Holiness Granted: The Torn Curtain

Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary[a] was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split. Matthew 27:51

The citadel of Christianity is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But this note will focus on the torn curtain and what that truly means. Let’s not forget the context of what took place, Jesus was handed over to be crucified, was beaten, mocked and died a very horrid and painful death. But even after Jesus had died something remarkable occurred, the curtain that separated the dwelling of the Lord with the high priest for the sacrifices on behalf of the Israelites was torn in half.

First we need to understand what the curtain resembled and secondly we need to examine what was behind the curtain. The curtain separated the Israelite people and God, since what happened behind the curtain was an offering of sacrifices, performed once a year by the high priest on behalf of the people. (Exodus 30:10)

So the dwelling with God was only permitted by the high priest who spoke on behalf of the people and interceded for the people of Israel. In similar contrast, the author of Hebrews notes that Jesus is our intercessor and great high priest (Hebrews 4:14). So as Christ has made a sacrifice once for all and for those who believe (1 Peter 3:18), by His death He has GRANTED, given as a gift this dwelling within His holiness!

No longer is the curtain required, it was a representation of our sin that separated us from God. No longer are ritual sacrifices needed, as Christ is the fulfilment of those sacrifices! All things fulfilled in Christ and Christ fulfilled within His people. His holiness is now imputed, given as a gift for us to enjoy His dwelling and His working in us! And as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19 Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own. Our bodies imputed with the Lord’s stamp of approval, holiness and righteousness has been given so that by obedience we might display the magnitude of His gloriousness!

Now a Christian who continues in sin is like one who tries to stich up the already torn curtain. It’s useless to try, and it holds no purpose in doing so. You are stitching up a separation between yourself and God in dwelling in sin. But how much more that sin in knowing that it is God who tore it in the first place only to give you the gift of holiness and imputed righteousness? Throw out those sewing needles, let us examine our lives for a moment and see if we’re honouring the Lord’s work in us or if we’re trying to put back together that which has already been torn.