We are No Longer Strangers at the Altar

God instructed that no stranger could come nigh unto the altar before the tabernacle, and if one did so, he was to be put to death.

Not even the Levites could offer sacrifices, but only the priests, and even then, only once a year could they come into the Holy of Holies, and then only if they brought the blood of a sacrifice.

In Malachi 3, there is a hint that the way to the altar would be widened, when Jesus came to purify the sons of Levi. Then they too would be able to offer sacrifices in Righteousness!

But when Jesus came, and purified His people by His atoning blood sacrifice, He brought strangers nigh unto God, joining all His people together in One.

Now we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints! Now we are built into the very temple of God, we who had been barred as strangers from the altar! This is in fulfillment of the promise made to foreigners in Isaiah 56:3-5.

But still further, Peter informs us that we who were nobodies are now made royal priests, fit to offer spiritual sacrifices. These sacrifices are our praise and worship and thanksgiving and deeds of charity in Jesus' name.

So we have an altar that the Jewish people had no right to partake of. Their sacrifices were all burnt up, and gave no nourishment and no life.

We are to go outside the camp to where the only sacrifice that gives life was crucified - our Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary.

Hebrews tells us that, because of the blood of Jesus that has purged our sin, we can have boldness to enter into the Holiest of Holies of Heaven, coming before God's glory through the veil, that is, Christ's sacrificed body.

We're not strangers anymore!