Tag: priest forever
God’s Holy Oath: “You are a Priest forever.”
Scripture reading for March13th: Hebrews 7, Psalm 51, Proverbs 20
Hebrews 7:21-22; 26-28 “. . but this One was made a Priest with an oath by the One Who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a Priest forever.'”. . .“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the Word of oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son Who has been made perfect forever.”
The Old Testament Aaronic priesthood was formed around a designated person, Aaron, and a tribe of Israel, the Levites. Those priests served under the rules of God’s Law, as laid out in Leviticus. They were men who served while they lived and offered sacrifices for themselves as well as the people. But God made an oath, swearing by Himself, that His Son, Jesus Christ, would be a priest forever. This priesthood would not be Levitical and flow from Aaron but would be like that of Melchizedek. Jesus becomes the perfected High Priest through His own sacrifice of His body and blood. He died to cleanse us from our sins and rose again to live forever seated at God’s right hand as our eternal and final Priest and King!
Psalm 51:6 “Behold, You delight in Truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
Prayer: Father God, Your plans and purposes are amazing and complete. I am thankful for Jesus Christ, my High Priest and the only Sacrifice I will ever need for my sins. You have given me the Holy Spirit of God to bring Truth to my inward being and teach me wisdom and integrity. I am made righteous by Christ Jesus! Use me to proclaim these blessings that my children and friends might also be so blessed!
Proverbs 20:7 “The righteous who walks in his integrity–blessed are his children after him.”
Abundant grace and mercy!
Scripture reading for February 21st: Leviticus 8-11, Psalm 110, Hebrews 4
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest Who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Under the Law in Leviticus, the priests had to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people. The only sacrifice acceptable was a spotless animal who gave up his life to cover the sin. But we have a new High Priest, Jesus Christ, Son of God Who after visiting earth as a man and then dying on a cross, offering His own blood as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is seated at God’s right hand, able to sympathize with our weakness, and intercedes for us granting a cleansing from sin, not just a covering, to all who come in faith. Jesus is not of the lineage of the Levites and Aaron but of the order of Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God and King of Salem (Jerusalem). He is a type of an eternal priesthood because there is no record of his birth or his death. Jesus, like him, lives forever and is able to meet our every need for help. He is God’s appointed High Priest!
Leviticus 9:7-8 “Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them as the Lord has commanded.” So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering which was for himself.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being appointed our High Priest forever! I am comforted to know that You are able to sympathize with my weakness and come to my aid with grace and mercy. Thank You for cleansing me from sin and sin’s power.
Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus is Lord!
Scripture reading for February 24th: Leviticus 15-18, Psalm 31, Hebrews 6
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 6:17-20 “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
God testified of Jesus “You are My Son,” and “You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:5-6) Believers can take refuge in God’s Word and truth. Jesus rose from the dead and entered God’s Presence in Heaven offering His own blood on our behalf as our High Priest. This gives us strong confidence and firm assurance!
Faith Confession and Prayer: Jesus, I trust in You and say “Jesus is my Lord!” Thank You for offering Your blood on my behalf on the Mercy Seat in heaven. Help me to proclaim Your Lordship!
Leviticus 16:15-16 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people and because of their transgressions and all their sins.”
Psalm 31:14 “But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “Your are my God.”
Eternally Secure in Christ!
Scripture reading for October 22nd: Hebrews 7, Psalm 61, Proverbs 26
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 7:22-25 “And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this One was made a priest with an oath, but this One was made a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever,'” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Jesus Christ, Messiah, was declared by God to be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. God’s decree is eternal and will never change. There was no official record of Melchizedek’s birth or death. His priesthood is eternal by the oath of God. Jesus is alive forever and joins that eternal priesthood as our High Priest. He can save all who come to Him and keep them safe eternally!
Faith Confession: I am thankful that Jesus Christ, Son of God, my High Priest, is able to save me completely and eternally. God’s Word is truth and will never change! Praise the Lord Jesus!
Psalm 61:4-5 “Let me dwell in Your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of Your wings! (Selah) For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your Name.”
Thankful for a Priest–forever!
Scripture reading for June 29th: Psalms 107-111
Key Scriptures: Psalm 110:2-4 “The Lord will extend Your mighty scepter from Zion; You will rule in the midst of Your enemies. Your troops will be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn You will receive the dew of Your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.””
King David wrote the 110th psalm about a conversation he listened to described as “The Lord said to My Lord:” (Vs. 1) This was a prophetic psalm that is quoted seven times in the New Testament and by Jesus Himself in three of the Gospels. Jesus Christ, a son of David, and the Son of God would rule from Zion, even in the midst of His enemies. He would be declared the Son of God through resurrection from the dead. From the womb of the grave, at dawn of the third day, He received the dew of His youth! He was made a Priest forever–after the order of Melchizedek!
Rejoice in Jesus Christ: “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” (Luke 20:41-43)
Jesus: Anchor for Our Soul!
Scripture reading for October 21st: Hebrews 6
The writer of Hebrews wrote to warn the believers of the danger of apostasy. There was pressure from persecution and the suffering of trials that tempted them to leave Jesus Christ and return to their old way of Judaism. Although we are secure in Christ and His promises, we must maintain our steadfast faith through the trials.
