The Importance of Biblical Patterns

1
The Importance ofBiblical Patterns

• Deuteronomy 41-2
• Galatians 16-9
• 2 John 8-11

2
The Old Testament Tabernacle

• The Divine Pattern
• The Problem of Apostasy
• The Solution

3
The Divine Pattern

• Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I
  may dwell among them. According to all that I am
  going to show you, as the pattern of the
  tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture,
  just so you shall construct it (Exodus 258-9,
  NASU).
• See also verses 31, 40.

4
The Problem of Apostasy

• Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took
  their respective firepans, and after putting fire
  in them, placed incense on it and offered strange
  fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded
  them. And fire came out from the presence of the
  LORD and consumed them, and they died before the
  LORD (Leviticus 101-2, NASU).

5
The Solution

• Then Moses said to Aaron, It is what the Lord
  spoke, saying, By those who come near Me I will
  be treated as holy, And before all the people I
  will be honored. So Aaron, therefore, kept
  silent (Leviticus 103, NASU).

6
The Old Testament Temple

• The Divine Pattern
• The Problem of Apostasy
• The Solution

7
The Divine Pattern

• Then David gave to his son Solomon the plan of
  the porch of the temple, its buildings, its
  storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms and
  the room for the mercy seat and the plan of all
  that he had in mind, for the courts of the house
  of the LORD, and for all the surrounding rooms,
  for the storehouses of the house of God and for
  the storehouses of the dedicated things (1
  Chronicles 2811-12, NASU).
• All this, said David, the LORD made me
  understand in writing by His hand upon me, all
  the details of this pattern (1 Chronicles 2819,
  NASU).

8
The Problem of Apostasy

• Jeroboam said in his heart, Now the kingdom will
  return to the house of David. If this people go
  up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD
  at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will
  return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of
  Judah and they will kill me and return to
  Rehoboam king of Judah. So the king consulted,
  and made two golden calves (1 Kings 1226-33,
  NASU).

9
The Solution

• Isaiah said, To the law and to the testimony! If
  they do not speak according to this word, it is
  because they have no dawn (Isaiah 819-20, NASU)
• Jeremiah said, Thus says the LORD, Stand by the
  ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where
  the good way is, and walk in it and you will
  find rest for your souls (Jeremiah 616-17,NASU).

10
The Restorations of the Returning Remnant

• The Holy Vessels (Ezra 15-11)
• The Priesthood (Ezra 261-63, 70)
• The Temple (Ezra 268-69 38-13 etc)
• The Altar Sacrifices (Ezra 31-3)

• The Annual Religious Festivals (Ezra 34-5
  619-22)
• The Sabbath (Nehemiah 1315-22)
• The Moral Code (Ezra 101-8, 18-19, 44 Nehemiah
  51-13)

11
The New Testament Church

• The Divine Pattern
• The Problem Of Apostasy
• The Solution

12
The Divine Pattern

• Zechariah foreshadowed the coming of Christ, the
  righteous Branch, who would build the house of
  the Lord (Zechariah 612-15).
• Jesus promised to do this very thing (Matthew
  1616-18).
• In the Christian dispensation, the Temple of God
  is a spiritual building, not a physical one
  (Ephesians 122-23 219-22 1 Peter 24-5).

13
The Divine Pattern

• In the Messianic age, God would teach us of his
  ways that we might walk in his paths (Isaiah
  22-3 Micah 41-2).
• The New Testament contains Gods blueprint for
  the church (Matthew 2818-20 Colossians 317 1
  Peter 411).
• While the material composition of the new is
  different from the old, the consequence of
  defiling Gods house is no less severe (1
  Corinthians 316-17).

14
The Divine Pattern

• The tabernacle of Moses was replaced by the
  Temple of Solomon. It, in turn, has been
  superceded by Gods spiritual house, the church
  of Christ.
• Nevertheless, the overriding principle that
  governs mans relationship with God has not
  changed THE LORD STILL EXPECTS MAN TO FOLLOW HIS
  PATTERN (Romans 617-18).

