The The third integral component of the reformation

3. The Priesthood

The third aspect of the reformation is that of the priesthood from the Levitical priesthood to the Melchizedek priesthood.

Now the objective for this reformation we are told that “Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law” (Hebrews 7:11-12).

The reformation brought about not only a change of the law and the Levitical priesthood which made nothing perfect as we have been duly instructed saying; “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and un-profitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:18-19).

This better hope by which we can draw near to God is through the greatness of the new High Priest and the perfect sacrifice for sins which He offered.

What made that Priest so much superior than the others is that, the law appointed as high priests men who have weakness and without an oath but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ' You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek ").

“By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.’

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” (Hebrews 7:21-27).

Now there are two important things we need to take into consideration and they are;

Who is Melchizedek?

Melchizedek as clearly defined in scriptures is the King of righteousness as it is clearly written; “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace,"

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually”(Hebrews7:1-3).

This Melchizedek is no other than Jesus Christ Himself before He took on flesh and became the Son of Man because, the  offering of Jesus Christ is synonymous to that of the Melchizedek of old for it is written; “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he (Abram) gave Him a tithe of all” (Genesis 14:18-20).

How do we get to the Father through Jesus Christ our High Priest?

Jesus Christ as High Priest we are told; “is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25)

The gate way or the means by which we are able to come to the Father through Jesus Christ our High Priest is through the same manner He stood between the Father and Abram by offering the bread and the wine.

Bread and wine have been the official offering of the Melchizedek priesthood from the inception and it was symbolic or a copy of the reality which is the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, when Jesus our eternal High Priest unequivocally said; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” It is through the process of Himself as the eternal High Priest, offering to the Father the bread and wine which represents His flesh and blood.

And so, our gate way or access to the Father is through the bread which represents the body of Jesus Christ and refers to as the way, the truth is Jesus Christ, the Word of God, our High Priest Who intercedes on our behalf and the wine which represents the blood of  Jesus Christ as the life. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood and God have given it to us upon the altar to make atonement for our souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul”(Leviticus 17:11).

The apostle Paul made it absolutely clear as to how we have access to the Father for this is what he wrote; “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LAB7T0W

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

Second integral aspect of the reformation (continues)

 

The second aspect of the reformation not only brought about the real sweet-smelling which satisfies the will of the Father but it also brought about a reformation in those on whose behalf the offering for a sweet-smelling aroma is offered.

Before the reformation humanity was regarded as, “having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18).

But since the reformation, we have received the consolation which states; “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.’

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (Colossians 1:19-22).

So through the reformation the will of the Father is once and for all fulfilled but did not annul or made redundant the specific times ordained to present to the Lord the food for His offerings for this is what the Lord spoke to Moses saying:

“Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time” (Numbers 28:2).

The reformation here involves what now constitutes the sweet aroma and the relationship between the Father and those on whose behalf the offering is made. It has in no way affected the appointed times and the rationale for which the offering is made.

And so, instead of a burnt offering comprising of the fat and blood of bulls and goats as a sweet smelling aroma we now have with the reformation Jesus Christ who loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).

Now the rationale for offering the Lord the food for His offerings, His sweet-smelling aroma remains the same but no longer under strict command but rather voluntarily and out of love.

For this is what the apostle Paul wrote saying; “Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.’

“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:4-6).

We are all responsible to God and will have to give an account of ourselves to Him: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

My duty is only to clarify the appointed time and the rationale for offering the Lord the food for His offerings.

And so the appointed time and the rationale for offering the Lord the food for His offerings are as follows:

To be continued

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077M5T68T

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Second integral aspect of the reformation (part two)

Not only is the second aspect of the reformation our new and living way to the Father but it is also the spiritual food for the nourishment and development of the new creation.

Let us note carefully Jesus Christ’s statement with regards to this matter He stated very clearly saying; “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him" (John 6:27).

He further stated; “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven: For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:32-33).

On hearing this, the disciples said to Jesus; “Lord, give us this bread always." And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6: 34-35).

But the multi-million question is what is this food and drink that the Lord has given us?

Despite the Jews complaint regarding the saying; “I am the bread which came down from heaven." Jesus Christ confirmed His statement by saying: “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.’

