The Tabernacle, a Shadow of Christ

This sermon deals with the special standing of believers who have been set free from the law of sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. According to the gospel proclaimed by the apostle Paul, those who are in Christ are never condemned, and they enjoy freedom through the law of the Spirit. But this grace goes beyond mere religious activity; it is a blessing enjoyed only when we sincerely repent and abide in Jesus. Because the Law could not be fulfilled on account of human weakness, God sent his sinless Son in the likeness of sinners to fulfill its requirement.

This passage also shows God's sovereign plan through the way Moses designed the tabernacle and led the Israelites. Israel's four hundred years of slavery in Egypt were a time of preparation for the fulfillment of God's covenant, and their unbelief and complaining ultimately brought about their destruction in the wilderness. As the lives of Moses and Paul reveal, God sets aside human wisdom and power and uses people only through humble obedience. Only when believers lay down everything they have and entrust themselves completely to God can they take on the role of a true priest.

The sermon calls believers to reflect on the heart that takes the feast days for granted when they come around, and to meditate deeply on the suffering and love of the cross that Jesus bore. Remembering the deep love with which God gave his Son for us, with what kind of heart should we return our thanks and love to God?