Is the work of Christ making purgation for sins, connected with the Passover, Brazen Altar or Mercy Seat? If all are taken in, what is the distinct teaching of each? A little help on this would he appreciated. —North Shields
EACH of the three is typical of the work of Christ, without any doubt; and each has its own special significance.
There can be no doubt as to the meaning of the Passover. The shed blood of the lamb pointed forward to the value of the precious blood of Christ. But the point here is not so much the blood shed as the blood applied, not the blood presented before God but rather the blood sprinkled on the houses of the Israelites, sheltering thereby the firstborn from the stroke of judgment. That is to say, the Passover presents to us in type the death of Christ in its substitutionary aspect, rather than in its propitiatory aspect; how it covers and protects the believer, rather than how it meets and satisfies all the righteous claims of God.
The Brazen Altar was the place of sacrifice in connection with the tabernacle and the temple. Again and again it is spoken of as “the altar of burnt offering.” Evidently that was the main thought connected with it though the other sacrifices were also offered there. Moreover if we examine the chapters in Exodus, in which we have the instructions for the making of the tabernacle, we shall find that first, in chapter 25, come those details which typify the way in which God has approached us by way of revelation, and then, in chapter 27, we come to the details which have to do with our approach to God. Now the first item in chapter 27 is the brazen altar.
We believe therefore that the special point typified in it is the death of Christ as the ground of our approach to God. He must of course make expiation for our sins, as the sin offering: but we draw near in all the fragrance of His work as the burnt offering.
The Mercy Seat was typical of Christ, as is so plainly indicated in Romans 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25). The word for “propitiation” in this verse is literally “mercy seat.” The ancient mercy scat was the golden lid of the ark of the covenant, and on it was sprinkled the blood on the great day of atonement. That blood, as we may easily perceive, was exclusively for the eye of God. Once sprinkled, and the high priest having withdrawn, no eye but His saw it for a whole year. When we consider the work of Christ as a propitiation, we think of it as meeting the divine claims and satisfying the divine glory in respect of sin. Of all aspects of the work of Christ this is the most fundamental, and stands first.
Have we made the matter plain? What we have said as to the distinction between the three, may be summed up as follows: —The Passover is His death as a Substitute for believers.
The Brazen Altar is His death as the basis of our approach to God.
The Mercy Seat is His death as a Propitiation, meeting the divine claims in regard to sin.