18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 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.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 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.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 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. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
I believe one of the key words in the book of Hebrews is “better.” In this section, through Christ we have “a better hope,” and “a better covenant.”
Christians who came out of Judaism to become Christians may have been tempted to hand on to the old priesthood and the old covenant. Or, to return to that obsolete system under pressure. The writer is urging them to embrace fully the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. He is our access to God. God put Christ in this high position. “Consequently,” verse 25 says, “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.”
“If I had the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of John, the meekness of Moses, the strength of Samson, the obedience of Abraham, the compassion of Joseph, the tears of Jeremiah, the poetic skill of David, the prophetic voice of Elijah, the courage of Daniel, the greatness of John the Baptist, the endurance and love of Paul, I would still need redemption through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of sin.”
(Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World [Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992])
In the neighborhood of my childhood there were two commodities of exchange: marbles and baseball cards. We were also fortunate to have crawdads, sock balls and various other treasures. But when you needed to do some serious trading, you had to have either marbles or baseball cards.
Sometime after 1953, I came into possession of about four Mickey Mantle baseball cards. Now the primary purpose of having baseball cards in the 1950’s was bragging and trading. (On rare occasions, baseball cards might also be useful to bribe a bully. As a last resort, before being beaten to a pulp, you could offer the bully a popular baseball card.)
Back to these ’53 Mantle cards I owned. In a moment of immature impulse, I traded those four cards to Charles Pruitt for a bag of marbles. I don’t even have the bag of marbles today (I lost my marbles). Those four Mickey Mantle cards sell today for thousands each! If I had them today I would pay debts and buy a truck.
Nobody told me in 1953 to hold on to those cards. I didn’t appreciate the value of what I had, so I lost it.
Do you have a Bible? Have you learned the truth about Jesus Christ and what the individual response should be? Hold on to that truth, comply with it, share it. Do not sell it. You’ll be setting yourself up for eternal regret.
Hezekiah was sick. The Bible says he was at the point of death. Isaiah went to him and warned: “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
What should that mean to us today? “Put your house in order!” This is not about re-arranging furniture or cleaning house. This is not about getting your last will and testament ready, signing a living will or anything like that. The house, here, is life! The order is not about worldly affairs, but spiritual. The urgency is to have your life right with God! That includes:
Full repentance of all sin. Think of this as holding nothing back – giving up every sin you know you are guilty of and taking nothing against God to your death. The goodness of God leads us to full repentance (Rom. 2:4). Christ gave His life in order for repentance to be meaningful and available to us.
Full submission to God. We cannot get our house, our life, in order – without full submission to God. God means everything; God is first; God is perfectly trustworthy, and I obey Him with a whole heart to glorify Him now and to prepare myself for death. Jesus describes this as loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37).
Full trust and obedience in Christ.Are you aware of God’s love, as expressed in the death of Christ (Rom. 5:6-8)? What impact has that awareness had? Let that conviction result in obedience to Christ. He is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9).
I must get my house – my life – in order through full repentance of sin; full submission to God and full trust and obedience in Christ.
Now keep in mind – Hezekiah had notice. There is nothing in the Bible anywhere that could be understood as a guarantee that we will have notice before our death! So there is no recommendation out of Isa. 38 – to wait till you have notice.
The recommendation is to get your life right before you die by full repentance; full submission to God, and full trust and obedience in Christ.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burden-some.For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? -1 Jno., 5:1-5
The object of gospel preaching and the object of the New Testament is to bring people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, then instruct the believer in the activity of that faith. One crucial part of this is loving the God who loves us. Such faith coupled with love will create desire to obey His commandments.
It is bewildering, given what this passage says, that people would object to obedience. Faith in Christ produces obedience, and if we love God (who loves us), why wouldn’t there be powerful motive to obey the commandments written in the New Testament? It is bewildering.
Further, “his commandments are not burdensome.” If I know what I believe, who I believe in and I love God and want to go to heaven, no commandment would refused. “His commandments are not burdensome.”
