The altar of sacrifice
The brazen altar [the bronze altar] represents the
sufferings of Christ Jesus, because worship is born at the Cross.
The gate is the entrance into the Christian life,
but the cross is the door into God's Presence.
Psalm 40:6-8 speaks of the fact that Jesus
surrendered His will to the Father—this is connected to the Bread; which is His
body.
Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast Thou
opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required.
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the Book it is written
of Me,
I delight to do Thy Will, O My God: yea, Thy Law is within My
heart.
KJV
The altar of sacrifice represents the Cross, and the
Blood of the Lamb. It also speaks of our death—our total surrender.
The four horns of the altar represent the
experience of the true believer, which are:
forgiveness
(Rom 3:25)
deliverance
from sin and the power of sin (II Cor 5:21)
death of the
old-life (Rom. 6:6)
and, the
yielding of the members of our body
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that
ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service.
Rom 12:1 KJV
At “the altar of sacrifice” there is redemption, but,
at the point of contact with the Word of God (represented in the brazen laver filled
with water), you experience liberty from your greatest enemy: the flesh.
The flesh has to die daily.
Our life surrenders to Jesus at the Cross, which is
signified by the altar of sacrifice. We offer our bodies as living sacrifice.
“The altar of sacrifice” deals with the flesh; “the
altar of incense” deals with the soul.