The Believer’s Altar

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. - Hebrews 13:10

    Altar comes from the Hebrew word mizbe’ah, meaning to slay. Under the Mosaic economy there were many material altars erected for the purpose of offering up offerings and blood sacrifices. The outstanding altar that we read of was the one on the Day of Atonement (Lv 16:30 & Lv 23:27). Upon this altar the sacrifice was slain and atonement was made for sin (Not actually, but symbolically). This was done once every year. Neither the altar nor the sacrifice could put away sin for two reasons—the altar was man-made and the animal was only a beast. Never were they meant to put away sin. They were only figurative of the true sacrifice who was to come—The Lamb of God.

    Sinful man must have both an altar and a sacrifice, which God will accept. In the Old Testament the altar and the sacrifice were viewed separately. In the New Testament, Christ is both. He is the Altar to which we come, and he is The Offering which was sacrificed for us. Coming to a bench at the front of a church building, and offering our works to God for reconciliation and accepting Jesus is the height of idolatry. Satisfaction and reconciliation was made for his people only by the sacrifice of Christ.