“This is the bread which comes down from heaven that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world" (John 6:48-51).

Despite the Jews after hearing this quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?"

Jesus reiterated the point by saying them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven --- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:52-58).

Even a great number of Jesus Christ’s own disciples when they heard this saying said; “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" And from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more:” (John 6: 60, 66)

And so I beg to ask the question, what is the status of this statement among believers today! Is it still a hard saying and difficult to understand?

What is of humongous importance for us to know, understand, believe and take into deep consideration is the fact that the reformation did not only transformed the sacrifices that were being offered in order for man to have fellowship with the Father, but also transformed the one on whose behalf  the sacrifice is being offered.

Since the reformation humanity has evolved into a new creation and so we have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).

And so, the other very important question is, who is in Christ and has become a new creation?

Well, this is what we learn from the scriptures; “since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us:’

“For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17: 25-31).

And so, it is of intrinsic importance to know when and how to nourish and develop the new creature.

   https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

To be continued

Lucius Joseph

The second integral part of the reformation

1. Sacrifices and offerings

The least understood and most neglected aspect of the reformation is the part which has to do with sacrifices and offerings which were symbolic, a copy and shadow of the reality.

Despite the fact that we have been duly instructed saying; “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.”

“For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1-4).

Here we see clearly that the rationale or objective for the sacrifices and offerings was to present the worshiper, those who approach the throne of grace in a holy, perfect and in an irreproachable state before God for as it is clearly written, it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins, because if this was possible they would not have ceased to be offered.

Signifying that, in order to present oneself before God sins have to be forgiven because, God does not co-exist with sin and if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. And if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar, and His word is not in us” (1John 1:8, 10).

And so, for anyone to have access to the presence of the Father all sins have to be confessed and cleansed and so we have been duly instructed saying; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This cleansing and forgiveness has to be effected in order for anyone to have fellowship with the Father and even with one another. For this reason we have been duly admonished by the apostle Paul saying:

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for your-selves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1Corinthians 10:14-17).

Therefore, the reformation did not make obsolete or redundant the offerings for sins in order to have fellowship with the Father, but rather gave us a new and living way and a better hope by which we draw near to the throne of grace.

And so now, instead of having an offering which cannot present the worshiper holy, perfect and irreproachable before God we now have the reformation where we have a perfect offering which can present the worshiper holy, perfect and blameless before God, as confirmed by the apostle Paul who wrote; “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10: 19-22).

The second part of the reformation therefore, is the abolition of animal sacrifices which could not present the worshiper holy, perfect and blameless before God and replaced it with the perfect sacrifice and offering of the body and blood of Jesus.

And it is for this reason that Jesus Himself said; “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come --- In the volume of the book it is written of Me --- To do Your will, O God. "

Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:5-10).

Unfortunately, there are people who have some misunderstanding with the “once for all” phenomenon, interpreting this to mean that, the death of Jesus Christ settled everything and there is nothing else one has to do and ignoring completely the rationale and objective of the offering which is the medium or the new and living way by which we come to the Father.

The phraseology once and for all in this context simply means that, once and for all we have a perfect sacrifice that can present the worshiper holy and perfect in the presence of the Father by which the second established will of God is fulfilled.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

To be continued

Lucius Joseph

The first integral part of the reformation

If only we all especially those of us who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ would make an attempt to try to know, understand, believe, reverence and hold in high esteem the reformation which transpired when the Beloved Son of God divested Himself of His power and glory to become the Son of Man and became the Begotten Son of God through His resurrection from the dead:

There would not be that massive confusion that exists among us but instead we would all speak the same thing, and there would be no divisions among us, but we would instead be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Neither would we be like children, who are being tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but instead we would be well grounded and established in the faith and fulfilling the established will of God which once and for all is fulfilled through three integral and inseparable things namely:

1. The Tabernacle

The earthly tabernacle as clearly indicated was a copy of the tabernacle in heaven because, when Moses was about the build the tabernacle he was duly instructed saying; “And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40; 26:30).

And the services rendered in this earthly tabernacle were copies and shadows of what is transpiring in heaven as we have been duly admonished saying; “since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:4-5).

