There is a great new praise song from Elevation Worship titled, “O Come to the Altar.” It is a rich theological song with great imagery that I fear is lost on too many Christians. In the Southern Baptist world, we associate the term “altar” most consistently with the steps or step at the front of our orship Centers. We have “altar calls.” We invite people to "come to the altar to pray.” These invitations are right and good but if that is all “the altar” means to us then we have lost a significant picture of our salvation.
In the Old Testament, the altar was both a symbol of, and a place to, worship. The alter of burnt offerings (prescribed in Exodus 27 and built in Exodus 38) was outside the entrance to the tent of meeting. According to Leviticus 1, the burnt offering was an offering of atonement. The blood of the sacrifice was spilled, then splattered on the side of the altar. After that the animal was burned on the altar.
This process was part and parcel to the worship of God the Father in that time. The offering is declared “a pleasing aroma to the Lord” in Leviticus 1:17. The offering was part of the atonement for sin that was necessary and integral for a sinful, corrupt human to approach a holy (set apart) God in worship.
Now, we come to worship services once or twice a week and think nothing (or perhaps very little) of the cost of coming before a holy, set apart God. We sacrifice nothing to dwell in his presence. In the Old Testament God’s people could not dwell in God’s presence. They entered God’s presence by way of sacrifice and cleansing.
We offer up praise and worship to him flippantly and habitually without often remembering that the blood of Christ, a sacrifice without blemish, was poured out on the altar so that by faith and repentance we might be cleansed to stand in God’s presence (not just at church but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit). We are reminded in Hebrews 10:19-25 that “we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,” and we are invited to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.”
Therefore, when we convene in God’s presence (whether privately or corporately), let us remember that we draw near with confidence in worship because our “Forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ,” as this song reminds us. When we hear the song’s call, “O come to the altar, the Father’s arms are open wide,” let us not think of the steps or a fancy table at the front of a room. Let us ever remember that the Father welcomes us into his presence with open arms because of Jesus Christ's blood has been shed and sprinkled on the altar. He is the only sacrifice that rose after death. Let us offer up our praise as a “pleasing aroma.” May the cry of our hearts be:
"Oh what a Savior
Isn't he wonderful
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Bow down before him
For he is Lord of all
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen."
In the Old Testament, the altar was both a symbol of, and a place to, worship. The alter of burnt offerings (prescribed in Exodus 27 and built in Exodus 38) was outside the entrance to the tent of meeting. According to Leviticus 1, the burnt offering was an offering of atonement. The blood of the sacrifice was spilled, then splattered on the side of the altar. After that the animal was burned on the altar.
This process was part and parcel to the worship of God the Father in that time. The offering is declared “a pleasing aroma to the Lord” in Leviticus 1:17. The offering was part of the atonement for sin that was necessary and integral for a sinful, corrupt human to approach a holy (set apart) God in worship.
Now, we come to worship services once or twice a week and think nothing (or perhaps very little) of the cost of coming before a holy, set apart God. We sacrifice nothing to dwell in his presence. In the Old Testament God’s people could not dwell in God’s presence. They entered God’s presence by way of sacrifice and cleansing.
We offer up praise and worship to him flippantly and habitually without often remembering that the blood of Christ, a sacrifice without blemish, was poured out on the altar so that by faith and repentance we might be cleansed to stand in God’s presence (not just at church but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit). We are reminded in Hebrews 10:19-25 that “we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,” and we are invited to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.”
Therefore, when we convene in God’s presence (whether privately or corporately), let us remember that we draw near with confidence in worship because our “Forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ,” as this song reminds us. When we hear the song’s call, “O come to the altar, the Father’s arms are open wide,” let us not think of the steps or a fancy table at the front of a room. Let us ever remember that the Father welcomes us into his presence with open arms because of Jesus Christ's blood has been shed and sprinkled on the altar. He is the only sacrifice that rose after death. Let us offer up our praise as a “pleasing aroma.” May the cry of our hearts be:
"Oh what a Savior
Isn't he wonderful
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Bow down before him
For he is Lord of all
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen."