The Pattern
 

I just finished reading Leviticus, realizing that blood is for Atonement and water for purification, I'm trying to tie it all together.

The Divine Blueprint: Blood, Water, Spirit, and Covenant

In biblical typology, the transition from slavery to a new life with God follows a consistent pattern. This "blueprint" was first established during the Exodus and was later perfected in the life, death, and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus). This pattern connects the Old Testament shadows to the New Testament fulfillment.

1. The Pattern in the Exodus (The Shadow)
Before Israel could enter the Covenant at Sinai, they passed through three distinct stages of deliverance:
* Blood (The Passover): The blood of the lamb was applied to the doorposts so the "destroyer" would pass over (Exodus 12:13). This was the legal price of their redemption.
* Water (The Red Sea): Following the blood, they passed through the waters of the Red Sea. Paul identifies this as a "baptism" into Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2).
* Spirit (The Pillar of Cloud): God led them by a Pillar of Cloud and Fire, representing His Presence and Spirit (Exodus 13:21).
* Covenant (Mount Sinai): Having been redeemed by blood and purified by water, they were brought to Sinai to enter a formal Covenant with God (Exodus 19-20).

2. The Pattern in the Crucifixion (The Fulfillment)
The Gospel of John emphasizes that Yeshua "finished" the work by replicating this pattern in His own body on the cross.
* Spirit (John 19:30): Yeshua cries out, "It is finished!" and "gives up His spirit." This is the release of the life-giving Spirit that would later be poured out on the Church.
* Blood and Water (John 19:34): A soldier pierces His side, and "immediately blood and water came out." The Blood represents the final Passover sacrifice, while the Water represents ritual purification and "living water."

3. The Witness on Earth (1 John 5:7-8)
In his first epistle, John provides the theological seal on this pattern. He states that there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three "agree as one."
In biblical law, a matter is established by two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). In 1 John 5:6, he insists that Yeshua came "not only by water, but by water and blood," confirming that the purification (water) and the sacrifice (blood) are inseparable.

4. The Spirit and the Internal Covenant
The climax of this pattern is the internal transformation of the believer. While the Blood pays the debt and the Water cleanses the vessel, the Spirit enters to fulfill the promise of a "New Covenant" by writing God's instructions directly onto the heart.
* The Prophetic Promise: Jeremiah 31:33 says, "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts." Ezekiel 36:25-27 mirrors the sequence exactly: "I will sprinkle clean water on you... I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes."
* The Divine Scribe: Paul confirms in 2 Corinthians 3:3 that believers are "epistles of Christ... written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."
In the first Exodus, the "Finger of God" wrote the Law on stone; in the New Exodus, the Spirit (the Finger of God) writes the Law of the Covenant into our very nature.

5. The Pattern in the Believer (The Application)
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter provides the practical application of this pattern in Acts 2:38-39:
* Blood: Peter calls for "repentance in the name of Yeshua" for the remission of sins (applying the Blood).
* Water: He commands them to "be baptized," which is the water of purification and the "Red Sea" crossing for the believer.
* Spirit: He promises, "and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
* Covenant: He concludes that "the promise" (the Covenant) is for them and their children.

Summary of the Journey
This sequence mirrors the physical layout of the Tabernacle:
* The Altar of Sacrifice (Blood)
* The Laver of Washing (Water)
* The Holy Place (Spirit & Covenant)
By following this pattern, the believer "walks the map" from death to life, moving from the guilt of sin (Blood) to the washing of the soul (Water) and into the power of a new life where the Law is written on the heart by the Spirit.

Re: The Pattern
 

Amen :thumbsup

Re: The Pattern
 

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes.

Should we take the above verse to mean the Holy Ghost will lead us?

Re: The Pattern
 

Yes. The Spirit helps us to obey God's commandments and also guides us in everyday matters.

How do you see it actually playing out? How do you see the Spirit's role now versus say in King David's day? When you read the Psalms, like Psalm 119 for instance it does seem that for the psalmist obedience was a matter of the heart. And David certainly seems to have been led by the Spirit.

Re: The Pattern
 

It still is a matter of the heart, that it is not our will but His will. Therefore we should yield to Jesus' will to grow in grace and maturity in Christ. Psalm 119:105 the Word guiding our mature growth in Christ, as also pointed out by Peter in 2 Peter 1:19. Jesus in John 16:13, refers to the Holy Ghost's role in revealing the complete truth of the scripture, and shepherding His followers into deeper understanding. So that we should live a life aligned with His divine purpose. Enabling us to navigate the narrow way and the strait gate.

