How Were Men Saved Before
When we studied why
Jesus came into the world (lesson 5), we learned that Jesus Christ is the only
way of Salvation. The Bible plainly and
consistently sets this forth. "I am the way, the truth, and the life;
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
"Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." "This is the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world." (John 14:6, Acts
This strong Bible
emphasis upon Salvation through Jesus Christ alone makes one ask:
"What about the people in the ages before the cross? How could they be saved by Jesus Christ, when
he had not yet died? How could they know
anything about
In the centuries
before Jesus came, God devised a wonderful method of teaching in advance the
way of salvation through a sinless Redeemer.
it was an acted, or dramatized prophecy, that
illustrated the saving work of Christ.
It began with Abel's
simple altar of sacrifice at the gate of Eden (Genesis 4:4, Hebrews 11:4),
and was at length expanded into a solemn and instructive ritual, instituted at
the time of Moses (Exodus 25:8,9).
In this lesson we
will study how the way of Salvation was taught from day to day in God's Old
Testament "
THE GOSPEL ILLUSTRATED
1. When God freed the children of
Exodus 33:11
2. When God tried to speak to the people, what did they ask for?
Exodus 20:19
Note: In the beginning, Adam and God spoke face to face, just as he
spoke with His friend, Moses. Sin made a
change in man, not God. Man
became afraid of God.
3. What did God tell Moses to do, so that the people could still get to
know him?
Exodus 25:8
Note: God wanted to be close to his people, and for them to get
to know him. In the Tabernacle (also
known as the “Sanctuary” and later, the
4. How would Moses know how to build this Tabernacle?
Exodus 25:40
5. Where is the original Tabernacle that God used for his pattern?
Hebrews 9:23, 8:1-5
Note: The original Tabernacle is Christ himself and his work for
us in Heaven.
6. What did Paul call the Tabernacle and it's
services?
Hebrews 9:24
Note: He called them "copies" of the true. It is the plan of salvation illustrated. In some respects it is like a picture. A man may show it to you and say, "This
is my wife." But is it really? No, it is only a picture! He may treasure the picture, but it cannot
replace his wife.
The Jewish nation
hung on to the "picture", but rejected the One to whom it pointed
forward—Jesus Christ and his ministry.
7. Why is it important to understand the Tabernacle?
Exodus 25:8
cf. Matthew 1:22
John 2:19-21
(Psalm 77:13)
Note: God told Moses to build a Tabernacle so that he could live with
us. In Isaiah, we are told that one of
Christ's names is Emmanuel, or "God with us". Jesus himself referred to himself as God's
temple, or Tabernacle.
Since Jesus came to
be God with us, he is the Tabernacle (Isaiah
THE TABERNACLE AND ITS
SERVICES
The entire Tabernacle
and everything in it represented Jesus and his work for us. (For a detailed
description of the Tabernacle, read Exodus chapters 25-40.)
a) Around the entire Tabernacle and its courtyard, there was a linen
fence. This pure, white linen
represented the purity of Jesus and his motives for doing what he does for us. Revelation 19:8
b) There was only one doorway into the Tabernacle. This represented Christ, Who is the only
way we can get to know God. John
10:9, John 14:6
c) Each door had three
colours: red, blue, and purple. Blue
represents the righteousness of the Law (God's character). Red is a symbol of self-sacrificing
love, as shown in the life and sacrifice of Christ (the blood of
sacrifice). There was a need not only
for blue, but red right along with it.
Unless you have the red (self-sacrificing love), you not will have any
true power or even the ability to truly keep the law (blue). You can determine and try with all
your might, but unless you have the both, you will never have the victory
(purple) and truly keep the law.
If you mix red and
blue, you get purple. This is the colour
of kings, royalty. God wants to make us
kings and priests. Kings, because he
wants to bring us into his royal family (this is the line of David—those who
have Christ's character). Priests, because only the priests could enter the Tabernacle. (The only difference between the priests and
the common people was that the priests were sanctified and
dedicated to serving God and righteousness.)
d) As you entered the courtyard, the first thing you would see was
the altar of sacrifice—this represented Christ's sacrifice—he gave everything he
could, only to be rejected. Hebrews
13:10-13, Hebrews 12:1,2
e) There was also a large bowl or laver in the courtyard, to wash
one's hands and feet. This represented
how Christ cleanses us.
