The Law of the Altar

presented byDavid Asscherick

1. made of earth or un-hewn stone

The Law of the Altar

2. no ascending steps

What was an altar for?

“you shall sacrifice on it” Exodus 20:24

“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every

clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” Genesis 8:20

“Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and

laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the

knife to slay his son.” Genesis 22:9,10

To whom/ what did these sacrifices point?

“he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter” Isaiah 53:7

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John

1:29

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us

and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5:1,2

Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. . . This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in men's minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. 6BC 1113

1. made of earth or un-hewn stone

The Law of the Altar

2. no ascending steps

1. made of earth or un-hewn stone

The Law of the Altar

2. no ascending steps

the sacrifice is not something that can be added to; it something to be accepted

This rule... intimates that... plainness should be accepted as the best ornament of the external services of religion, and that gospel-worship should not be performed with external pomp and gaiety. The beauty of holiness needs no paint, nor do those do any service to the spouse of Christ that dress her in the attire of a harlot, as the church of Rome does: an altar of earth does best.M. Henry, on Exodus 20:24

1. made of earth or un-hewn stone

The Law of the Altar

2. no ascending steps

the sacrifice is not something that can be added to; it something to be accepted

1. made of earth or un-hewn stone

The Law of the Altar

2. no ascending steps

the sacrifice is not something that can be added to; it something to be accepted

we do not climb up to the sacrifice; the sacrifice comes down to us

To make their altars very low so that they might not go up by steps to them. That the higher the altar was, and the nearer heaven, the more acceptable the sacrifice was, was a foolish fancy of the heathen, who therefore chose high places; in opposition to this, and to show that it is the elevation of the heart, not of the sacrifice, that God looks at, they were here ordered to make their altars low.M. Henry, on Exodus 20:26

1. made of earth or un-hewn stone

The Law of the Altar

2. no ascending steps

the sacrifice is not something that can be added to; it something to be accepted

we do not climb up to the sacrifice; the sacrifice comes down to us

“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to

heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”

Genesis 28:12

“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to

heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”

Genesis 28:12

“The ladder represents Jesus.” PP 184

The exceeding sinfulness of sin can be estimated only in the light of the cross. When men urge that God is too good to cast off the sinner, let them look to Calvary. It was because there was no other way in which man could be saved, because without this sacrifice it was...

No other way

impossible for the human race to escape from the defiling power of sin, and be restored to communion with holy beings,--impossible for them again to become partakers of spiritual life,--it was because of this that Christ took upon Himself the guilt of the disobedient and suffered in the sinner's stead. (SC 31)

No other way

1. save you without the blood of Jesus

God Cannot

2. save you without you putting personal

faith in the blood of Jesus.

1. save without blood

God Cannot

2. save without faith

But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. (SC 62)

You are accepted; He was forsaken

Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness. He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character.

He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner's place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me. Does Satan plead loudly against our souls, accusing of sin, and claiming us as his prey, the blood of Christ pleads with greater power. (MB 8)

1. save without blood

God Cannot

2. save without faith

1. made of earth or un-hewn stone

The Law of the Altar

2. no ascending steps

the sacrifice is not something that can be added to; it something to be accepted

we do not climb up to the sacrifice; the sacrifice comes down to us

What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.(FLB 113)

There is not a point that needs to be dwelt upon more earnestly, repeated more frequently, or established more firmly in the minds of all than the impossibility of fallen man meriting anything by his own best good works. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone. (FW 18)