Chapter 156. 2 Chron. 4. The Brazen Altar.
THE beautiful temple, type of God’s spiritual house, composed of every believer in the Lord Jesus, was built for the purpose God had of dwelling among His people. In His holiness, He could not meet with His sinful creatures without a sacrifice, else they must die. A substitute will have to take their place under God’s righteous judgment, or they must bear it themselves. God’s character has not changed, and the same necessity exists today. Sin is just as hateful to God now as then, and a substitute as necessary. God, in His love, provided one, the Lord Jesus Christ, His only beloved Son. The first thing that met the Israelite as he went into the court of the temple, was a great square altar made of brass. Its size was thirty feet long by thirty wide, exactly the same width as that of the most holy place. Upon it the burnt offerings and sacrifices were offered. It symbolizes the cross of Christ. That is the first thing that is needed before one can come into God’s presence, the only thing that can open the way. There God’s judgment, typified by the brass, fell upon Christ, the victim, offered in the place of the bullocks, and the lambs of Old Testament times. If the brazen altar was in size equal to the most holy place, sb is the cross of Christ, where the lamb of God was offered, equal to the holy requirements of divine justice. Jesus, the Son of God, was equal with God, and His sacrifice has once and forever satisfied all the claims of God against sin, so that “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus,” and, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Will this knowledge of certainty of salvation make one careless as to the way he goes on in this world? If nothing we can do will make our salvation more complete, or secure, shall we please ourselves and do our own wills? Rather, will not the thought of what it cost Jesus to earn this place before God, cause us to love Him more? Shall not our hearts respond to this love that led Him to the awful cross, and will not our desire be while down here to do those things which please Him, and are to His praise and glory? “We love Him because He first loved us.” ¤ Jno. 4:1919The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (John 4:19).
ML 04/16/1916