Brief Summary
This video explores the relationship between God's law, sin, grace, and salvation, emphasizing the importance of obedience and confession in the Christian faith. It explains the two types of law: the moral law (Ten Commandments) and the ceremonial law, highlighting their purposes and how they relate to Christ's sacrifice. The video also examines the sanctuary and its services as a representation of Christ's ministry and the plan of salvation, stressing the significance of the Day of Atonement and the cleansing of the sanctuary.
- God's law defines sin, while grace, through Jesus Christ, provides the solution.
- The Ten Commandments are the standard of judgment, and obedience to them is an expression of love for God.
- The sanctuary and its services symbolize Christ's ministry and the process of salvation, including justification, sanctification, and final cleansing.
The Finger of God and the Definition of Sin
The lecture begins by discussing the Ten Commandments, written on stone tablets by the Finger of God, emphasizing their divine origin and importance. The Bible mentions three instances where God wrote with His finger: the Ten Commandments, Jesus writing in the sand, and the writing on the wall during Babylon's fall. Sin is defined as the transgression of God's law, as stated in 1 John 3:4. The speaker explains that if there is no law, there can be no transgression, referencing Romans 4:15.
The Unchanging Law and the Wages of Sin
The discussion covers the immutability of God's law, contrasting it with human laws that can change. The wages of sin, defined as the transgression of God's law, is death, according to Romans 6:23. Sin separates individuals from God, as highlighted in Isaiah 59:2. The solution to this separation is found in Jesus Christ, who offers eternal life as a gift of God.
Grace, Law, and the Cross
The speaker addresses the relationship between grace and law, clarifying that Christ did not set aside the law but rather paid its penalty. Salvation is through grace, not works, as stated in Ephesians 2:8-9. Grace does not give license to sin; instead, it establishes the law. The cross guarantees that the law stands, and it was necessary for Christ to die to fulfill the law's requirements.
The Purpose of the Law and the Importance of Obedience
The law reveals what sin is, and Romans 3:20 states that through the law comes the knowledge of sin. The speaker emphasizes that Grace establishes the law, and obedience to God's commandments is an expression of love for Him. The law is holy, just, and good, and it stands forever.
Moral Law vs. Ceremonial Law
The lecture distinguishes between the moral law (Ten Commandments) and the ceremonial law. The moral law was written by the Finger of God on stone and placed inside the ark, while the ceremonial law was written by Moses in a book and placed beside the ark. The moral law is called the Royal law and the Law of Liberty, while the ceremonial law is the Law of Commandments contained in ordinances. The ceremonial law was added because of transgression and is temporary, while the moral law is complete, perfect, and stands forever.
The Plan of Salvation in the First Five Books of the Bible
The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) outline the plan of salvation. Genesis covers origins, the fall, and the promise of redemption; Exodus represents Christ as our sanctuary; Leviticus portrays Christ as our sacrifice; Numbers depicts Christ as our guide; and Deuteronomy presents Christ as our reward. Abraham obeyed God's voice and kept His commandments, statutes, and laws before the giving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai.
Jesus and the Law
Jesus kept His Father's commandments and said that He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of the pen to drop out of the law. The New Testament also contains the law, and obedience to God's commandments is not burdensome.
The Sanctuary: A Symbol of Christ's Ministry
The lecture introduces the sanctuary, which God instructed Moses to build as a place for Him to dwell among His people. The sanctuary is a copy of a temple in heaven, and every detail was made according to the pattern showed to Moses on the mount. The construction of the sanctuary required a redemption price from everyone, both poor and rich.
The Outer Gate and the Altar of Burnt Offering
The outer gate of the sanctuary had four colors: purple (royalty), red (sacrifice), blue (obedience), and white (righteousness), representing aspects of Christ. Jesus is the door, and no one comes to the Father except through Him. The altar of burnt offering represents sacrifice, and the white linen around the sanctuary represents the righteousness of Christ.
The Significance of Sacrifice and the Role of the High Priest
The sinner had to place his hands on the lamb, transferring his sins, and then the lamb was killed. The burning of fat symbolizes the purging of sin. The high priest catches the blood, symbolizing Christ making atonement for us. The Jewish Encyclopedia states that the laying of hands upon the victim's head is an ordinary right by which the substitution and transfer of sins are affected in every sacrifice.
Christ as Advocate and the Cleansing of Sins
Christ is our advocate with the Father, and He was wounded for our transgressions. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The labor represents the washing by water, a cleansing of rebirth.
The Daily Ministry in the Sanctuary
The sinner brings the lamb, which is slaughtered, and the high priest eats a tiny portion, symbolically carrying the confessed sins. The high priest then takes the blood into the sanctuary daily and puts it on the horns of the altar, representing the record of sin being placed in the sanctuary. The light in the sanctuary stands for Jesus Christ, and the incense represents our prayers going up to God.
The Most Holy Place and the Cleansing of the Sanctuary
The first Tabernacle represents our daily commitment to Christ and contains the record of all confessed sins. The speaker emphasizes that it is good news if the record of your sin is transferred and recorded in the sanctuary because those sins are forgiven. Once a year, the record of sin was cleansed, and the priest had to go into the most holy place.
The Day of Atonement and the Scapegoat
The lecture explains the Day of Atonement, during which two goats were brought: one for the Lord and one for Azazel (the scapegoat). The Lord's goat was sacrificed, and the priest entered the most holy place with its blood to cleanse the sanctuary. The high priest then placed his hands on the scapegoat, transferring the record of sin onto it, symbolizing Satan, who made us sin, bearing the responsibility for those sins.
The Final Judgment and the Call to Obedience
The speaker discusses the final judgment, referencing Daniel 8:14, which speaks of the cleansing of the sanctuary. The standard of judgment will be the law of Liberty, as stated in James 2:12. The conclusion of the matter is to fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. The lecture ends with a call to repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and obedience to His commandments.