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.” (Hebrews 6:4-6) These are difficult words of warning! Believers are being warned that falling away from faith in Christ and life in the power of the Holy Spirit will result in an impossible situation and reproach for the cause of Christ. Renewal to repentance will not be available! This is something to avoid at all costs!
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” . . . “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:12, 17-20) Don’t ‘fall away’ but ‘anchor away’–into Jesus Christ!
Jesus: A Priest forever!
Scripture reading for October 20th: Hebrews 5
High priests in Old Testament Israel came from Aaron, Moses’s brother, appointed by God to that position. He was a sinful man, and could identify with the people and offered sacrifices for their sins as well as his own. But Aaron and his offspring were limited in their ability to serve the people, in that death took them away. Although this priesthood was still helpful, God had something better in mind for his people.
“No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to Him, “You are My Son; Today I have become Your Father.” And He says in another place, “You are a Priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”” (Hebrews 5:4-6) Jesus was called by His own Father to become a Priest forever! Melchizedek was an Old Testament figure that has some mystery about him. (See Genesis 14:17-20) He was ‘king of Salem’ and ‘priest of God Most High’ in the time of Abram. Abram was met by Melchizedek as he returned after rescuing Lot from King Kedorlaomer. He brought Abram bread and wine and gave Abram a blessing from God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. Abram, in response, gave Melchizedek a tithe of all the spoils! There was no record of Melchizedek’s birth or death, it was like he just appeared and disappeared.
Jesus Christ was appointed to the order of Melchizedek! He meets His brethren and offers a meal of bread and wine, His own body and blood! He is a Priest forever–with eternal existence, past, present and future! He came to bless His brothers and deliver them from their enemies and make known Father God to them. He is our great High Priest who blesses us with eternal life!
Jesus saves completely!
Reading for Saturday December 13th, 2014
Today’s reading to help us finish on time comes from Hebrews 5-7. Here are a few of my favorite scriptures from this section. May they inspire joy on this day.
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and , once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:7-10
“God did this so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:18-20
“Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:23-25.
Power of an indestructible life!
Scripture reading for November 5th: Hebrews 7:1-17
Almost everyone has a desire to live forever. That was God’s original intention when He made man in His image and likeness, but sin cut short man’s life. God has given us a record of a man who was a priest of God Most High named Melchizedek. This man has no record of his birth or his death, appearing to be eternal. No one knows for sure who this man was or where he came from.
Melchizedek appeared before Abraham to bless him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had! (Genesis 14:18-20) He was a priest before there was a Levitical priesthood. In fact, the Levitical priesthood was in the loins of Abraham when he paid homage to Melchizedek by giving him the tithe! The writer of Hebrews shows that this proves Melchizedek’s priesthood to be superior to the Levitical priesthood. (Hebrews 7:7-9)
Jesus Christ descended from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. Because of this, Jesus normally could not have been appointed as a priest. But God declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 7:17) Jesus was declared a priest after the order of Melchizedek because He really was eternal! He was before time began and now lives forever. The order of Melchizedek uniquely fits the Son of God!
Death always stopped the Levitical priests from their work of sacrifice and intercession. They were unable to finish the needed work. The law and animal sacrifices could never make anyone perfect. Sacrifices needed to be made continually for the people and the priests. The law could only reveal sin, but never deliver anyone from it’s power. The fear of death hung over all men because eternity was in man’s heart. He knew deep inside that sin would bring judgment and punishment.
But Jesus Christ came under the law and perfectly obeyed it’s precepts. He died to give the perfect sacrifice for man’s sins–His own body and blood! He offered them once–for all! He tasted death for all men and was buried in a tomb. The third day, He arose in a glorified body. He showed His body to the disciples. He was now alive forever and is a Priest in the order of Melchizedek! He lives to intercede for us who are heirs of eternal salvation!
The source of eternal salvation!
Scripture reading for November 3rd: Hebrews 5:1-14
Nothing in this life lasts forever. The law of entropy is at work. Brand new automobiles soon wear out or break down. Technology that is cutting edge today is obsolete tomorrow. Our bodies that are young and vibrant are soon old and weak! But God has given us something that will last forever: eternal salvation!
“And He says of Him, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:6-10)
In order to become the source of eternal salvation, Jesus Christ humbled Himself in complete obedience to the will of the Father and became a man. God loved the world and man whom He had made in His image and likeness. (John 3:16) He wanted all men to be saved so He designated His Son, Jesus Christ as a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was a priest who met Abraham after he defeated the king of Sodom. He was a king of Salem and a priest of the Most High God. As a priest, He had no recorded genealogy. There was no record of his birth or of his death. This priest stands out in history because he is priest without beginning or ending. His was an eternal priesthood. Abraham honored Him by giving a tenth (tithe) of the spoils. (Genesis 14:18-20)
Jesus Christ was designated by God to be a priest forever after this eternal order of Melchizedek. He earned this right through total submission and obedience to His Father. He offered up prayers and petitions with crying and tears while offering His body and then His life-blood for lost sinners. He was raised up after three days to become our High Priest and the source of eternal salvation! He ever lives to intercede for those He saved! He is King of Kings and will rule in Salem (Jerusalem)! He blesses the children of Abraham through their faith!