The Melchizedek Priesthood
If
we truly believe in Jesus Christ as our High Priest it is imperative that we delve
deeper in the knowledge and understanding of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is
said that, “Man indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is
for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly
to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an
oath” (Hebrews 6:16-17).
This
oath is the oath which God testifies saying; “You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.” The reason why Jesus Christ was sworn
as priest, it is not to do away with God’s eternal purpose, but rather the way
by which God’s eternal purpose can be fulfilled through Jesus Christ, and
therefore we are told that, “…On the one hand there is an annulling of the
former commandment because of its weakness and being unprofitable, for the law
made nothing perfect (complete); on the other hand, there is the bringing in of
a better hope through which we draw near to God.’
The
oath confirmed or guaranteed the immutability and greatness of the new High
Priest. “For inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have
become priests 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” (Hebrews
7:18-22).
The
new and better covenant which Jesus Christ has become a guarantor to is the New
Covenant of His blood which gives us the boldness to enter the holiest of all,
by the new and living way which He has consecrated for us through His flesh,
and being the High Priest over the house of God.
Jesus
Christ officiating as our merciful and faithful High Priest is the work He came
to accomplished, and it is the hope by which we can draw near to God and have
fellowship with Him, and to share in His glory.
“This is the hope we have as an anchor for the soul which is both sure
and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil, where the
forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:19-20).
This
is God’s eternal purpose which He accomplished in Jesus Christ, granting us
boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. For it is written,
“…Now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also
Mediator of a better covenant which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).
The
better covenant which was established on better promises is undoubtedly the cup
of the New Covenant. Because Jesus said, “This cup is the New Covenant in My
blood, which is shed for you.” This New Covenant is better because, it
accomplished what the old covenant could not accomplish (Luke 22: 20).
For
it is written; “…The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest
while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present
time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who
performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience: “For the law, having
a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can
never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year,
make those who approach perfect.’
“For
then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purged,
would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is
a reminder of sins every year, for it is not possible that the blood of bulls
and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews
9:8-10; Hebrews 10: 1-4).
Therefore,
to believe in Jesus Christ as our High Priest we must also believe in the
reformation that this new Priesthood brought about and follow the protocol which
is assigned to this everlasting priesthood.
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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