Before beginning this lesson, you should read Hebrews 13:8-16. We want to focus our main thought on verse 10: “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.” We have many Old Testament types mentioned which involve an altar. Genesis 8:2—Noah, Genesis 12:7—Abraham, Genesis 26:25—Isaac to mention a few.
Paul warns the Hebrew saints not to be carried away or drawn in by certain Jewish sect’s new doctrines or to the old traditions which were of no prophet to the soul. These meats were only profitable to the body; and could be of no other use to the soul. The design, the Old Testament ceremony had always been to lead men to Christ. In and of themselves, they were of no advantage to the wicked heart; they could neither sanctify, justify, nor purify the heart, neither could they offer any security for eternity; for in Christ the whole ceremonial law is abolished. Notwithstanding, Catholicism and Protestantism teach and practice that; not only did the Old Testament Israelites have an altar, but the New Testament churches should have one as well. This is erroneous to the teaching of Hebrews 13:10 and the rest of the Bible as well.
There are some basic things to understand about this verse of Scripture if one is going to give it a proper interpretation. Whatever the verse means, it was contrary to the altar being used in Paul’s day by the Jews. Whatever the verse means, it is contrary to the so-called altar being used in churches today, including many Baptist churches. The whole book of Hebrews teaches that all the furnishings and the Tabernacle itself are a prototype of Christ and His great work of redemption. John 14:6, “Jesus saieth unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” A.W. Pink said in his book An Exposition of Hebrews, “The entire system of worship that Jehovah appointed for Israel was of a typical character and the reality and substance of it is now found in Christ.” Hebrews 9:11, “But Christ being come an high priest of good thing to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;…” That greater and more perfect tabernacle is Christ Himself. The mourner’s bench, or altar or whatever it is called in churches today has absolutely no, I repeat, no scriptural basis. If anyone has any Scripture to support it, I would like to know about it; my e-mail address is at the bottom of the lesson. It is an invention of men, albeit, perhaps well-meaning men to give an opportunity to come to the front of the church during an “invitation” and “mourn over their sins”, “re-dedicate their lives” or “pray through for salvation.” But people, the end result never justifies the means, not even when it comes to the salvation of the soul. If we cannot trust the Holy Spirit to do His perfect work in bring a soul to Christ, then we certainly cannot trust Him to keep us saved or lead us through life. No matter how well meaning the practice of the church “altar” is, the simple truth is: it is not a scriptural practice. The way we worship matters—matters to God and matters for His people. It is a matter of whether our worship is acceptable or unacceptable. Verse 15 shows us that both the altar and the sacrifice mentioned are spiritual and not carnal. Hebrews 9:15 ¶ “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Since Christ, in His great work of redemption is the fulfillment of the O.T. ceremonial law, He now becomes our altar upon which we offer spiritual sacrifices unto God. If you desire to be saved, you do not have to go and kneel at a so-called altar; you’ve only to admit that you are a sinner, repent of your sins against God and trust the blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only means of your salvation. E-mail, johnpruitt@frontiernet.net