The victory over sin … victory over conflict … victory over tiresome … victory over hopeless is to be found in the activity of our faith in Christ.” “For everyone who has been born of god overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world, except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
The following article was written by F.W. Emmons in 1873. As you read the two statements, please note that each one is exactly the same, word-for-word, yet note how different the meanings are. Why? The only difference is in punctuation. Much in life depends on where we put the periods and the commas.
The Evil Man
He is an old and experienced man in vice and wickedness. He is never found opposing the work of iniquity. He takes delight in the downfall of his neighbor. He never rejoices in the prosperity of any of his fellow creatures. He is ready to assist in destroying the peace of society. He takes no pleasure in serving the Lord. He is un-commonly diligent in sowing discord among his friends and acquaintances. He takes no pride in laboring to promote the cause of Christianity. He has not been negligent in endeavoring to stigmatize all public teachers. He makes no exertions to subdue his passions. He strives hard to build up Satan’s kingdom. He lends no aid to support the gospel among the heathen. He contributes largely to the evil adversary. He pays no attention to good advice. He gives great heed to the devil. He will never go to heaven. He must go where he’ll receive the just recompense of his reward.
The Good Man
He is an old and experienced man. In vice and wickedness he is never found. Opposing the work of iniquity he takes delight. In the downfall of his neighbor he never rejoices. In the prosperity of any of his fellow creatures he is ready to assist. In destroying the peace of society he takes no pleasure. In serving the Lord he is un-commonly diligent. In sowing discord among his friends and acquaintances he takes no pride. In laboring to promote the cause of Christianity he has not been negligent. In endeavoring to stigmatize all public teachers he makes no exertions. To subdue his passions he strives hard. To build up Satan’s kingdom he lends no aid. To support the gospel among the heathen he contributes largely. To the evil adversary he pays no attention. To good advice he gives great heed. To the devil he will never go. To heaven he must go where he’ll receive the just recompense of his reward.
{Didn’t intend for this one to go out immediately. I hit the wrong button. But will let it stand as a 2nd post for today.}
THE WORLDLY CHURCH
I read a book a few years ago, by R. Kent Hughes – about how modern religion has embraced the world, become worldly – and therefore, cannot reach the world with the gospel. While I’m not in agreement with Hughes on what constitutes responding to the gospel, his observation below is insightful and frightening. After reading Robert Gundry’s book – Jesus the Word According to John the Sectarian, Hughes offered this observation:
“Who can deny Robert Gundry’s assertion that the evangelical enterprise has become worldly, that materialism grips the church, that pleasure-seeking dominates us, that evangelicals watch sensuality and violence like everyone else, that immodesty is de jure, that voyeurism and pornography and sexual laxity and divorce are on the rise, and that we, like Lot, could find that Sodom has been born anew in our own homes. God help us if while decrying sin, we are sprinting headlong after it. We must lay this to heart: A worldly church cannot and will not reach the world. The church must be distinct from the world to reach the world.
We must set ourselves apart to God if we hope to reach the world.”
SOURCE
Hughes, R. Kent. Set Apart: Calling a Worldly Church to a Godly Life. Crossway. Kindle Edition.
One of the great benefits we can have in Christ is simply HELP. That’s right. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted,” (Heb. 2:18). When I experience difficulty here on the earth (and this earth is a difficult place to live), I have a Savior who can help. He is not a remote onlooker. He has participated in human life on earth. He has been through the human experience. Now He is in heaven, at the right hand of God, and He is there to help (“aid”) His people. How does He help us?
He helps us by delivering us from sin. He said one time that sin is a master that holds us in bondage (Jno. 8:34). Only Jesus can free us from that master, by cleansing us, giving us new direction and teaching us how to live without being ruled by sin. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,” (Eph. 1:7).
He helps us by His example. As we follow Him – as we think the way He thought, react as He reacted, and obey God as He did, we are helped in handling the sufferings and temptations we face. There is no better example. In fact, there is no perfect model of human behavior save Him who died for us after living completely without any sin! One way He comes to our aid is, through His perfect example.