And so, the reformation with reference to the tabernacle is that, instead of us worshiping in an earthly tabernacle and following the protocols relating to the earthly tabernacle we instead come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

And so, we no longer require to perform the services which were symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices were offered which could not make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience because they were concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation (Hebrews 9:9-10).

And of course the Holy Spirit indicated that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. Therefore, the reformation brought about the new and living way by which we draw near to the Father.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084Z74XYL

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077M5T68T

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

 

The Reformation

One thing I perceived that is of humongous importance for all believers to know, understand, believe and apply is the principle that pertains to the reformation,

If we all truly understand the reformation that transpired between the old and the new covenant and subject ourselves to it as ordained, I do not think that there would be this myriad of confusions and divisions in the body of Christ (the church) because it is not the will of Jesus Christ nor that of the apostle Paul that we be so divided.

For this is what the apostle Paul wrote “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1Corinthians 110).

One way I find that we can all be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment is by all adhering to the principles and guidelines established in accordance to the reformation.

But let us first look at the definition of reformation which means making changes to something with the intention of setting it back on the right path.

One important thing we should all take heed of is that, reformation is not an abolition of the principal objective of the matter and in our case it is the replacement of the copy and shadow of the reality and replacing it with the reality.

So let us now delve into the reformation that should keep us all in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and principally since; “There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called in one hope of our calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all” (Ephesians 4:3-6).

The reformation which is applicable to all regardless to race, color or creed constitutes three integral, inseparable things which we will study and look into separately.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYGDD7M

To be continued

Lucius Joseph

Protocol for the inner Court

 

Partaking of the bread and wine which represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ as the medium by which the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses and forgives us from all sin in order that we can have fellowship with the Father and with one another is also the reason why the apostle Paul admonished us by saying; “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for your-selves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1Corinthians 10:14-17). 

Therefore, what was taking place in the earthly tabernacle was simply a copy and shadow of what is taking place in the heavenly tabernacle. And so, the inner Court is indicative of, “coming to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven.’ When in the inner Court, “we have come to God, the Judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

There are laws and protocol which govern those who are admitted in the temple. The law with regards to those who should enter the new Temple in the inner court was disclosed to the prophet Ezekiel by the Lord saying; “Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations regarding the temple of the Lord. Mark well who may enter the house and all who go out from the sanctuary.’

“Now say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, ‘thus says the Lord God: “O house of Israel let us have no more of all your abominations. When you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to defile it – My house – and when you offered My food, the fat and the blood, then they broke My covenant because of all your abominations.’

“And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have set others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you. Thus says the Lord God: “No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter My sanctuary, including any foreigner who is among the children of Israel” (Ezekiel 44: 5-9).

Allowing the uncircumcised in heart, and spiritually unclean to enter the temple, not the one made with hands, but the true tabernacle in heaven, is a violation of the laws of the temple, and profanes the holy things of God. For thus says the Lord to Ezekiel concerning the leaders of Israel; “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and un-holy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths, so I am profaned among them” (Ezekiel 22:26).

One should also note that, the principal objective for observing the Sabbaths is to offer the Lord His food for His offerings. For thus it is written; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day.”

Now, please note carefully that this offering “is besides (or in addition to) the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:37-38).

The earthy tabernacle like the shadow of the reality we are told that, “into the second part (the inner court) the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance” (Hebrews 9:7).

Today, we have a High Priest who does not need to offer any sacrifice for Himself: But He offered Himself once and for all for all peoples so that, we can come boldly daily to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need, but not without the blood of the new covenant. As clearly stated by the apostle Paul saying’ “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

It is only when those prerequisites are in place should we “…consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Anything contrary to this we are told, “When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense (prayer) is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting: Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

My prayer is that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory will give us the spirit of wisdom, and revelation in the knowledge of Him, and that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened, so that we may know how to have access to His throne of grace with confidence, in order to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need, and not spending our time only in the outer court of the tabernacle, or profaning the inner court with abominable things.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077M5T68T

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYGDD7M

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The reality of the Inner Court

 

Unfortunately, not too many professing believers are able to understand and believe that there is a clear distinction between what takes place in the outer court and what takes place in the inner court in the same way that they are unable to make a clear distinction between the first and great commandment which is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind which is fulfilled by the proper worship and adoration of the Lord as ordained and the second great commandment which is to love our neighbor as ourselves by doing unto others what we would like them do unto us.

