How often do we look at deep spiritual truths but miss their practical application? This happens particularly with the sanctuary doctrine—a teaching many of us hold dear.
The sanctuary message is frequently reduced to discussions about a heavenly building and its compartments, but Scripture reveals something far more profound and life-changing. The true sanctuary message touches every aspect of our practical Christian experience.
God's Ultimate Purpose Revealed
The foundation of the sanctuary doctrine is found in God's instruction to Moses:
"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." (Exodus 25:8)
This simple statement reveals God's ultimate purpose: He wants to dwell with His people. The physical sanctuary wasn't primarily about rituals or ceremonies—it was about God's presence with humanity.
But this earthly sanctuary was only a shadow of something greater to come. It wasn't the full reality but a picture pointing to a more significant fulfillment. Its primary purpose was to illustrate how God would overcome the barrier sin had created between Himself and us.
The Key Component: Life Through Blood
At the heart of the sanctuary service was the sacrifice, particularly the blood. When Moses established the covenant at Sinai, Scripture records a powerful symbolic act:
"And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, 'Behold, the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you concerning all these words.'" (Exodus 24:8)
This sprinkling of blood represented life being imparted to the people. The blood dealt with sin and symbolically bestowed life, reuniting people with God. This dramatic ceremony foreshadowed something far greater that would be fulfilled in Christ.
The Limitations of the Shadow
Despite its divine origin, the earthly sanctuary had significant limitations:
1. Limited access – Only priests could enter the sanctuary proper, while the people remained in the courtyard.
2. Restricted divine presence – Even the high priest could only enter God's direct presence once a year.
3. Single location – God's presence was confined to one physical place.
The book of Hebrews highlights these limitations:
"For the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." (Hebrews 10:1)
From Shadow to Reality
This series will explore how Christ fulfills everything the sanctuary represented—not just as our sacrifice and high priest in heaven, but as the living sanctuary, the covenant personified, and the life-giving Spirit who dwells within believers.
As we journey together, we'll discover that the sanctuary message isn't just about heavenly geography but about the practical reality of Christ's indwelling life that gives us victory over sin and unites us with God.
In our next post, we'll explore how Jesus Himself is the greater reality to which the sanctuary pointed—both as "Emmanuel, God with us" and as the covenant personified.