He helps us by His teaching. Not only does He show us how to live, He tells us how to live. Through His teachings in the first four books of the New Testament, and the teaching communicated through His apostles in the rest of the New Testament, we have the instruction we need. He said this one time. “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matt. 7:24-27). He doesn’t promise to prevent all the storms in life. He says, if we will hear and do what He says, we will have the strength to endure those storms and survive (see also 2 Jno. 9). Jesus is the help we need – and He helps through both His example and His instruction in the New Testament.
He helps us through the promises of the gospel. In essence He has said: “regardless of what you may have to endure on earth, there will be a perfect existence for you when I come again. Just trust Me and obey!” So, when we are troubled or frustrated by the physical pain, the emotional stress, the persecution and injustice we experience and observe – we take our rest, our confidence and stand upon His promises. Those statements generate within us, hope, motivation and comfort. It helps to believe what He said: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jno. 14:1-6).
He helps us through His attitude of care and mercy. If we believe in Him, we know He is a merciful and faithful High Priest (Heb. 2:17; 1 Pet. 5:6,7). Jesus is an authoritative Ruler and Commander, but not like a cold, human dictator who cares not for his men. So, we can follow His example, obey His instructions, reply upon His promises and be comforted by His attitude of love, care and mercy for us.
He helps us through His intercession on our behalf. We approach the Father in prayer through Jesus Christ, who is our Mediator, our Intercessor and Advocate with the Father. He ever lives to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25). And “…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,” (1 Jno. 2:1).
Now, what kind of a problem do you have? Just name the problem!
Do you suffer under the guilt of some transgression or a life of sin? Are you under the pressure of some specific temptation now? Have you been trying to serve God through the doctrines and commandments of men? Are you having trouble coping with the daily pressures of life – physical pain, emotional pain, a struggle in some relationship? You cannot name any problem that Jesus cannot help you handle! He can help. And that doesn’t mean He will suddenly make all the trouble go away. Remember, there will be storms. But with Him at your side and you on His side – you will survive the storms. Come to Him in obedience and stay there! He will help.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,[a] though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. 11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
When you read the Old Testament references in Genesis 14 and Psalms 110, and then you arrive in the book of Hebrews – it is clear what God did. He set up a priests-king before the law of Moses, to whom Abraham paid tribute. God set this up, to foreshadow Jesus becoming our priest forever, not in the line of the Levitical priesthood.
The Jewish readers of the Hebrew epistle were likely being tempted to return to the old priesthood system they had left. The writer is urging them and teaching them to consider Jesus as the Superior and final High Priest, who offers access to God to all who obey Him.
There has been a change in the law and the priesthood. It is evident, if we want access to God, that blessing is available only through Jesus Christ.
From the very beginning of the Hebrew epistle the writer repeatedly states that Jesus Christ has become king. Not that he was a king; not that he will become king someday. The gospel truth is, Jesus Christ has become king. Peter announced this on the day of Pentecost and it remains true today. Jesus Christ is the King, seated at the right hand of God (Acts 2:29-37). Notice:
Heb. 1:8 — to the Son God said: “your throne, o God, is forever and ever; a septer of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.”
Heb. 2:9 — Jesus is said to be “crowned with glory and honor.”
Heb. 3:6 — Jesus is “a son over his own house, whose house are we …”
Heb. 12:2 — after Jesus endured the cross, he “sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Now it doesn’t require great scholarly judgment for us to see this. If Jesus has been made the king; If He ascended into heaven to the right hand of God, to rule as king – there is a present kingdom, over which He rules!
Indeed, there is a kingdom that presently exists and Heb. 12:28 declares this is “a kingdom which cannot be shaken.” The old Jewish system had been shaken. The Jewish theocracy had been shaken. The devil was shaken (Heb. 2:14). The writer says to his Hebrew brethren: you are part of something that cannot be shaken! {Think about what a statement of encouragement this must have been to those persecuted Jewish Christians who took this.}
Here is the kingdom Daniel prophesied of in Dan. 2:44 when he spoke of a “kingdom which will never be destroyed … It will itself endure forever…” Those who obey the gospel are delivered from the darkness of sin, and “translated …into the kingdom of the son,” (Col. 1:13). Have you obeyed the gospel? Are you a citizen in this eternal kingdom?
