Chapter 8 – Righteous Protocol
The Bible promotes a wonderful PLAN of Salvation, not any one particular single act apart from the entirety of that plan as a means of Salvation. Many within Christianity today have been caught up into a false sense of security by embracing just a portion of the plan and not the entirety of it. This is like attempting to answer a math equation with only one number, (1 + _ = _).
This would qualify as a major deception, for what is not said is the culprit; you can’t come up with a correct answer with such little information, it presents an incomplete equation. There are many pastors who have been taught that Christ’s death at Calvary was the pivotal event in history that ensured our Salvation (from just a human perspective this is so), that in fact, this was the be-all and end-all of Salvation, nothing else that Christ would do was necessary. Christ’s death at Calvary is in no manner being minimized here but it was simply a necessary part of the whole plan and not the only part accomplished by Messiah; He would be instrumental at every step.
Atonement with God would involve four necessary steps, (4 being a number of completeness or
universality – ex. north, south, east, west, etc.), these being outlined in God’s illustration of the sin problem to the Hebrews. We call this illustration the Sanctuary model, which was provided to God’s people at Mount Sinai after being set free from the bondage of the Egyptians. The Sanctuary Service would be a necessary tool for God to use after 430 years (Ex. 12:40-41), of not only centuries of bondage, but centuries of wilderness wondering and heathen influence and idolatry. The Sanctuary Model was the detail of the Passover Premise; the anti-type of the release from Egypt.
Many who have studied the Sanctuary model find in its structure and symbolism the genius of God’s answer to the problem of sin. However, there are also many that miss the very last element symbolized by the plan to save us and this is completely understandable since it only occurred 9 times over the Jewish dispensation. Let us go through the steps outlined by God, that He provided to Moses and see how they fulfill the Hebrew exegesis of Scripture as part of God’s blueprint. This concept of interpretation can be easily summarized though rarely utilized.
Most scholars today pick and choose a particular interpretation, one that they grew up with or were taught in seminary or college, when right in front of their eyes is an example of multiple applications pointing to the ultimate fulfillments. The plan of the Sanctuary model originated with Christ Himself, with the details provided to Moses on Mount Sinai. This plan would highlight the four major aspects of dealing with the sin problem; the Required Penalty – the Reigning Power – the Remaining Presence – the Restored Perfection (even Planetary). If you can associate the letters RP with this subject, you should always remember these 4 steps. These all fall under the functioning principle of the main RP “Righteous Protocol”.
Let’s first list the steps, then add the reasons for their necessity. Within the Sanctuary model our first stop is the entrance, the ornamented curtain symbolizing the Messiah’s invitation to all the world (who-so-ever will). This ornate curtain could be seen from miles away, it measured 5 cubits in height and 20 cubits in width (approximetly 7.5’ x 30’). Passing just inside the veil (also called the “way” gate) the first location is called the outer court, this is the place of sacrifice; the altar of sacrifice was located in the center of this outer court. This sacrifice symbolized the reality of Calvary and let me reiterate here that this is just the first step. This was necessary due to the first aspect of the sin problem, the (Required Penalty).
Rebellion placed all humanity under a death penalty (the wages of sin is death – Rom. 6:23), so God must provide a substitute, a perfect substitute, to take the place of any who would receive salvation. Christ being the only one that could qualify to take that role, He must also be a kinsman redeemer, one of us, 100% human. Of necessity, He would also need to be 100% God as well, to satisfy the demands of the eternal law that was transgressed and thus we see the need for the Incarnation. The Outer Court was where the sacrifice took place and thus also typified this earth, being the place Messiah came, to sacrifice Himself.
Also, within the courtyard was the laver, a large bowl made of brass and used for washing, utilized to purify the priest before ministering in the Tabernacle itself. This also symbolizes the fact that Christ would be born as indicated in (1 Tim. 3:16), a justified condition and live a righteous life preparing for His ministry at age 30.
The second aspect of the sin problem was the Reigning Power of sin. Though a completed justification would be made in the promise of the Messiah and then in His act of sacrifice itself, sin and rebellion would still be a choice for any, even those who had repented and been born again.