Ephesians 5:26
Once inside the Tabernacle,
in the first apartment, called the
f) There was a 7 branch candlestick. The lights represented Jesus, the light of
the world—John 9:5, and also his Word—Psalm 119:105. The oil in the candlestick represented
the Holy Spirit and his work—Zechariah 4:1-6, Revelation 4:5
g) There was also a table with bread on it—this represented Jesus,
the bread of life, and his Word. Corinthians 11:23,24,
John 6:51
h) There was also a small altar that burned only incense. This represented how Jesus prays for us. Romans 8:34, Psalm 14:2, Hebrews 7:25,
Revelation 5:8 and 8:3,4.
A thick veil
divided the first apartment from the second apartment, which was called the
i) In the
j) There was a cover on this chest. On it were carved two angels of gold. Here, between the angels, dwelt the presence
of God. These two angels' names were Lucifer,
or Light Bearer, the Daystar. Both
angels were close to God. Both knew what
was under the lid—both knew God's character.
And both went out telling everyone the good news about God.
Until that day when
one of them began to tell lies about God, and became known as Satan, or
Adversary. Thus the
k) Into the curtain walls and ceiling were woven angels in
gold. This showed how all of God's
family was present and is watching the Great Controversy. Daniel 7:9-10, Job 1:6-8, 2:1-2
God did not simply
deny the accusations. He allowed time for demonstration of both sides. Although
he had many things that he wanted to tell us about himself,
but he couldn't, because we were not able to understand because of our fear. (John 16:12)
When God wanted to
have a relationship with us and speak with us, we were afraid of him, and asked
for someone in between (Exodus
In the
The lid prevented
us from seeing the truth about God (2 Corinthians
THE TABERNACLE SERVICES
When a person sinned,
he brought a sacrificial animal to the priest.
He would confess his sins over the head of the animal, then slay it with his own hands. The priest would then
sprinkle some of the blood on the horns of the altar, and eat a portion of its
flesh. Sin was thus symbolically
transferred from the sinner to the animal and then to the Tabernacle.
Christ was
represented both by the LAMB that died to remove sin (John
8. How did the Tabernacle
sacrifices take away sins?
Hebrews 10:4,5
Note: They
didn't. Those who trusted the
sacrifices alone, were lost. The sacrificial system was designed to develop
and show one's faith in the coming Messiah.
9. What significant event
happened in the earthly Tabernacle, a temple, when Jesus died?
Mark
Note: The
temple veil (as thick as the palm of your hand) was torn in two from top to
bottom by unseen hands, and the
This event happened
at the moment Jesus died; Jesus' death was the ultimate demonstration about
God. At his death, God revealed himself
as being open and approachable by all, not just a priest.
The earthly Tabernacle
services had came to an end with Jesus' death.
He is the true Passover (I Corinthians 5:7, Revelation 5:6-14) to
which the sacrificial system pointed, and when he demonstrated his
unconditional love and openness on the cross, there was no need for the
services to call attention to this future event. (The law of sacrifices was to last only until
Jesus' death, Hebrews 10:1-10)
JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST
10. What was the earthly Tabernacle?
Hebrews 9:9a
11. What did it symbolize?
Hebrews 9:9-12
Note: Paul
talked about our bodies being our tabernacles, or tents (2 Corinthians 5:1,4). The Tabernacle,
then, represented Jesus himself, the Person.
The services told us a little about Jesus and what he would do for us
when he came.
CONCLUSION
"Seeing then
that we have a great High Priest- Jesus, the Son of God, let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14,15
There was no virtue
in the blood of a lamb to atone for sin.
Before Jesus came and made us his friends, we were afraid of God.
God tried in various
different ways to reach us before Jesus came (Hebrews 1:1). One of these ways was in the services of the Tabernacle,
which explained how Jesus would come to demonstrate the truth about how there
was no need to be afraid of our Friend, God.
The people were supposed to go in with the priest (symbolically) to the
On the cross, Jesus
hung bare to the world. He demonstrated
that there was no need to be afraid of God. Only through understanding this
would we be atoned, or made "at one" with God again. They looked forward to the
cross as we look backward to it, seeing the righteousness and
love of God.
There were two
angels at the
My response to Christ is:______________________________