“We believe that the ceremonies and figures of the law ceased at the coming of Christ, and that all the shadows are accomplished…”
1. In the days of the old dispensation the people of God were under the law, and hence there were ceremonies and figures and shadows of things to come:
a. Reality was not yet: Christ had not yet come; the blood of atonement was not yet shed; the Lord had not been exalted; and the Spirit of the exalted Christ was not yet.
b. Yet the Lord would have a people for His name also in the old dispensation, a people that could manifest in their life and walk the beauty of His covenant.
c. Hence, the law was given them. The law here is the entire body of precepts and all that was connected with it, given to Israel for the regulation of their life and walk as a covenant people in the midst of the world.
d. This law offered shadows, ceremonies, figures of things to come. They were such as: Israel’s national existence, a shadow of the royal priesthood of God’s true covenant people; the land of Canaan, a shadow of the heritage of the people of God, all the covenant blessings as well as their final heritage in heaven; Jerusalem and Mount Zion; the tabernacle and the temple; the altar and the sacrifices; the prophets, priests, and kings; the washings and cleansings; the tithes and firstlings; the hallowing of buildings and vessels; fastings, etc.
2. All these, the article tells us, are abolished:
a. The substance of them remains with us in Christ Jesus. All these ceremonies and shadows and figures had a substance. They were not mere empty, vain, deceiving shadows. On the contrary, these shadows were cast into the old dispensation by the coming of Christ: He was the real substance of them all. Hence, the substance of them could never perish: Israel still is, but is no more the Jewish nation, but the true Israel of God; Jerusalem still is, but no more the earthly city,-it is the spiritual city of God; Canaan still is, but not in the land of Palestine, but it is the inheritance of the people of God; God’s temple and tabernacle still are, but it is the covenant fellowship of God with His people in Christ. Christ is our Prophet, Priest, and King, and we are a royal priesthood in Him. He is the fulfillment of all the sacrifices. Washings and cleansings still are in the spiritual acts of a sanctified heart. Tithes and firstfruits are the true sacrifices of our thanksgiving. Fasting is the real sorrow of a contrite heart, etc.
b. But the shadows and figures have been abolished. The earthly forms of heavenly things, the natural forms of spiritual things are no longer, and shall never return:
1) This is no doubt directed against Roman Catholicism, in the first place. Think of her eucharist, a repeated sacrifice; of her images, of her pope and priesthood, of her hallowing of buildings and vessels, etc.
2) But it holds as well against all that have Chiliastic dreams, and attach special significance still to the Jewish nation, the land of Canaan, a return of the Jews to their land, etc. For Israel, Canaan, temple, and altar have been abolished in as far as they were shadows and figures. The Lord never returns to them.
3. Yet the O. T. is of great value:
a. In as far as it shows that the Lord fulfilled His promises, it confirms us in our faith and helps us to understand the reality.
b. In as far as in the substance of the shadows there were also eternal principles of truth and righteousness, it regulates our life and walk in the world.