Friday, December 05, 2003 (46)
REASONS WHY MELCHISEDEC IS CHRIST.
The order of the priesthood is that of Melchisedec. It is very apparent from the scriptures that Christ Jesus is the eternal and only priest who could satisfy the high standards of that position. The measuring rod for this unique status is the Lord Jesus. All who would be named to the order of Melchisedec, including Melchisedec himself must meet the life of righteousness which is found in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is Jesus, who is the priest and the office. He has established the Godly requirements of the office. Anyone who would be placed in that high and holy priesthood would have to be like Jesus in every aspect and detail of righteousness. Jesus is the only one who could satisfy the demands of purity and holiness. There never has been nor will there ever be one like the Lord Jesus. He is the only begotten of the Father. John 1:14
Mission accomplished. This cannot be said of the Levitical sacrificial order. It required many daily sacrifices. There was no end to their number for they only appeased, never fulfilling the demands made by the Law. Heb. 10:11 Will the Lord reestablish that which cannot by any means bring release and pardon from sin? Heb. !0:4 The Lord has an attitude toward animal sacrifices and expressed it through the prophet Isaiah. The person who would sacrifice an ox, even as unto the Lord, would be committing an act equal to murder. Slaying a lamb is paramount to cutting off a dogs neck as an offering. Bringing an offering or a gift as an oblation is equal to offering the blood of a pig. Those who burn incense in a religious act are performing an act of worship before idols. Direct and specific statements of the reaction of the Lord toward the Levitical offerings. Any and all of these are insulting to the Lord. They are the grossest sort of blasphemy. Isa. 66:3
Now, in Jesus the perfect sacrifice is offered. The sacrifice of Himself, ONCE, for all of time and for all of humanity. Heb. 7:27 There is no need for Him to die again. He now lives and lives forever more. Rom. 6:10 Jesus, and Jesus alone has entered into the most Holy Place, the very throne of the living God. There He has made intercession for all of mankind who will accept His sacrificial work of redemption. It was sufficient for Him to enter but one time and the work is accomplished. Heb. 9:12 The succession of the Levitical priesthood elevated men of infirmity, men who were morally weak and sinful. But now, the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, establishing and fulfilling the office of Melchisedec is the faithful High Priest. He is the perfect one, both as the sacrificed Lamb and as the minister of the New Covenant. Heb. 7:28 Without sin, yet understanding the weakness and frailty of the human makeup, He is able to free us from all our sin and to grant absolute pardon. One savior. One Son of God. One redeemer. One sacrifice. One who satisfied all the demands of a just God for a full and complete sacrifice which would produce total and absolute forgiveness. One individual who would be Christ and Melchisedec.