A Careful Approach || New Phone, Who Dis? #8

Please Approach

Welcome back to “New Phone, Who Dis?”! We’re talking about the differences between the Old and New covenants and the sacrificial systems tied to them. In Part 7, we talked about the perfection required for these sacrifices. The Old covenant needed sacrifices that were without blemishes or deformities. They wanted to offer a pure and perfect sacrifice to properly atone for the sacrifice, however – these would only be temporary. The New covenant required only one perfect life. The life of the sinless, spotless lamb Himself – Jesus. This sacrifice would last for all of eternity, and would remind us that God welcomes us as we are. We just need to carry a spirit of gratitude and repentance to keep becoming for like Christ each and everyday.

In Part 8, we’re talk about God himself. Mainly, where we would meet Him. The Old covenant required specific instructions in approaching the Tabernacle for the Holy of Holies. The New covenant tore up those instructions and allows us to confidently approach the throne of God. Let’s begin our journey in Leviticus 16:2.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: The fact of Christ’s sacrifice tearing the temple curtain is very impactful to our Christian journey. What does it mean to you that Christ did so that we can have a relationship with God?

Follow the Rules Carefully

Leviticus 16:2 gives us some insight in the careful approach that was needed.

AMP – The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil (the Holy of Holies), before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die, for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

NRSVUE – The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to come just at any time into the sanctuary inside the curtain before the cover that is upon the ark, or he will die, for I appear in the cloud upon the cover.

VOICE – Eternal One (to Moses): Go, talk to Aaron, and warn him that he cannot go whenever he wants beyond the veil to the holy place before the seat of mercy that covers the covenant chest. If he does, he will lose his life because I will appear in the cloud above the seat of mercy.

Remember, Aaron is the first high priest, and was given specific instruction that impact his religious duties. The Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies, was the innermost and most sacred area of the Tabernacle, where God’s presence resided. Access was restricted to the high priest only, once a year on the Day of Atonement. This represented the separation between our Holy God and humanity’s sinfulness. The veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, representing the barrier between God and man on account of humanity’s sin. The mercy seat was where atonement was made. The severe consequence of unauthorized entry creates an understand of God’s holiness and the seriousness of approaching Him improperly. It’s a warning of the consequences of sin and the need for reverence during worship.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: The penalty of death is intense, but it often represents the seriousness of the necessary actions that were needed at this time. What does that penalty mean to you in our modern context? How would you feel if you were Aaron in this context?

Life or Death Situations

The warning of death for unauthorized entry into the Most Holy Place shows us the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. They wanted to offer God the best of the best, including those who are committed to the Levitical priesthood. The Jewish audience were lifted up to an incredible standard so that they can create the best atonement process that was available. This where their way, pre-Christ, to create the most pure environment at the time. The severity of the penalty was not because of God’s wrath or anger, but to create the purest bond that was necessary.

For us, this may have felt impossible to keep up with. Knowing what we know now, recognizing that we could only seek atonement one time of year through a highly specific process would have be disheartening, ritualistic, and would like have turned people away. I can understand that would potentially turn people away from following YHWH. There may have been other deities that other cultures were simplifying religious practices as well. Creating these message of life or death in our relationship with God doesn’t modernize with our current cultures like it did then.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What does a transition from Aaron’s tasks to a Jesus-led movement mean to you? What emotions does it bring up to you?

Boldness and Confidence

Let’s look at the new confident approach Jesus brings in Hebrews 4:16.

AMP – Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to hep in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming at just the right moment].

NRSVUE – Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

VOICE – So let us step boldly to the throne of grace, where we can find mercy and grace to help when we need it most.

Jesus invites to come boldly before God. The “throne of grace” represents God’s powerful authority including His willing to share grace. Through Christ’s atoning work, we are invited to approach confidently. Not arrogantly, but fully trusting in the completed atoning work of Jesus, our new High Priest. We approach the throne to seek mercy, God’s compassion and forgiveness. In the cultural context, mercy was desired from rules or judges, but it’s freely given by God overall. The reception of mercy would connect to the when the high priest entering the Holy of Holies to atone for the people’s sin. We would also approach the throne to find Grace, the unmerited favor of God. It’s through grace that we are saved. Finding grace is an active activity, made possible through Jesus’s sacrifice. Grace empowers us to live godly lives. It’s a gift that transforms and sustains us, gifting us strength and guidance. We receive these things at any time we need God’s divine assistance. The early Christians relied on this because of the common persecution that was happening and hardships that came from it.

Jesus broke the barrier that separated God and humanity. We can approach God boldly and confidently to receive His compassion and mercy and to receive His favor and transformation power.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Understanding the gifts of God’s grace and mercy, how does it transform our access to God compared to the Old Covenant?

The Perfect Path

The throne of grace is a place where believers can receive mercy over our past and grace for our present and future needs. Who we were before we knew Christ is not who we are after we knew Christ. God doesn’t hold us by our past, for He forgives and forget. God won’t guilt us or shame us for who we once were. We may have earthly consequences from our sinful actions, but God will be there every step of the way to gift us and empower us make it through the trials of life. God’s grace provides us for everything that we need now and in the future. Our relationship with God gives us the faith, strength, wisdom and courage to trust that God will provide and guide us to the right locations, resources, and people to help us do what God has called us to do. We have an ever constant presence that’s walking alongside us through life. The perfect sacrifice tore the Temple curtain, and created a path that allows us to go boldly and confidently to God Himself.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: We are called to reflect God’s grace and mercy to others. How can our relationship with God do that in light of Christ’s sacrifice?