was to receive burnt-offerings. Early in the morning, throughout the day, at eveningÕs close, the flames were bright, the spire of smoke ascended. — So it is today!

 

(Exodus 29:36-37) ÒAnd thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it. (37) Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.Ó

 

What wondrous, blessed words are those! — ÒWhatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy!Ó

á      Me!

á      My prayers!

á      My praise!

á      My service!

á      My gifts!

á      My insignificant cup of cold water!

á      My Life!

 

(Hebrews 13:10-15) ÒWe have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. (11) For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. (12) Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (13) Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (14) For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.Ó

 

(1 Peter 2:4-5) ÒTo whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.Ó

 

(Ecclesiastes 9:7-10) ÒGo thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. (8) Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. (9) Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. (10) Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.Ó

 

One Altar

 

4thThere is but one Altar by which sinners can come to God; and that is the Altar of GodÕs own making, the Lord Jesus Christ (Exodus 20:24-26).

 

(Exodus 20:24-26) ÒAn altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. (25) And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. (26) Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.Ó

 

Yet, in every age Satan erects many counterfeit altars. He decks them with gaudy disguises. He slopes them with a flowery path into his bewitching snare. He smooths with skillful hand the slippery ascent.

  • He makes all kinds of carnal altars: Baptist Altars and Papal Altars — Family Altars and Church Altars!
  • He sits forth the altar of manÕs imagined worth. He causes a man to dream that dung dug from his own bowls and shaped by his own foul hands, and beautified by the tools of his own heartÕs sewer is an altar by which he can come to God!
  • He raises the altar of manÕs mighty will.
  • He erects the gradually ascending altar of manÕs imaginary holiness.
  • He always puts man upon an altar that exposes his nakedness!
  • Christ is the only Altar of GodÕs making; and coming to God by this Altar our nakedness is always completely covered!

 

Christ must be all, or nothing! He must do all the work, have all the merit, and possess all the glory. Every other altar stands on ruinÕs ground and will carry you to hell. — We must come to Christ the Altar, if we would come to God; but this is an Altar to which no man will come until the Sacrifice on the Altar has been brought to him (Isaiah 6:1-7). Isaiah experienced this! He saw the awful distance between his soul and God, and he cried, ÒWoe is me.Ó His neighborÕs sins troubled him more than his own in chapter five. He pronounced six woes upon others; but when he saw the holiness of the Holy One, his seventh woe was for himself. He passed judgement on himself and took his place in the dust. Then, he saw the altar and its provision.

 

(Isaiah 6:1-7) ÒIn the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (2) Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (4) And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (6) Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (7) And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.Ó

 

Oh, may God bring you to himself by Christ our Altar, our Sacrifice, our Priest, our All in All!

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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