p. 263 | SOUL-CLEANSING by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 23, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 17.

SOUL-CLEANSING

By G.

On the day of atonement, in the typical service, the blood of atonement was carried into the most holy apartment of the sanctuary and sprinkled before the ark of the testament. The whole service is detailed in Leviticus 16. This blood represented the lives of those persons who had confessed their sins and acknowledged that they were worthy of death on account of sin. Death is the “wages of sin” (Rom. 6:23; 5:12), and “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4) that was contained in the ark. The presentation of the blood before the ark prefigured the satisfaction of the law by the death of Christ, in order that the sinners whose faith was manifested in the service might be purged of their sins.

Then the high priest, in figure, bore out the sins that had been confessed in the sanctuary during the past year, and laid them upon the head of the scapegoat, which was sent away to an uninhabited place to perish with them. This ceremony was called the cleansing of the sanctuary, and it typified the judgment. Two goats were chosen, and lots cast upon them; “one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat,” which represented Satan. The goat which represented the Lord was slain, and it was the blood of this goat that was sprinkled before the ark containing the tables of the law which had been violated.

The Lord is now doing in the heavenly sanctuary what this service in the earthly sanctuary typified. It should be a most solemn time on the earth, especially among those who profess faith in the atoning blood (or life) of Christ. On the typical day of atonement the people were to make a Sabbath of it, and humble themselves before God, confessing their sins, because the high priest was making an atonement for them. Should there be any less of humiliation, of sacrifice, of confession and putting away of sin, in the time of the service in the true sanctuary?

But while our High Priest is cleansing the heavenly sanctuary of the sins that men have confessed and are confessing during the probationary time, we have some temple-cleansing and purifying to do. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Ch. 6:19, 20.

This judgment time is preeminently a time for soul-cleansing. Two classes are especially appealed to in the Scriptures: (1) “Dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1. (2) “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. . . . Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:8-10. The assurance is given to all that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin;” and that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9. G.