When Christ ascended into Heaven after His Resurrection He entered into His 2nd phase of priestly ministry. This mediatorial role would be necessary due to the power of sin and rebellion, if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Without the conversion experience, folks were left in bondage but even after conversion Christians were still vulnerable to the power of sin by choice. They would need to utilize power or grace over temptation by using the tools God provided; tools symbolized in the Holy Place of the tabernacle itself; prayer, Bible Study and witnessing. The implements made at mount Sinai: the Table of Showbread – a representation of the word of God – the bread of life: the Altar of Incense – a representation of the prayers that would ascend to God; also the Menorah or Candlestick – a witness of the true light to all the world; these would provide the necessary power utilized to overcome temptation. These were also highlighted in the perfect life of Christ and represented a completed sanctification.
Because Christ in His humanity was the second Adam, He could only utilize divine power in the same manner as the rest of us. He must rely on power from on high to be victorious over the temptations of sin. True Sanctification follows after the example of Christ and the results are as well the same.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”. (Rom 8:1)
A third aspect of the sin problem was the Remaining Presence of sin. Even with many taking advantage of the new birth experience, and growth in sanctification, the results of sin were still present in the life and flesh of every believer. Even after conversion believers are still stuck in the physical corruptible flesh. There would come a time, however, when probationary time would end, shortly after, Christ would return and believers would be changed in a twinkling of an eye at the last trump, changed from mortal to immortal, from corruptible to incorruptible (1 Cor.15:51-55), this 3rd aspect of the problem, the remaining presence of sin, would be dealt with at that time.
This third answer to the sin problem would be symbolized with the second compartment of the tabernacle known as the Most Holy Place. During an annual service called the Day of Atonement, the Jews were reminded of the eventual removal of sin from humanity, the ultimate personal and corporate cleansing from sin.
In each aspect of the Sanctuary Service, Christ must be the reality; it must be His blood that was shed at Calvary, He as the true high-priest must plead the application of the blood in the heavenly Sanctuary. However, only as He could satisfy the demands of the law could we experience true Salvation, this shed blood would be applied and recorded on the Mercy Seat of the earthly Ark, hidden below the Place of the Skull, hidden there 600 years before His death. This was a necessary legal requirement, that facilitated the resurrection. At Calvary, after He yielded His life a ransom, He would as the high priest, make the application of His own blood. The soldier’s spear provided the opening, the Father opened the ground with an earthquake and the record was established. He must be the perfect example of Sanctification, the unblemished sacrifice.
Christ must also minister in the heavenly Sanctuary after His resurrection and at a set time begin the work demonstrated on the Day of Atonement, that of the cleansing of the heavenly Sanctuary. Symbolically, confessed sin was recorded there through the confession and prayers of the saints, the sinner being released from the condemnation due to the faithful pleading of Christ’s shed and applied blood. It was now that this record of sin could be dealt with, this is why unconfessed sin is deadly; there is no record of mercy pleading its case. At a scheduled time, Christ would then end this work of mediation and probation for humanity would close. (Dan. 12:2, Rev. 8:1-5)
The fourth aspect of the sin problem was also connected to this Day of Atonement service but is less known due to it being conducted only nine times throughout Jewish history. The first recorded service was conducted by Moses (Numbers 19) and involved a separate altar made of wood, one that would be consumed along with the sacrifice. Later, when the Temple was constructed in Jerusalem, the altar of the Red Heifer was placed on the Mount of Olives facing the Golden Gate overlooking the Temple. This service too involved the remaining presence of sin but from a planetary perspective. It symbolized the complete destruction and purification (by fire) of the planet (1 Pe. 3:10), to be accomplished after the millennial period; resulting in the total elimination of the blithe of sin from God’s universe.
Each step in this plan is most necessary and would involve a certain period of time and at every step a completed atonement is accomplished; a completed justification, a completed Sanctification, a completed Glorification and a completed Redemption.
Let’s now consider where the time elements come into play.