In Ezra chapter 3 there are two themes: building a new altar and laying the foundation for a new temple.
Altar and temple. It's amazing how often these themes come together in the Bible. And always in the same order!
Altar always comes first (at least, after the fall!). It makes sense.
The temple – after all – is the place where God meets with his people – where God dwells with his people!
And how can we dwell with a holy God? The wages of sin is death. When you look at human history, it's a pretty ugly story. We just keep killing each other, hurting each other, making each other's lives miserable! How can we come into the presence of a holy God – when we are such a mess?!
We need an altar! We need a place for that sacrifice that can atone for our sins. That's why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2 – "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the whole point!
And so here in chapter 3, Paul speaks of how, "like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation… which is Jesus Christ."
And how he is building (and other pastors are building) on that one foundation. And what are we building? A holy temple. And you are that temple!
Because of the altar – because of the sacrifice – because Jesus Christ has dealt with sin once for all on the cross – therefore we are made right with God – our sins are forgiven! and we are brought into a new relationship with God – we have peace with him – we are being transformed into his likeness!
The foundation of the temple can only be laid because of the sacrifice of the altar!
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