Transformed Worship

The temple services were designed for maximum sensory impact because they were typical of deeper realities to which attention needed to be drawn. The rituals demanded and received the full attention of all who were present. It was impossible to ignore them. But with the death of Christ, the temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51) and all the hustle and bustle came to an abrupt end. The sacrifices which could never take away sins (Heb. 10:8-11) have been replaced by the sacrifice of praise to God (Heb. 13:15). The priesthood has become the body of Christ, and believers have become spiritual stones in a spiritual temple offering up “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter. 2:5, 9) (Michael Bushell, Songs of Zion, 157).