Once upon a time, God raised up a nation to be his own, and to be kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5–6)

That nation, the nation of Israel, grew into a mighty empire under David and Solomon, but it suffered many trials, division, a fall to the Babylonian empire, persecution under Antiochus, and corrupt leadership up until the time of Herod the Great, who restructured the Temple shortly before Jesus’ birth.

This nation was engineered by the Lord to be a beacon of truth, up until the time of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, but it continually fell short of righteousness, even with the Law, because it was a schoolmaster.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:24–25)

When we come to Christ, we come to the Truth; the truth that was pointed to by the Law, and embedded into the structure of the Temple, which is a sort of spiritual doorway.

The same truth was crucified, placed in a tomb for three days, then was resurrected, and finally ascended into heaven to be with the Father.

Christ is the living embodiment of truth, and atoned for our sins at the cross, as our High Priest, in the same manner as the high priests in ancient times brought blood into the Holy of Holies to atone for their sins and the sins of the people.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14, KJV)

We fell from truth, but now, because of Christ, we may live through the Spirit of Truth.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26, KJV)

This, so we may have our names written in the book of life.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)