While there are those within religious and political systems who intently desire to bring us back under bondage, wherein the Law is not only a schoolmaster to point us to Christ but our daily yoke to bear also, we who believe in Jesus by faith understand that God in these last times points us to a better way ... JESUS -- who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)
Indeed, He tells those who "hear Him" that in these last days (this current dispensation of grace) He has spoken unto us by [His] Son -- "whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of [His] glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they ..." (Hebrews 1:1-13; Hebrews 2:3-4)
It is for this reason that we see JESUS! (Hebrews 2:9)
"For it became Him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings, for both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will declare Thy Name unto My brethren; in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children which God hath given Me." (Hebrews 2:10-13; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 7:28; Matthew 28:10, 18; I Corinthians 15:25-27; Philippians 2:7-9; Acts 2:33-38; Acts 3:13; John 3:16; Hebrews 10:10; Acts 17:26; Psalm 22:22; II Samuel 22:3; Isaiah 8:17-18)
"And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him -- called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec, of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing ..." (Hebrews 5:8-11)
This is why we need the new covenant -- for the Law made nothing perfect! (Hebrews 7:19; Acts 13:39; Hebrews 6:18-19; Romans 5:2) But the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which we draw nigh unto God, by so much [more] was Jesus made a surety of a better testament ... "but this man, because He continues ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood, wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who need not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's; for this He did once when He offered up Himself. For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity [weakness], but the Word of the oath, which was since [came after] the Law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7:17-28)
Therefore, if "perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken pertains to ANOTHER TRIBE, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses SPAKE NOTHING CONCERNING PRIESTHOOD. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there arises another priest, who is made, NOT AFTER THE LAW OF A CARNAL COMMANDMENT BUT AFTER THE POWER OF AN ENDLESS LIFE, FOR HE TESTIFIES, "THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC ..." (Hebrews 7:11-18)
Why?
"For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second." (Hebrews 8:7)
It is for this reason that we no longer need priests to offer up sacrifices for our sins, because we have one High Priest who is holy, harmless [innocent], undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens ... in whom we can be assured, the day has come as saith the Lord that He will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in My covenant, and regarded them not," saith the Lord, "for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days," saith the Lord." (Hebrews 8:6-12)
"A new covenant, He hath made the first old ... the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. ... And for this cause, he is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator."
There had to be a purchase, and the purchase had to be dedicated with blood, because almost all things by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Thus Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
Oh, how He must have often suffered since the foundation of the world, knowing that He Himself would have to become our Saviour. Thus, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. The law then was only a shadow of the good things to come, never being able to make the comers thereunto perfect. But the blood of Jesus, after offering one sacrifice for sins can. He satisfied once and for all our weakness, if we would only come to Him.
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. (Hebrews 10:1-20)
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage, for verily He took NOT on Him the nature of angels, but He took on Him the seed of Abraham, wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in all things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people -- for in that He Himself suffered being tempted, He is able to succour [aid, help, support] them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:9-18)
Cast not away therefore your confidence, and don't allow those to win who would have you draw back unto perdition. Rather, look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God until all His enemies are put under His feet.
This is why "therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time, we should let [them] slip [drift away]. (Hebrews 2:1)
Stand fast in the liberty wherewith is Christ. (Galatians 5:1) Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment