Making All Things According To The Pattern
By Warren E. Berkley
Many features of the Old Testament system (law of
Moses) were put in place by God, to picture what would
eventually become reality through the work of Jesus Christ, our
great High Priest. For instance, various details in the Jewish
tabernacle served to foreshadow the good things God would
eventually confer upon believers. The good things to come were
pictured by various elements of the Mosaic system. The law,
therefore was a shadow of the good things to come, (see Heb.
9:11 & 10:1).
This is one reason why, when Moses supervised the
building of that tabernacle, it was crucial for him to make all
things according to the pattern which came from the perfect mind
of God. Even the detailed furnishings had to be made exactly
like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses, (Num. 8:4). Various
features of the old Jewish system were designed by God to
foreshadow gospel blessings; these institutions served as the
copies or shadows of the heavenly things, so Moses was divinely
instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. God said to
him: see that you make all things according to the pattern
shown you on the mountain. {Heb. 8:5; Acts 7:44; Ex. 25:9,40;
26:30; Num. 8:4.}
We have not been instructed to build, or re-built
that Mosaic tabernacle, but when we study these things we must
carefully explore for any underlying principles that pertain to
us. Just as God expressed His mind to Moses and gave
instructions to Him, He has expressed His mind to us, and given
us instructions to follow (Heb. 1:1,2). We're to "hold fast to
the pattern of sound words" (2 Timothy 1:13).
I am convinced there is such a principle, and I can
best express it this way: Gods purpose is carried out when His
pattern is followed! The tabernacle is an excellent example. In
having the Jews build that tabernacle, we know that God had a
purpose in mind. He didn't do this accidentally, nor was this an
exercise to keep the Jewish laborers and artisans busy. God had
a purpose in mind, when He had the people build the tabernacle;
an immediate purpose [Jewish worship], and an ultimate purpose
[symbolic of the New Covenant blessings, see Heb. 9:9]. The
pattern, or blueprint God gave to Moses was designed to
implement Gods purposes, both immediate and ultimate.
The principle is: God, in His perfect mind, forms a
purpose; then He reveals His pattern, with admonitions to follow
His instructions. Only when men follow Gods pattern, is Gods
purpose carried out. Stated negatively, if I dont follow Gods
pattern, I fail to carry out His purpose!
In the case of the tabernacle, if Moses had ignored
God's pattern and followed a human plan - the tabernacle would
not have fulfilled Gods purpose; it would not have effectively
functioned in foreshadowing the new covenant and the
high-priestly ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary (of
which the earthly was only a replica.)! Only as we follow Gods
pattern, can it be said that we have performed His purpose. We
need to acknowledge how purpose and pattern go together. Behind
every pattern revealed by God, there are divine purposes, which
are fulfilled when we follow His pattern.
Applications Follow:
MARRIAGE. God had certain purposes in mind by
instituting the marriage relationship: (a) companionship, (b)
reproduction, (c) the nurturing of children, and (d) the
foundation of the social order. God had these good purposes in
mind. To accomplish these purposes, God revealed a pattern
(instructions, law). If we ignore Gods pattern for husband and
wife, God's purposes are not carried out.
THE LORD'S SUPPER. All anyone knows about the
Lord's Supper is from the Bible. What about the elements we use
... the significance we attach to this feast ... the regularity
with which we partake ... Where did we come up with all this?
The Bible. When I take everything the New Testament says about
the Lords Supper, and use that as my pattern, is there anything
wrong with that? Does that make me a radical, a Pharisee, or a
conservative or anti? I think it makes me a Christian. This is
what being a Christian is all about; letting Christ be the head
of the church, and following the instructions given by Christ
through His apostles ... making all things according to the
pattern, in order for the purposes of God to be fulfilled.
THE LOCAL CHURCH. God, in His wisdom, set up the
local church. Thats why, when you read the New Testament, you
read about local churches (Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth,
etc.). Christians got together. They formed themselves into
local groups, to worship together, to edify one another, and to
join together for the preaching of the gospel.
Now, when God set up the local church, through the
preaching of the apostles, let there be no doubt, God had
certain purposes in mind! I submit, if we want a local church to
fulfill the purposes intended by God, we need to follow the
pattern given by God. Is that difficult or complicated? Is that
an expression of human tradition? NO,it is entirely reasonable,
and in keeping with everything the Scriptures teach.
So, when it comes to things like ELDERS AND
DEACONS; the preaching and teaching we do; the way we use our
resources; the worship we provide for; the support of gospel
preachers; the assistance given to needy saints, and all other
matters that have to do with the local church, we should follow
the pattern given by God!
This is not a matter of being conservative, it is a
matter of being right. This isnt just about continuing to do
what those men believed in, who started a local church in a
community, it is about continuing steadfastly in the apostles
doctrine (Acts 2:42). When we follow Gods pattern, because we
love God, want to honor Christ and carry out divine purposes -
this is not the mentality of a Pharisee, this is the mentality
of a servant who wants to obey the Lord.
Hebrews 8:5 may not call upon us to build a
tabernacle, yet the underlying principle is
trans-dispensational. It has always been necessary to follow any
pattern given by God. This is the only way we can carry out His
purposes.
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