The Cross and The Sanctuary Part 4

Study Guide

The sanctuary is the interpretative ______ for understanding Christ.

The Sanctuary shows us what roles Jesus plays in the plan of salvation:
Jesus = Lamb (John 1:29)
Jesus = High Priest (Hebrew 8:1-2)


The sanctuary shows us when and where Jesus is in the plan of salvation.

Salvation Sanctuary Role Time
Phase 1 Courtyard Lamb Cross, AD. 31
Phase 2 Holy Place High Priest Ascension, AD. 31
Phase 3 Most Holy Place High Priest ?

We are going to focus on the third phase of the plan of salvation in the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place contained
only one article of furniture. It was the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments. The Most Holy Place
was to be entered only once a year by the high priest on the Day of Atonement.

In our study today, we are going to answer four questions about the Day of Atonement.

Question 1: What was the Day of Atonement?

The Day of Atonement was known as the yearly service. It took place once a year. In order for us to understand the
yearly service, we must understand the daily service. Lets take a look at the daily service in Lev. 4:32-35.

Leviticus 4:32-35: If he brings a ___________ as his sin offering Then he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin
offering, and kill it as a sin offering at the place where they kill the burnt offering. The priest shall take some of the
____________ of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the __________ of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the
remaining blood at the base of the altar.
There was a transfer of sin in the daily service. The sin went from the sinner to the lamb to the blood. Then the priest took
the blood and placed it on the horns of the altar or in other cases sprinkled it before the veil in the sanctuary. Therefore
the record of the forgiven sin still remained in the sanctuary recorded by the blood on the horns.

Once a year on the Day of Atonement that record of forgiveness was cleansed from the sanctuary.
Leviticus 16:18: And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord, and make atonement for it, and shall take some
of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. Then he shall
sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, _________ it, and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the
children of Israel.

Question 2: Why does the record of forgiveness still remain after you have been forgiven?

The forgiveness of past sin does not take away our future choice. Youll remember the parable of the unfaithful servant in
Matthew 18:32-35. The unfaithful servant is forgiven a huge debt, billions of dollars, by the king. But as he left the
presence of the king, he saw a fellow servant who owed him 10 dollars and he grabbed him by the throat, demanding
payment. When he couldnt pay, he threw him in prison. What happened? The king called the wicked servant in and his
forgiveness was revoked.

"God keeps an account with each man. Whenever a prayer for forgiveness ascends to God from a true heart, God forgives.
But after men have been forgiven they at times change their minds. They repent of their repentance. They show by their
lives that their repentance is not permanent. And so God, instead of forgiving absolutely and finally, marks forgiveness
against men's names and waits with the final blotting out of sins until they have had time to think the matter through. If at
the end of their lives they are still of the same mind, abhorring their sins in sincere repentance, God counts them faithful,
and in the Day of Judgment their record is finally cleared. - The Sanctuary Service, p. 177-178

Question 3: When is the heavenly Day of Atonement? In other words, when will God judge and cleanse the record
books in heaven?

1. Paul spoke of a future judgment.
Acts 24:25: And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment ____ come, Felix trembled, and answered,
Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

2. Daniel saw a vision of a judgment in heaven where the books were opened (Daniel 7:9-10).

Jewish Encyclopedia, article Day of Atonement
God, seated on His throne to judge the world, at the same time Judge, Pleader, Expert, and Witness, openeth the Book of
Records; it is read, every mans signature being found therein. The great trumpet is sounded; a still, small voice is
heard

3. Revelation 14:6: Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to
those who dwell on the earthto every nation, tribe, tongue, and people saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give
glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment ______ ___________; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea
and springs of water.

Question 4: While the sanctuary was to be cleansed, what else was being cleansed on the Day of Atonement?

Leviticus 16:30: For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to _________ ______, that you may be clean
from all your sins before the Lord.

The cleansing of the sanctuary also meant the cleansing of His people. So while Christ is cleansing the record of our
forgiven sins in the sanctuary in heaven, Christ is also cleansing us from sin in our hearts here on earth.

1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to ____________ us our sins and to _____________ us from all
unrighteousness.

God offers forgiveness and cleansing! Wont you accept His free gift today?