3.
The Priesthood
The
third aspect of the reformation is that of the priesthood from the Levitical
priesthood to the Melchizedek priesthood.
Now
the objective for this reformation we are told that “Therefore, if perfection
were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the
law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to
the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the
law” (Hebrews 7:11-12).
The
reformation brought about not only a change of the law and the Levitical
priesthood which made nothing perfect as we have been duly instructed saying;
“For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of
its weakness and un-profitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the
other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw
near to God” (Hebrews 7:18-19).
This
better hope by which we can draw near to God is through the greatness of the
new High Priest and the perfect sacrifice for sins which He offered.
What
made that Priest so much superior than the others is that, the law appointed as
high priests men who have weakness and without an oath but He with an oath by
Him who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ' You are a
priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek ").
“By
so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were
many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He,
because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.’
“Therefore
He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,
since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was
fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and
has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the
people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” (Hebrews
7:21-27).
Now
there are two important things we need to take into consideration and they are;
Who
is Melchizedek?
Melchizedek
as clearly defined in scriptures is the King of righteousness as it is clearly
written; “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who
met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom
also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of
righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of
peace,"
without
father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor
end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest
continually”(Hebrews7:1-3).
This
Melchizedek is no other than Jesus Christ Himself before He took on flesh and
became the Son of Man because, the
offering of Jesus Christ is synonymous to that of the Melchizedek of old
for it is written; “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine;
he was the priest of God Most High.
And
he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of
heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies
into your hand." And he (Abram) gave Him a tithe of all” (Genesis
14:18-20).
How
do we get to the Father through Jesus Christ our High Priest?
Jesus
Christ as High Priest we are told; “is also able to save to the uttermost those
who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for
them” (Hebrews 7:25)
The
gate way or the means by which we are able to come to the Father through Jesus
Christ our High Priest is through the same manner He stood between the Father
and Abram by offering the bread and the wine.
Bread
and wine have been the official offering of the Melchizedek priesthood from the
inception and it was symbolic or a copy of the reality which is the body and
blood of Jesus Christ.
Therefore,
when Jesus our eternal High Priest unequivocally said; “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” It is
through the process of Himself as the eternal High Priest, offering to the
Father the bread and wine which represents His flesh and blood.
And so, our gate way or access to the Father is through the bread which represents the body of Jesus Christ and refers to as the way, the truth is Jesus Christ, the Word of God, our High Priest Who intercedes on our behalf and the wine which represents the blood of Jesus Christ as the life. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood and God have given it to us upon the altar to make atonement for our souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul”(Leviticus 17:11).
The apostle Paul made it absolutely clear as to how we have access to the Father for this is what he wrote; “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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