Re: The Pattern
 

Psalm 25:4-5: "Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."

Psalm 143-10: "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness."


1 John 2:27: "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

Now, I'm not implying that we don't need to have elders helping us, but what I am saying is, that the Holy Ghost will be our teacher to help guide us to the strait gate. The job of the ministry is not to block or hinder the Holy Ghost in the lives of the saints, but to support the saints to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost.

Re: The Pattern
 

You mean a deeper understanding as revealed in the book of Hebrews because the law and prophets pointed to the Cross? Better blood, better promises, better priesthood, ect.

Re: The Pattern
 

Yes

Re: The Pattern
 

Hebrews 9:11-14, the Old Covenant relied on the repeated animal sacrifices. Which was only a temporary atonement that couldn't truly cleanse the conscience. Hebrews emphasizes Christ's single, perfect sacrifice of His own blood, which offers permanent purification and access to His presence. Access to Jesus’ presence enables the Saint to grow to full maturity in Christ. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered, Psalm 32:1.

Re: The Pattern
 

Amen!

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Re: The Pattern
 

Thank you Don!

Re: The Pattern
 

This Bible study explores the continuity of God’s law, the transition from the Old to the New Covenant, and the distinction between ceremonial "shadows" and eternal moral commands.

1. The Foundation: The Ten Commandments as Covenant Law:
The Ten Commandments are not merely a list of rules but the "words of the covenant" (Exodus 34:28). While the Old Covenant was written on stone, the New Covenant promises a internal transformation. The Ten commandments stand as is:

* Unchanging Character: Because God does not change (Malachi 3:6), the moral standards reflecting His nature remain.

* The Law in the Heart: Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 8:10 describe the New Covenant as God putting His laws into our minds and writing them on our hearts.

* The Israel/Judah Connection: It is vital to note that the New Covenant was explicitly promised to "the house of Israel and the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31).

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2. The Grafting In: Acts 2:38 and the New Birth:
If the covenant was promised to Israel, how do others participate? The Apostolic doctrine teaches that Gentiles are "grafted in" to the olive tree of Israel (Romans 11:17-24).

* The Apostolic Formula: In Acts 2:38, Peter provides the key to this entrance:

* Repentance: Turning away from sin.
* Water Baptism: Specifically in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
* The Holy Spirit: Receiving the gift of the Spirit, which empowers the believer to keep the law "in the spirit." God's law is written in our hearts.

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3. The "Book of the Law" vs. The Moral Law.
There is a distinction between the Ten Commandments and the "Book of the Law" (Torah) added at Sinai:

* Added because of Transgressions: Galatians 3:19 explains that the ceremonial law was a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ.
* Shadows and Types: Ceremonial requirements (like animal sacrifices) were "shadows" of things to come (Hebrews 10:1).
* Spiritual Application: While the literal animal sacrifice ended, the principle remains. We now offer the "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15), and our bodies have become the "Temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19).

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4. The Sabbath: An Eternal Creation Mandate.
Unlike the ceremonial laws added at Sinai, the Sabbath was instituted at Creation (Genesis 2:2-3), before sin entered the world.

* Not a Shadow: Since it predates the sacrificial system, it is viewed not as a temporary "type" but as an eternal sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:17).

* The 7th Day: The command is specific to the seventh day as a day of rest and holy convocation, standing apart from the man-made tradition of Sunday worship.

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5. Purity in Worship: Avoiding the "Sin of Jeroboam"

The Bible warns against mixing the holy with the profane. Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:26-33) famously led Israel into sin by:

* Setting up golden calves (Idolatry).
* Changing the timing of the feasts to "a month which he had devised of his own heart."

The Modern Application: Current holidays (Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, Halloween) mirror the "Sin of Jeroboam" by replacing God's ordained times with traditions rooted in paganism.

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6. The Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23):
The feasts listed in Leviticus 23 are described as "The Feasts of the LORD," not merely "Feasts of the Jews." They serve as a prophetic timeline for the Messiah. The feasts teach the gospel and the Second Coming.

*The Spring Feasts (Passover, ULB, First Fruits, Pentecost) were Fulfilled by Christ’s first coming, death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Spirit.

*The fall Feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) Point toward Christ’s second coming, the Millennial reign, and the New Heaven and Earth.

*By observing the Sabbath and the Feasts, the believer aligns themselves with God’s prophetic calendar rather than the secular or pagan traditions (idolatry) of the world.

Re: The Pattern
 

Re: The Pattern
 

I think the reason there is disagreement on interpretation is because many are not familiar with the old testament, but are instead following the traditions and doctrine of men. Or scripture is taken out of context. The new testament was written by Judeans who were immersed in the Torah and in the context of second temple Judaism.

