The Dwelling Place of God with Man - The Unrent Veil
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Text: Exodus 26:31-35
Intro: This weeks study marks the third time our study has been dedicated to something made from linen. Our first study being the hangings which enclosed the court of the Tabernacle. The hangings that stood between the place where man resided (camp) and the place where God resided (ark of the covenant). This of course representing the “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Tim. 2:5). In our study last week we saw fine twinned linen with needle work of blue, scarlet, and purple. Of course the things we learned about the linen itself hold true, but in addition to the linen we looked at the colors. Blue being the color of God (deity), scarlet being the color of man (humanity), the purple then representing the two colors together the color of the man Christ Jesus. Today’s study is on the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Although the veil was made up from the same curtain which we studied last week, the veil held a very specific purpose.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
The veil itself is set before us as a picture of Christ’s deity dwelling with His humanity.
Though the veil hung there silently and never spoke a word, it declared that God was to be manifest in the flesh. (1 Timothy 3:16).
The Unrent Veil:
So long as the veil hung in the Tabernacle/Temple man was shut out from the presence of God. Hanging there between God and man was an impassable barrier, which stood as a constant reminder of the measureless distance between God and man. This reminder was there even for the most religious of men.
One may stand there before this veil and admire its beauty, texture, design, coloring, majesty and even its mystery but the longer one looks, the more evident it would become that this barrier totally concealed the God who dwelt behind it. That even though God was there, just behind the veil, the distance between that holy God, and sinful man was great. Standing there one would realize that this is closest one could be to God.
In comparison:
One may study the life, deeds, words, and attitude of Jesus of Nazareth and one would very quickly come to this conclusion. That mankind and Christ, were cast in different molds. That there is a great distance betwen He and me. Even the best man who ever lived, even a man who continuously with consecrated effort attempting to copy His life, still is as far as the east is from the west. Christ’s perfectness and godliness shows us our failure and short coming. And therein you have this truth. That simply the manifestation of God in the flesh is not enough to save man, nor did it lead man closer to God. If Christ had lived here for only a season, and then returned to heaven, there would be left in history a man that came and made manifest the great bridge-less gulf between Himself (God) and mankind.
There was one means in which that veil could be put aside as a barrier and become the way of entrance into the Most Holy Place (presence of God). That means was through the blood of sacrifice on the brazen altar. This was possible only once a year on the day of atonement. A day when the priest would take a bullock and a goat, slew them, put their blood in a basin and sprinkle it before the veil. Only then was he permitted to enter in to the Most Holy Place, and sprinkle the blood upon the mercy seat. He did not sit down, nor did he linger there in God’s presence, but he moved with purpose and with a quickness, lest he linger and die.
It was not by the beauty of the veil, its texture, its color, its perfectness in its workmanship, it was not through praise, honor or even worship, but it was only with the blood of the altar, the blood of the cross in which man is then permitted to enter into the presence of God.
What Christ’s shed blood on the cross did was something that the blood of animals could never do.
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.
Notice: year by year continually...
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Notice: daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices...
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Notice: in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins...
Christ Fulfilled it all!
Neither 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.
Christ died once for all and in doing so He doesn’t offer continual sacrifice, but He offers continual access, communion and fellowship with God! An offer made not by the life, but by His death.
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Notice: Do we remember again the sins? No, we are to remember HIM!
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let it be impressed in all of our hearts today, that we draw nigh to God. Christ granted us access, the only thing now holding us back from sweet, precious communion is you and me. The apostle John understood this sweet communion of nearness with His God and Saviour.
Read: Hebrews 9:1-14
The candlestick, the table, the shewbread and even the sanctuary itself were furnishings. Furnishings which spoke of the promises which God had made to His people.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
How do we draw nigh to God? We throughly furnish ourselves with His word!
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.