God remains a consuming fire before whom we in our sin cannot and may not dwell. God ever remains the just, holy and infinitely worthy God who requires full satisfaction for our sins but in grace provides a substitute and then calls us to repentance and confession. It is this very satisfaction that God himself provides in the substitute of his incarnate Son. Jesus Christ is our altar, our substitute sacrifice and our High Priest. Because of him the wall has been pulled down and only because of him can we be more than good neighbors – we can be reconciled, justified and adopted children who are dearly loved.