15
Pattern/Tupos Defined

• Thomas defines the Greek word 5179b tuvpo"
  tupos as the mark (of a blow), an impression,
  stamp (made by a die).
• In the NASU, it is translated example (3x),
  examples (2x), form (2x), images (1x),
  imprint (1x), model (1x), pattern (3x),
  type (1x).

16
Pattern/Tupos Defined

• Thayer defines this Greek word as 1. the mark of
  a stroke or blow print... 2. a figure formed by
  a blow or impression... 3. form, i.e., the
  teaching which embodies the sum and substance of
  religion and represents it to the mind (Rom
  617)... 4. an example a. in the technical
  sense, viz. the pattern in conformity to which a
  thing must be made (Act 744 Heb 85 cf. Exo
  2540)...

17
Pattern/Tupos Defined

• Louw and Nida say it refers to visual form
  designed to be imitated or copied - model,
  pattern (Act 744 Heb 85) or a model of
  behavior as an example to be imitated or to be
  avoided - model, example (Phi 317 1Co 106).

18
Pattern/Tupos Defined

• Vine says this word identifies the
  representation or pattern of anything, is
  rendered form in Romans 617, that form (or
  mold) of teaching whereunto ye were delivered,
  RV. The metaphor is that of a cast or frame into
  which molten material is poured so as to take its
  shape. The gospel is the mold those who are
  obedient to its teachings become conformed to
  Christ, whom it presents.

19
Pattern/Tupos Defined

• The I.S.B.E. says, The New Testament uses TYPOS
  (type, pattern, model) in Hebrews 85
  (quoting Exodus 2540, LXX) Moses saw a
  representation of the true tabernacle in heaven
  (Hebrews 82) after which the one on earth was to
  be modeled. It was clear that although people
  would make the tabernacle, God determined its
  shape and form. Since God would be approached
  through the tabernacle and its services, the
  pattern had to be followed in every detail. Any
  deviation would result in the peoples loss of
  the spiritual truths that a right approach to God
  would provide.

20
The Divine Pattern

• This same principle applies to the spiritual
  temple of the New Testament. The church was no
  accident or afterthought, it was the product of
  divine creation (Ephesians 310-11).
• There is a doctrinal pattern that applies to
  every aspect of our Christian lives, regulating
  both our individual and collective conduct (2
  Timothy 113)!

21
New Testament Church

• There is a Pattern for Membership Faith,
  Repentance, Confession, Baptism, and Faithful
  Service.
• There is a Pattern for Work Evangelism,
  Edification, and Benevolence.
• There is a Pattern for Worship Singing, Prayer,
  Lords Supper, Giving, and Preaching.
• There is a Pattern for Organization Each Church
  is to be Independent and Autonomous with Elders,
  Deacons, Ministers, Teachers, and Active Members.
• There is a Pattern for Discipline Instructive,
  Corrective Purifying Discipline

22
The Problem Of Apostasy

• The New Testament writers warned against the
  danger of apostasy (1 Timothy 41-3 2 Timothy
  41-5 2 Peter 21-3).
• Sadly these prophecies of a falling away have
  come to pass.
• Let us realize that those who drift into apostasy
  will suffer the consequences of their rebellion
  (Matthew 721-23 Galatians 18-9 2 John 18-11).

23
The Solution

• Is there a pattern? Both Testaments answer in the
  affirmative.
• Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in
  vain who build it (Psalm 1271).
• The New Testament declares the same truth
  (Colossians 317 1 Peter 411).

24
Conclusion

• In the spirit of Isaiah, let us turn to the law
  and the testimony for our authority in religion
  (Isaiah 819-20).
• In the spirit of Jeremiah, let us seek the old
  paths, the good ways of God (Jeremiah 616-17).
• If we walk therein, we shall find rest to our
  souls!