THEN “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” (Exodus 25:8-9) NKJV

NOW “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11) NKJV

*The Old Testament and New Testament have different ways to enter God’s presence. In Exodus God gave Moses specific plans for building the tabernacle, so that God could dwell there in the presence of His chosen people. In the New Testament Jesus came to be our one and only Sacrifice for sin, so we could dwell with God. We’ll compare the two systems—how they differ, and how they are similar. Choose the right answer or answers to each question.

—Virginia McBurney*

A. In Moses’ day, the common people could go into just: 1. The courtyard. 2. The Holy Place. 3. The Most Holy Place inside the Tent of Meeting.

B. Today we can go directly into God’s presence through: 1. Our good works. 2. The prayers of our pastor. 3. Believing Jesus died for us and opened the way to God’s presence, and having the Holy Spirit living in us.

C. God gave precise instructions for what the priests must wear in the Holy Place: 1. They could come right from herding sheep. 2. Dressed in their colorful tunic. 3. Must wear special, sacred garments with precious stones & gold, made just for them. 4. D. What does God say we are to wear, spiritually speaking, to get into His presence? 1. Jeans and sweatshirt. 2. My very best Sunday clothes and polished shoes. 3. The clean white robe of Christ’s righteousness given to us when we were saved.

E. How often did the priests offer blood sacrifices for the peoples’ sin? 1. Every day various kinds were offered. 2. Only when people did a really bad, horrible sin. 3. Once in a lifetime.

F. How often do we need a blood sacrifice for our sins? 1. Every Lord’s Day. 2. Once in my life through believing that Jesus’ shed blood for me satisfied God’s justice. 3. Every time I sin.

G. Why do I want to come into God’s presence, and how? 1. To talk with Him through prayer, asking for forgiveness, help, and guidance. 2. To complain to Him that I don’t have enough stuff. 3. To listen to Him speak to me as I read His Word, the Bible, and get wisdom and direction for my life, through the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me.