Part 11
The Brazen Altar
In the brazen altar we have the Lord Jesus Christ in picture, and in type. He is the altar. This was the place of justification for the Old Testament saint. There was only one gate into the outer court of the tabernacle, and this entrance faced towards the East. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and fine pasture. (John 10:9) Thus, we see that the entrance of door in the path of faith. In order for the Old Testament saint to approach this brazen altar (the place of sacrifice), he had to bring an offering for his sin. This offering had to be perfect, and without blemish both within and without — Christ was our sacrifice in His sinless perfection. He was the perfect sacrifice.
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:22)
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
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 9:28)
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9)
The Lord Jesus Christ was our perfect sacrifice on the cross of Calvary; and therefore, the Old Testament saint looked forward in faith to the gospel by bringing his sacrifice to the altar which spoke of the coming Messiah. He approached the brazen altar through the only door to the courtyard, and stood there in his sin before this altar. Three (3) events had to take place here for the justification of the Old Testament saint.
First, the sinner had to place his hand on the head of the sin offering. The transferring of man’s sin on to the animal to be sacrificed was an act of faith, and a picture of substitutive atonement. The sacrifice being a lamb or a bullock had to be without blemish within and without.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matthew 23:23)
Therefore, in placing his and on the sacrifice, the Old Testament saint acted in faith, and was released from the weight of his sin, and the judgment fell not on his flesh, but on the flesh of his substitute. In like manner — Christ is our substitute through faith.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
We are reconciled unto God because God laid our sin and trespasses on Him who knew no sin; that we in turn might be made the righteousness of God in Him. This was the first step in reconciliation for the Old Testament saint. We too must realize that Christ has made a way for us to approach God without sin, and this approach was His sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary.
The second event which had to take place was the shedding of blood. After the sinner had placed his sins on the offering then the blood was shed before Jehovah. Remember in the book of Exodus that God had provided the blood of the Lamb, and said to both Israel and Egypt, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. (Exodus 12:13)
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)
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 9:28)
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalm 85:10)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
The third event which took place was the washing of the sacrifice. In the case of the sin offering only the inner fat was placed on the altar. Only now, could the Old Testament saint stand justified before God. Christ came to put away the law and to die on Calvary as the great Antitype of the sin offering, and the brazen altar; that by belief in Him we too may stand justified before God.
Oh, the richness and goodness of God . . . that Christ became our sacrifice on the cross and shed His holy and precious blood for us.
© Copyright 2007, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. “Freely ye have received, freely give.”
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)