THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - PART 253

As a consequence of the message in earlier posts, we now know that both the doctrine of the fathers (as presented by Rome in 300-400 AD) and Sinai Law is no longer applicable. Indeed, we are the children of the free woman. We are not the children of the bondwoman.

Continuing we read that Abraham returned from the slaughter of the kings. Abraham was offered an opportunity to take a share of the spoils. Abraham refused to take any share for he feared that some might say that they had made Abraham rich. However, he did say that his men should be reimbursed to cover their expenses.

When Melchisedec, the Priest of the Most High God appears to Abraham, Melchisedec had in His hands bread and wine which He offered to Abraham. The bread and the wine symbolized the body and blood of the Lamb of God, who is/was the Seed of the holy Spirit, being God Himself manifest in flesh and the one who sacrificed Himself at Calvary once and for all. In so doing, He thereby obtained for believing men and women eternal life.

Please note that Melchisedec did not have in His hands flesh and blood. There was no transubstantiation as some religions might today suggest. Rather, the bread and the wine symbolically remembered the one sacrifice in which JESUS paid the price in full. There being no more or another sacrifice or offering for sin, Melchisedec blesses Abraham in the ministering of the bread and wine.

So Abraham as usual thinks with his Adamic fleshly mind thinking about what it is that he should to add to this already ministered blessing. Recall when God had previously given to Abraham the promised blessing that in him and in his SEED would all the nations of the earth be blest? And in this example, Abraham immediately wanted to add an addendum to the promise?

However, since the promise was already given, it required no addendum. If you read Acts 15 and Galations in the Bible, you will see that the promise required no addendum. And so it is here again - the promised blessing being totally secured in the bread and wine requiring no additions. The addition that Abraham wante . d to add was that Abraham offer one tenth of the spoils to Melchisedec -- the very same spoils that he himself would not be a partaker of.

In the new testament, the bread and the wine (the flesh and blood) dictates that there is no one-tenths offered nor any demands that it should be necessary. For it is written. that believers should give unto the LORD as a cheerful giver - not grudgingly, nor of necessity. Because God loves a cheerful giver.

As such, we should be fully aware that we are complete from the bread and the wine sacrifice. JESUS died for our sins, and likewise rose again for our justification