The Church Does Not Save

If Numbers is teaching me one thing it is teaching me what God has planned for His community. The third chapter describes the layout for the Levites and priestly families which are responsible for the place where God dwells.

First we see God giving the Levite to Aaron to serve the purposes of the gathering place. 

Numbers 3:5–7 (ESV) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7 They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:9–10 (ESV) And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel. 10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.”

Aaron is given the Levites. The breakdown of the Priesthood is as follows in this chapter: The High priest, followed by his sons who succeed him, then the priestly families and finally the levites. You could suggest a correlation here for the New Testament Church. Jesus is our High Priest, God has given Him a priestly ministry (Elders/Pastors) along with a facility ministry (deacons, and the gifts to the Church). You could suggest the Levites represent the ministry workers in any local congregation. 

Then God outlines where each priestly family is to camp around the tent of meeting and what their responsibilities are for its care and maintenance. The Gershonites care for the coverings, the Kothites care for the inner furniture, and the Merarites handle the frames, posts and skeletal structure. It is clear in the New Testament there are different roles for different kinds of people in the body. 

There were also set locations for their camp around God's tabernacle: Gershon to the west, Kohath to the South, Merari to the North. But there's a side that's left out of the families of Levi. The East side - where the ONLY entrance to the tabernacle is located - is uninhabited by a family. Instead, Aaron and Moses guard the entrance and camp there.

Numbers 3:38 (ESV) Those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, guarding the sanctuary itself, to protect the people of Israel. And any outsider who came near was to be put to death.

Now think of this. The only entrance to the Tabernacle speaks of the fact that there is only one way to God. That way is provided for us in the final tabernacle, Jesus Christ. Yet why are Aaron and Moses standing guard over this tent? I believe it is a two fold reason. First, they are to make sure no member of the Levites assumes they can bring people in on their own. In other words, in the New Testament, no member of the Church is able to bring anyone salvation. Only Christ saves. Secondly, I believe they point to the ministry of Jesus that makes a way for us to come boldly into the presence of God. Moses is God's powerful deliverance. Aaron is God's gracious High Priest. These roles are finally and fully fulfilled in Christ who rescues, saves and intercedes for us. 

In coming to this conclusion we not only see the ministry of Christ, but we see the responsibilities and limitations of the Church. The Church is no one's savior. The Church can and should make the presence of God visible in their community. They should maintain a place of worship where people can meet with God. They also should take a shared responsibility in making the Lord attractive to outsiders. However, the Church cannot save. The Church must always point people to the only entrance - the Lord Jesus. Only Christ's blood delivers and only Christ's intercession empowers God's saints. He alone can make His people ABLE to come before the throne of God and receive mercy and grace. 

As a Church member, the pressure is off, we know our place in the community, let's get to work.