Re: The Pattern
 

Agreed, it is the context the NT should be understood with.

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4. The Sabbath: An Eternal Creation Mandate.
Unlike the ceremonial laws added at Sinai, the Sabbath was instituted at Creation (Genesis 2:2-3), before sin entered the world.

* Not a Shadow: Since it predates the sacrificial system, it is viewed not as a temporary "type" but as an eternal sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:17).

* The 7th Day: The command is specific to the seventh day as a day of rest and holy convocation, standing apart from the man-made tradition of Sunday worship.


Food for thought:

Do you agree that this Creation-Sabbath was not commanded and is without specifics? Your use of the words mandated and instituted indicate you may not. If given without specifics at the Beginning, is it then left to Man to work out the details to their liking? If commanded, wouldn't God have included specifics so Man could see/say they have complied?

Further to this: if God only exemplifies something (like this Sabbath), do you think it automatically indicates that it is a requirement of Man to follow, as if commanded? What reasoning or scripture could be presented to bolster this thought as right?

To bolster the thought, consider God's words with Cain. God had not commanded blood sacrifices that we have a record of, but did model them. His words to Cain can be seen to indicate that Cain should have 'caught on' to what was only exemplified. But is conjecture enough to say it is meant definitively? When God is not clear, none should say he spoke clearly.

What is seen in the Creation-Sabbath is an example of the ways of God with Man for the first 2500 yrs of Man's existence (after the Garden), when there was no Law. I suggest that when God made Man in his image, that this was enough for Man to live righteously, to discern right and wrong, using the conscience and rational thought, along with rational discernment of the actions of God as leading them. In other words: here's life. Make the best of it you can with what I've given you, without my Word telling you in detail what I expect. My image in you is enough.

Would you agree that this Creation-Sabbath is not the Sabbath seen in the Covenant with Jews; ie, the requirements they were under in Covenant are not included in the non-covenantal Creation-Sabbath?

Would you say the Creation-Sabbath was that which was referenced in the 10 Commandments and was thus applicable to all Men, and not just the Jew? Or, would you say the Decalogue was just for the Jew? Although the 10 Commandments are addressed to the Jew, Ex20.2, hasn't it always been understood that their words are applicable to all humans, even those outside of Jewish Covenant? Was this wrong to do? Was this right to do? What could be referenced to answer the question raised? Does Paul answer the question?

Whether the Creation-Sabbath (without a Covenant requiring it) of the Decalogue is for all Mankind or not, it remains true that what was required of the Jew by Covenant was not only the Creation-Sabbath. The requirements of their Sabbath in their Covenant was later expanded on. Things were added to it which were not specified for the Creation-Sabbath. These were for the Jew alone.

Apparently then, the non-covenantal Creation-Sabbath was not the same as the covenantal Sabbath Jews were given. Do you agree?

Is any day (of rest) adequate to fulfill what is seen exemplified in God's creation-time rest or must a certain day be used to satisfy a non-commanded day of rest, the Creation-Sabbath? Since God gave no specifics in the Beginning, leaving it up to Man to determine, as a man I'd say any day of the week is fine. Another Man might say 'no'. Applying Ro14 principles may then be necessary. :nod
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* Not a Shadow: Since it predates the sacrificial system, it is viewed not as a temporary "type" but as an eternal sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:17). Plz expand on what you say here, to give clarity to your indications.

The context of Ex31 is definitely the time of the Law. Creation-Sabbath is referenced for what purpose, by God? To bolster that a Law which he gives needing justification? I think not. Perhaps he is using a literary method - parallelism. Because the first is seen right, the second which is similar is also right. God does not need to justify any of his commands. That he says them is enough. When he does justify, it adds clarity/instruction and is welcomed by Man when doing so.

Related in thought, perhaps: The Flood pre-dates the sacrificial system you reference, and Peter calls it an antitype. 1Pe3. Could it be possible the Creation-Sabbath is also a type then, though pre-dating the sacrificial system?

Re: The Pattern
 

The 7th-day Sabbath is biblically rooted in the creation narrative (Genesis 2:2-3) as a day God blessed and sanctified, later included in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11) as a memorial of that creation. And then affirmed as an eternal sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:17).

I think God is making it clear that the 7th day Sabbath is to be observed as one of his appointed times.

Leviticus 23:3 AMP
For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation (calling together). You shall not do any work [on that day]; it is the Sabbath of the Lord wherever you may be.

Re: The Pattern
 

But Don, It's okay if you don't agree. I'm just sharing my understanding.