"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 things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:17-18)
The word "behove" is defined by modern day dictionaries as a duty or responsibility; or incumbent upon someone to do something. From this latter definition, it is easy to understand how it would behove God to be made like unto His brethren. As Titus wrote in his epistle, "After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)
I have heard God's salvation plan for His beloved creation explained this way. If a man wanted to communicate with an ant in an anthill, how would he go about doing this? Well, first, that man would have to become an ant. It is in this same context that the scriptures tell of the greatest love story ever told. That the same Spirit of the Lord God who moved across the face of the waters in the beginning was also manifest in the flesh so that we might have life. (I Timothy 3:16)
The Word made flesh and dwelt among us, so that we could behold His glory. Indeed, as John wrote, He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11) In Him, the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. (Colossians 2:9)
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:18-19)
In this current dispensation of grace, His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) His free gift of salvation, which included shedding His precious holy blood on a cross was intended for us who have sinned against Him to behold His glory. And also, as well, to understand the extent to which He Himself would go to show that He is a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God.
But not as the priests that were under the old covenant because that were only a shadow of the good things to come. We learn more about the taking away of the old to prepare the way into the holiest of all in Hebrews 9. We also learn that at the appointed time, God declared, "This day have I begotten Thee." The Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was standing.
"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 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: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." (Hebrews 9:6-10)
Note here the "but Christ!"
The word "behove" is defined by modern day dictionaries as a duty or responsibility; or incumbent upon someone to do something. From this latter definition, it is easy to understand how it would behove God to be made like unto His brethren. As Titus wrote in his epistle, "After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)
I have heard God's salvation plan for His beloved creation explained this way. If a man wanted to communicate with an ant in an anthill, how would he go about doing this? Well, first, that man would have to become an ant. It is in this same context that the scriptures tell of the greatest love story ever told. That the same Spirit of the Lord God who moved across the face of the waters in the beginning was also manifest in the flesh so that we might have life. (I Timothy 3:16)
The Word made flesh and dwelt among us, so that we could behold His glory. Indeed, as John wrote, He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11) In Him, the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. (Colossians 2:9)
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:18-19)
In this current dispensation of grace, His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) His free gift of salvation, which included shedding His precious holy blood on a cross was intended for us who have sinned against Him to behold His glory. And also, as well, to understand the extent to which He Himself would go to show that He is a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God.
But not as the priests that were under the old covenant because that were only a shadow of the good things to come. We learn more about the taking away of the old to prepare the way into the holiest of all in Hebrews 9. We also learn that at the appointed time, God declared, "This day have I begotten Thee." The Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was standing.
"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 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: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." (Hebrews 9:6-10)
Note here the "but Christ!"
"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:11-14)
Thus, the Lord Jesus is not just added to the Old Testament law but rather, our salvation is in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ alone. He paid the price for our transgressions.
"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. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood." (Hebrews 9:15-18)
This has not changed in our day -- a last will and testament does not go into force until the testator is dead. It is the same with salvation. There had to be a purchase, and after the pattern of things in the old, the sacrifice had to be perfect, and with blood.
And so, when we who accept Jesus as both Lord and Christ in our hearts, and go forward to be water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, wherein we become partakers in His heavenly calling. (Acts 2:36-41)
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus ..." (Hebrews 3:1)
"For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins ... so also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest; but He that said unto Him, "Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee." (Hebrews 5:5-8) As He saith also in another place, "Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec ... called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5:5-10; Hebrews 7:1-28)
"... whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6:20)
Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is the Great I AM, the Great Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. He is -- which in His times He shall shew, [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." (I Timothy 6:16) The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11)
And He continues to invite us to come to His wedding feast, the most elaborate wedding feast of all time. Because He has a purpose for each and every one of us, which begins when we come unto Him with an inner heart response.
"(For He saith, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" (II Corinthians 6:2)
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12)
But God wants to clothe us in His righteousness. His right standing in this world wherein we have had our robes washed, and justified, and sanctified by His truth. Thy Word is truth. (Romans 17:17)
Because when we believe in the Lord Jesus by faith, we can have a total assurance that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light ..." (I Peter 2:9)
Praise and honour and glory be to our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, for He is truly our all in all.
Stand in the offering plate.
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