Nevertheless, in order for one to truly understand the current disposition of the outer and inner court in our new dispensation, it is imperative that we know, understand, believe and remind ourselves of three significant things;

1. The earthy tabernacle was a copy and shadow of the heavenly.

For we have been duly instructed saying that the Levitical priesthood served the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5).

We have also been instructed saying; “Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:23-24).

2. Jesus Christ as every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices.

For we have been duly instructed saying; “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.”... Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One (Jesus Christ) also have something to offer (Hebrews 5:1; 8:1-3).

3. In order to have fellowship with the Father and with one another an offering for sin has to be offered.

For this is what we have been admonished saying; “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness: If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1John 1:5-10).

Please note carefully that, the cleansing, remission and forgiveness of sins through the shedding of blood in order to have fellowship with the Father and with one another is not something of the past but rather something that is current, something that transpires during the worship / fellowship service as Jesus plainly said; “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” And, “if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Meaning that, the cleansing, forgiveness and the remission of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ if we confess them, are feasible through the participation of the Holy Communion. This is what makes us worthy to have fellowship with the Father and with one another.

To be continued

https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LAB7T0W

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYGDD7M

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The Inner Court

 

2. THE INNER COURT

This second compartment is called the Holiest of All, and similarly to the first compartment whatever occupies this compartment verifies the activities that are being conducted therein. What is of primary importance however; is that one is not allowed to enter this compartment without blood and this compartment is furnished with:

1. The golden altar of incense

This is figurative to approved services of worship. Jesus Christ has already given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma, which we are to take heed to offer to God at their appointed time (Ephesians 5:2; Numbers 28:2)

The incense is figurative to worship, prayer and praise; For it is written, “Let my prayer be set before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psalms 141:2).

With regards to prayer it is stated, “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” ‘Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. And he was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand” (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4).

And with regards to praise it is written; “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My Name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My Name, and a pure offering: for My Name shall be great among the nations says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:11).

b.      The Ark of the Covenant overlaid on all sides with gold

This symbolizes God’s visible presence and power. As it is written; “Whenever the ark set out Moses said; “Rise up, O Lord! Let you enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.’ And when the ark rested he said; “Return. O Lord, to the many thousands of Israel (Numbers11:35-36).

With regards to the ark David prayed saying; “Now therefore, arise, O Lord God, to Your resting place. You and the ark of Your strength, let Your priests O Lord God be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in goodness” (2Chronicles 6:41).

c.       The golden pot that had the manna

This is figurative to Jesus Christ as the true bread from heaven. When asked by the crowd, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the dessert; as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven: For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:30-32).

d.      Aaron’s rod that budded

This is figurative to Jesus Christ the High Priest Whom God has chosen, as Aaron was chosen. For it is testified; “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Numbers 17:1-10; Hebrews 7:17, 21).

e.      Tablets of the covenant

This is descriptive of the Ten Commandments, the principles established by God by which man should live. Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law this way, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” The law is not of faith, “But the man who does them shall live by them” (Leviticus 18:5; Ezekiel 20:11; Nehemiah 9:29; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:12).

f.       Cherubim of glory:

This is figurative to the two witnesses witnessing the testimony which is placed in the ark when brought to the presence of God. As it is written, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.” For it is by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” And it is also written in the law that the testimony of two men is true” (1Timothy 5:19; Matthew 18:16; John 8:17).

g.      The Mercy Seat

This is figurative to Jesus Christ our merciful and faithful High Priest whose duty is to plead and intercede on behalf of His saints. “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” For according to the scriptures, the accuser of the brethren Satan the devil, accuses them before our God day and night (1Peter 4:17; Revelation 12:10).

There is a huge difference between what takes place in the outer court, and what takes place in the inner court. In the inner court only the redeemed should be allowed to appear before the presence of God to worship and glorify Him, by partaking of the bread from heaven in fellowship with the Father and His Son, to answer charges leveled against them by the accuser, and to receive forgiveness and requital for charges brought against them; and to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

To be continued

https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYGDD7M

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph