Sermon Tone Analysis

Readings

(The Mercy Seat)

Passage on Ark

Hymns for Capstone

Before the Throne of God above.

Passage on Day of Atonement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7R5Pnh-5FM

Introduction

Define Atonement using an Illustration from life.

(Make this simple and Clear)

Explain Expiation and Propitiation

For atonement to occur the offence has be removed (Expiation) and the offended party appeased.

(Propitiation).Expiation + Propitiation + forgiveness = atonement.

Describe the place of atonement.

Tonight we are studying the Ark of the covenant and in particular what was called “the place of atonement” sometimes referred to as “The mercy seat” The place of atonement was basically the cover or lid for the the Ark of the Covenant.

The most Holy piece of furniture in the whole of God’s house.

An earthly symbol of a heavenly reality, The ark of the covenant might be described as an earthly symbol of a heavenly reality.

Its cover was a three-dimensional picture of a scene from Heaven, where God is surrounded by his holy angels.

Point to ( or Ezekiel )

The cherubim on the ark represented the burning angels beneath God’s throne in heaven.

God seems not to have told Moses exactly what they looked like, except that they had faces and wings, which they spread protectively over the ark.

Above these cherubim—whom Hebrews calls “the cherubim of the Glory” ()—was the holy presence of God.

No doubt this explains why the cherubim lowered their gaze, looking down on the ark rather than up to God.

They were bowing in God’s presence to worship him with reverence and awe.

The space above the cherubim was empty.

God did not tell Moses to make any representation of his divine being.

(Ex20:4) Any such representation would have been a graven image, an idol of a false god.

Instead, the space between the cherubim was left empty, only to be filled with the living presence of God.

The place of atonement covered over the Ten Commandments that were placed within the ark.

Introduce the concept of Atonement.

Atonement in the biblical sense simply means reconciliation with God.

To be made one with God.

A good way to think of it is by breaking up the word itself (At-one-ment).

For atonement to occur the offence of sin has be removed (Expiation) and the offended party appeased.(Propitiation).

Expiation + Propitiation + forgiveness = atonement (Reconciliation).

Define Atonement using an Illustration from life.

(Make this simple and Clear)

Explain Expiation and Propitiation

Atonement in the biblical sense means reconciliation with God.

For atonement to occur the offence of sin has be removed (Expiation) and the offended party appeased.(Propitiation).

Expiation + Propitiation + forgiveness = atonement (Reconciliation).

Illustration Expiation.

When he invented the pencil eraser, British engineer Edward Nairne was reaching instead for a piece of bread!

Crusts of bread were used then, in 1770, to erase marks on paper.

With us too the worst errors of our lives can be swept away.

It’s the Lord—the Bread of Life — who cleans them away with His own life, promising never to remember our sins.

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake,” says , “and remembers your sins no more.”

This “Place of atonement” (mercy seat) in the tabernacle was the place where sin would be symbolically removed with the sprinkling of blood and God would be propitiated (appeased).

This “Place of atonement” this “mercy seat” was the place where sin would be symbolically removed and God would be propitiated (appeased)

Big Idea

The place of Atonement for-shadows and symbolises Jesus’ atoning work on the cros.

Through his atoning sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, Our sin was removed, cast as far as the east to the west.

washed away by the blood of Jesus (Expiated), Consequently, God’s Wrath on account of his justice against sinners was appeased (Propitiated) and through trusting in Jesus sacrificial death for the forgiveness of our sins we can be justified (Made right with God) and reconciled with Him. ( we are made at-one-ment)

Mercy seat.

Through his sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, Our sin was removed, washed away by the blood of Jesus (Expiated), Consequently, God’s just wrath against sinners was appeased (Propitiated) and through trusting in Jesus sacrificial death for the forgiveness of our sins we can be forgiven and Justified (Made right with God).

Why is this such a huge Deal?

It’s the answer to the worlds problems.

Its the answer to all of humanities problems.

I am deadly serious!

Humanities biggest problem is with God.

Tonight we will unpack this truth as we consider three things:

The construction and placement of Ark of the covenant particularly the place of atonement (Mercy Seat).

The function of the place of atonement (including why it is sometimes referred to as the Mercy Seat).

What happened at the place of the atonement.

1)The Construction and Placement of the Ark of the Covenant

Describe the place of atonement.

Describe the place of atonement (Mercy seat)

The Ark of the covnant

More than a symbol.

The ark of the covenant might be described as an earthly symbol of a heavenly reality and yet it was so much more than a symbol of God’s presence, God himself manifested his presence over it.

God really was present.

It was a golden Box, Its cover was a three-dimensional picture of a scene from Heaven, where God is surrounded by his holy angels.

It was a golden Box, Its cover was a three-dimensional picture of a scene from Heaven, where God is surrounded by his holy angels.

The cherubim on the ark represented the burning angels beneath God’s throne in heaven.

God seems not to have told Moses exactly what they looked like, except that they had faces and wings, which they spread protectively over the ark.

Above these cherubim—whom Hebrews calls “the cherubim of the Glory” ()—was the holy presence of God.

No doubt this explains why the cherubim lowered their gaze, looking down on the ark rather than up to God.

They were bowing in God’s presence to worship him with reverence and awe.

The space above the cherubim was empty.

God did not tell Moses to make any representation of his divine being.

(Ex20:4) Any such representation would have been a graven image, an idol of a false god.

Instead, the space between the cherubim was left empty, only to be filled with the living presence of God, God would appear there in a cloud.

The place of atonement covered over the Ten Commandments that were placed within the ark.

The Ark wan’t just situated in the Most Holy Place.

The ark itself was the most Holy place.

Because God was manifestly present above the cheribim the ark was what made the most Holy place the Most Holy Place, thus the ark was accociated with God himself.

Consequences for removing the cover or transporting carelessly.

Death!

The ark was so Holy it was accociated with God himself.

()

Death!

The ark was so Holy it was accociated with God himself.

Place of atonement.

2) The function of the place of the atonement.

Why is this such a big Deal?

It’s the Answer to the worlds problems.

Its the answer to all of humanities problems.

I am deadly serous!

(expand a little, dont go down a rabbit hole)

What Happened at The Place of Atonement

The Process.