"WE HAVE AN ALTAR"


A. "WE HAVE AN ALTAR, WHEREOF THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO EAT WHICH SERVE THE TABERNACLE" - HEBREWS 13:10
  1. The words of our test must be considered in the light of Paul's reasoning in the previous chapters:
    1. In chapter one he affirms the deity of the Son of God
    2. In chapter two he connects the Son of God with humanity
    3. In chapters three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine he affirms the Priesthood of the Son of man
  2. And in chapters ten to thirteen Paul points to the many advantages the priesthood of Christ has over the Levitical priesthood:
    1. All the reasoning of the writer of the Book of Hebrews is intended to encourage the Hebrew Christians in the new found faith
    2. But in this, God uses Paul to enlighten and encourage all the believers in Jesus Christ
B. WE HAVE AN ALTAR
  1. It is inspiring to note how Paul uses the expression "we have":
    1. "We have a great high priest" - Heb. 3:14
    2. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul" - Heb. 6:19
    3. "Ye have in heaven a better hope" - Heb. 10:34 - all these "haves" center in the person of the Son of God and His ministry for us
  2. We have an altar:
    1. Keep in mind that the apostle compares the priesthood of Christ with the Levitical priesthood
    2. Showing that the Hebrews Christians had not lost any benefits, but rather obtained far greater spiritual blessings in accepting Jesus Christ and the atonement wrought out by Him
    3. Personally, I understand that the cross on which Christ died on Calvary is our altar (i) on this altar the perfect sacrifice was offered; (ii) this altar superseded all other altars - the perfection of the sacrifice made on Calvary ended all the sacrifices that foreshadowed it; it made all of them of none effect - Heb. 7:16-17; 10:1-9
C. LET US NOTE TWO SPECIAL GLORIOUS GOSPEL TRUTHS ABOUT THE ALTAR WE HAVE
  1. The provision which this altar furnishes:
    1. Paul speaks of eating of this altar
    2. He doubtless alludes to the provision of the ceremonial law in which the priests were allowed to eat certain portions of the sacrifice - see Lev. 6:14-18; 24-38; Num. 18:8-11; I Cor. 9:13
    3. The provision from the Christian altar is Jesus Christ - said Jesus, "I am the living bread, which came down from heaven" - John 6:51-58
    4. This provision is, of course, spiritual symbolized by the Lord's supper - compare Matt. 26:26 with I Cor. 11: 23-28; John 6:63 - "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing, the words which I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life"
    5. Our altar embodies both the infinite sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and also our dedication to all the sacrifice of Christ stand for
    6. It simply means that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we place ourselves upon that altar - body, soul and spirit - Rom 12:1-3
  2. They that serve the altar and its provisions:
    1. Reject the sacrifice of the cross and thereby exclude themselves from the spiritual benefits of the Christian altar
    2. Because those services had no life and no saving power in themselves - they were but a shadow of good things to come - Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 10:1-9
  3. But, dear friends:
    1. What ought to fill our hearts with great joy is the knowledge that the gospel of the cross of Calvary is the foundation of our hope
    2. Writes Paul so eloquently, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world" - Gal. 6:14
    3. "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" - Gal. 2:20
    4. So the Christian boasting is connected with Calvary - the Christian altar and that I ever must be


Design © John Bryant 2011