Liberty to approach the Throne

Jesus by His perfect sacrifice on the cross made a new way for us to go to our Heavenly Father.

• In Moses’ time, Israelites had no access to go the Most Holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is in the ark. Only the High priest Aaron could go to the most Holy place, that also only once in a year. The Lord told Moses to “tell your brother Aaron NOT TO COME AT JUST ANY TIME into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is in the ark, lest he should die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.”

But today we have access at any time, to approach the mercy seat, the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. We can go to the throne of mercy/grace boldly in Christ Jesus. (Heb.4:16)

• Moreover, Aaron could not go the Holy place empty handed. He had to enter the holy place with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering and of a ram as a burnt offering. Apart from these animals, he had to take more animals i.e. bull, goat, scapegoat to make atonement for himself and for his house and for the children of Israel. Then, he had to sprinkle the blood of the animals on the horn of the altar with his finger seven times.

But today we do not have to bring these animals and their blood to approach the Holy place. Because Jesus entered the Most Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Therefore, brethren, we are having BOLDNESS TO ENTER the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God,.. (Heb.9:12, 10:19 to 21)

• God had given the awesome design for attire for Aaron the priest (holy garments) for glory and for beauty in Exodus 28. Gifted artisans made a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skilfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash as per the commandments of the Lord, which Aaron had to wear and enter the Holy place. This attire, beautifully designed, was very heavy because of the artistic settings of different precious stones, chains of pure gold, golden bells, signet, etc. on it.

But today we are clothed and covered by more costly garments in Christ Jesus,

i.e. garments of salvation and robe of righteousness. We are clothed by these garments as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isa.61:10)

•  All the more, Aaron had to take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he should die.

Today which incense and sacrifice we have to offer to the Lord?  Psalmist says in 141:2 that, Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Above points are a few outlines from actually what God had commanded Israelites about different types of offerings, permitted and forbidden foods, the ritual after childbirth, the law concerning leprosy, moral and ceremonial laws, different feasts of the Lord etc., etc…..

Today, we are exempted from all these rituals only because of Jesus. I believe, we have received the freedom or liberty to approach the throne of God boldly, we got access to go to the Father, through the perfect and finished sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. He offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. Liberty not to do what we desire, or to walk in flesh.

We are called for this divine liberty which Christ has provided for us in His sacrifice, but Paul said in Galatians 5:13 that brethren, you have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 

Peter also told in his epistle that, “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” (1 Pet.2:16)

Jesus has paid heavy and precious price to give these freedom to us; let us not make it cheap by following the wrong liberty of walking in the flesh.

(Reference:- Leviticus 16)

Anjali Jose