The Tabernacle as a Type of the Church - Hebrews 9 - Outline

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Careful study of the tabernacle can give us many useful facts about the New Testament Church.  Text: Hebrews 9.

Introduction.

1. Many people look at the church of Christ as a product of the Restoration movement of the 1800's.

a. I would argue that the restoration began in the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned.

b. From that point forward, God set about the task of restoring man.

2. We read in the Bible that the church is the eternal purpose of God.

a. Ephesians 3:10-11.

b. Consequently, the Old Testament is filled with prophecies and types which foretold the coming of Christ and the establishment of his church.

i. Therefore, the study of the Old Testament is very important.

ii. Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11.

iii. Without the prophecies of the Old Testament, we would have no way of knowing if Jesus was the Messiah.

3. This morning I thought that we would look at the Tabernacle of Moses as a type of the New Testament church.

a. Define: Type, Anti-type.

b. State Purpose.

4. Details on the tabernacle.

a. The tabernacle was built by Moses according to the instructions that were given to him by God (Hebrews 8:5).

b. It was built right after the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai.

c. There were three compartments to the tabernacle: the outer court, the holy place, and the most holy place.

Body.

I. The Outer Court.

A. This court was a type of the world.

1. Romans 3:23.

2. 2 Corinthians 6:17.

B. In the court there were two pieces of furniture: the alter of burnt offering, and the Laver.

1. The Brazen Altar.

a. Sacrifices were made on this altar to atone for the sins of the people.

b. One great sacrifice was made on this altar (Leviticus 9:7).

c. The animal was slain in place of the sinner.

d. The altar was a type of Christ's sacrifice.

(1) Hebrews 7:26-27.

(2) Hebrews 9:28.

(3) Hebrews 10:1,4.

(4) 1 Corinthians 5:7.

(5) Today we must accept Christ's sacrifice by faith.

(a) Romans 3:24-25.

(b) Romans 5:8-9.

2. The Laver.

a. The priests were to wash all over before going into the Holy Place (Exodus 29:4-9).

b. They had to be washed before they were adorned with their holy garments (Leviticus 8:6-7).

c. God specified it's location.

(1) Exodus 30:18.

(2) It was between the Brazen Altar and the Holy Place (we will come back to this later).

d. They were to wash "that they die not" (Exodus 30:20).

e. The Laver was an anti-type of baptism.

(1) Baptism washes away sins (Acts 22:16).

(2) We must be baptized before we can put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).

(3) If we are not baptized, we will die spiritually.

(4) Baptism is between Christ's sacrifice and salvation.

II. The Holy Place.

A. The Holy Place was a type of the church.

1. Hebrews 9:8,11.

2. 1 Corinthians 3:16-->temple of God.

3. 1 Timothy 3:15-->house of God.

4. There was only one entrance.

5. One must go through the Holy Place to get to the Most Holy Place.

6. God specified what furniture was to be in the Holy Place (Hebrews 8:5).

a. The Table of Shewbread.

(1) Twelve loaves of bread were partaken of every sabbath (Leviticus 24:5-9).

(2) It was only for the priests.

(3) This was an anti-type of the Lord's Supper.

(a) Every Lord's day (Acts 20:7).

(b) For Christians (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30).

b. The Golden Candlestick.

(1) This was to burn continually.

(2) This was an anti-type of the Word.

(a) Psalms 119:105,130.

(b) 2 Peter 1:19.

c. The Altar of Incense.

(1) Was located before the veil (Exodus 30:1,6-9).

(2) Was perpetual (Exodus 30:8).

(3) This was the anti-type of prayer.

(a) Revelation 5:8.

(b) Revelation 8:3-4.

(c) Our prayers are to be perpetual (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

III. The Most Holy Place.

A. This was a type of heaven.

B. The high priest was the only one allowed in and only once a year (Exodus 30:10).

C. In it was the Ark of the Covenant which contained: Aaron's rod that budded, manna, and the mercy seat.

1. The Ark represented our covenant with God (Hebrews 8:8-10).

2. The manna represented Christ who is our spiritual food (John 6:32-33).

D. Our high priest, Christ, entered into the true Most Holy Place.

1. Hebrews 6:19-20.

2. Hebrews 9:11-12,24,28.

IV. We learn several things about the New Testament Church from our study of the Tabernacle.

A. God commanded the placing of the furniture.

1. God set up the church the way he wanted it.

2. We are not allowed to add to or take away from his design.

B. The Altar of Incense was inside the Tabernacle, therefore prayer is inside the Tabernacle.

C. Just as the priests had to wash in order to go into the Tabernacle, we must be washed in the waters of baptism to enter the church.

D. The first Tabernacle was erected by man but the church was erected by Christ.

1. Hebrews 8:2.

2. Therefore, any religious group created by a man is not the true church of God.

E. The Laver was not before the altar so baptism does not come before faith.

1. Mark 16:16.

2. Infant baptism is wrong.

Conclusion.

1. Review main points.

2. Do you remember what happened to the veil of the temple when Christ died (Hebrews 10:18-22).

a. It was split open.

b. When Christ died, he made it possible for us to enter into the Most Holy Place; Heaven.

c. Christ has told us what we must do in order to be saved.

d. Offer invitation. 

-- Ralph Price (Streetsboro Church of Christ), December 2001 --