NEWS/EVENTS

Some of us who were raised in church traditions that included "altar services" envision wood, carpet, a brass rail and stout furnishings. Others who are more familiar with Hollywood have scenes from fantasy movies where someone or something is about to be sacrificed, and the hero arrives just in time to prevent certain death.

But what about the altar as described in the Bible - and what, if anything, should it mean for us today?

"ALTAR" DEFINED

"Altar" is an Old Testament word meaning "a place of sacrifice." In Latin altas means "high" and ara means "elevation." Therefore, the concept of "Altar" in the Old Testament is a high place where a sacrifice being offered. It is a place of sin offering. Therefore, it is the place of reconciliation with God.

Then, as today, the altar offered a place of reunion for fellowship with the holy God as people made sacrifices on the altar, a sign of repentance or gratitude (praises). It was a place of thanksgiving; a place to worship God for who He is.  For the people of God, the altar remains a point of contact with God to give him praise, adoration, glory, blessing, honor, reverence, and all that only God deserves to receive.

The altar in the Old Testament forecasts the atoning work of Christ Jesus. Every part of Old Testament altar worship has been fulfilled in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the promised Messiah and Savior. Therefore, in this book we aren't talking about a literal altar made of stone, or physical sacrifices for our salvation, but about spiritual implications of the altar of God for daily life and our spiritual walk.

The Old Testament is written to give us the promise of salvation. Every promise God gave us about our salvation is completed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior by repenting from sins and asking for forgiveness is saved and has eternal life. That salvation is a freedom from the result of sin, which separated us from God. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Once a person is set free from the condemnation of sin (Romans 8:1), he or she becomes a child of God (John 1:12).

As His children, we want to glorify God in our daily life. This requires daily victory in our walk as disciples of Jesus Christ. Victory engages a process of being saved from the power of sin by the power of the Holy Spirit and the eternal word of God. What God's written Word teaches about the altar offers guiding principles for spiritual growth and the victorious life that glorifies the Lord.

RELATIONSHIP: THE BASIS OF THE ALTAR

The first guiding principle of the altar is relationship. God established the altar so His people could have fellowship with Him by bringing sin, guilt and fellowship offerings. God created us for fellowship with Him and those around us. The altar provides the foundation to establish and maintain those relationships.

Love is the basis for lasting and true relationships...