The Bronze Altar (Exodus
27:1-8)
At the time of Moses, the
people were required to bring a sacrifice when entering the
Eastern Gate. At
this point they would be standing before the Bronze Altar while the priest
would slay their sacrifice and present it upon the altar before God.
The bronze altar was 7 ½ feet
wide and 7 ½ feet long and 4 ½ feet high, a square. It was made of wood encased
in bronze. The wood speaks of our Savior’s body, His humanity, the Son of Man
as our sacrifice. The bronze cries forth of judgment upon our sins by a Holy
God. The fire is a picture of God’s wrath upon sin that He brought down upon
His only begotten Son, for us.
As the flames leapt to the
heavens, the intense heat consumed the sacrifice, leaving smoke wafting in the
air and the smell of judgment upon the altar. However, the wood of the altar
was not consumed, since it was securely wrapped in bronze. This reminds me that
Jesus is not in His grave. The grave is empty. With us, our corpse would be resting
in the earth, but Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the Father. He said
that no one could take His life. He gave it freely, and He conquered death
(John 2:19; 10:18).
Year after year, those living
prior to the cross brought their sacrifices to the altar in anticipation of the
one and final sacrifice that would be made (Isaiah 53:7). All those multiplied
thousands of sacrifices only stayed God’s hand of judgment upon us until He
provided the sacrifice of His own Son. Then Jesus accepted His Father’s wrath
on our behalf upon the cross. Jesus stood in the gap, and deflected all
judgment for our sins upon Himself. God gave us a picture of God the Father
sacrificing His own Son in Genesis chapter 22 with Abraham and Isaac.
Since the cross, there is no
longer any need for sacrifices. Notice what the Lord states in Hebrews 10:1-4;
11-18.
“For the law having a shadow
of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with
those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers
thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because
that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away
sins. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had
offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one
offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy
Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the
covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will
put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their
sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there
is no more offering for sin.”
The one sacrifice that
matters has been made and the penalty for sin has been paid by Jesus Christ. To
offer any other is a sin and will not be accepted as the following verses say.
“For if we sin wilfully after
that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)
The knowledge of the truth is
that Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice that God will accept. If we continue to
deny that sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross, and instead offer our own works,
we will remain in our sins and face the judgment of God.
This is very serious. God has
made it very clear in His Word that there is nothing we can do to save
ourselves. The only thing we can do is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)
It is crystal clear in
Ephesians 2:8-9 that it is “…by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
But human nature wants to add
something to it or take something away from it. To do this will bring down
God’s judgment upon those who refuse His Son.
And then there are those who
just will not accept a blood sacrifice for their sins, specifically the blood
sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They are those who follow the way of Cain. They want
to do it their way. However, God says,
“…without shedding of blood
is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
“And as it is appointed unto
men once to die, but after this the judgment: 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.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)
Sad to say, many will go to
their graves thinking they are good enough to face what they are not sure is on
the other side of death. Those of us who know Jesus Christ are sure what is
there; i.e. Jesus as Judge or Jesus with open arms. Any other sacrifice than
that of Jesus Christ will not be accepted. These unbelieving souls will meet
Him as Judge.
The Bronze Altar is the Cross
of Christ. Where we once brought sacrifices to the Bronze Altar, we must now
come empty handed before the Cross of Christ. To do otherwise is eternal
suicide. He is our Sacrifice. He can be our Savior, and if He is our Savior,
then He is our Lord and our God.
Grant Phillips
