Sunday Night

November 16, 2003

The Book of Hebrews

Subject: " The Eternal Priesthood of Christ"

Text: Hebrews 7:11-28

Intro: In this sermon tonight I wish to show the great value of the Lord Jesus Christ as our High Priest. In our day there is a group of Baptist that speak of the priesthood of the church, of which, the Bible knows no such doctrine. This doctrine was invented by some good men who mean well and are defenders of the doctrines of Grace and the Lord’s church, but this is a new light doctrine.

The priesthood of Christ is made of him being the High priest over his priesthood which is all the elect of God that are saved. Let me first establish the fact that we are priest likewise...

We are called Kings and Priests: Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

As Kings we reign in life by one Christ Jesus: Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

As Priest we offer spiritual sacrifices: 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Peter shows what these sacrifices are: Hebrews 13:15-16 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

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I... " THE IMPERFECTION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTHOOD"..VS 11-13

This is not to say that it served no purpose it did exactly what the Lord intended for it to do...

1^st. It was imperfect because of the insufficient sacrifices that were offered:

Hebrews 10:4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. What the old testament sacrifices did was set apart those whom was represented by the sacrifice itself...It took the Lord Jesus Christ to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself...Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

2^nd. It was imperfect because it could not satisfy the divine justice of the Lord...

The law being a part of the Levitical priesthood...could not remove one ounce of sin from the sinner...

It is clear to any who study the Bible that the Levitical priesthood was not after an endless life: Matthew Henry says: Look at foot note in bible!

1^st. His endless life was endless because of his etenality: John 8:57-58 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

2^nd. His endless life was endless because of the power within him:

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Paul said Christ alone had immortality1 Timothy 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen.

One day by the grace of God this mortal shall put on immortality but not till the resurrection, but Christ has always been therefore he hath the power in himself to have this priesthood.

This is a quote from Psalm 110:Psalm 110:1-4 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. \2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

When God speaks something it is settle, nothing can change it, alter it. Solomon said: Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him.

IV.. " CHRIST PRIESTHOOD WAS BETTER FOR A NUMBER OF REASON SET FORTH IN THE TEXT: VS 22-28

1^st. It is better because the bible says it was: vs 22

It is not better because I say it is, it not better because other men say that it is, but because God through his word says it is better than anything that came before him.

2^nd. It is better because Christ is the surety of it: vs 22

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When Joesph was revealed to his brother you remember that he sent them back to get Benjamin and here the words that he said to his father concerning what it means to be a surety.. Judah was the one that made this statement...

Whatever Christ did on the cross is the security for all our needs in this life and the life to come. He is the one that is responsible to the Father for all his people, He is responsible to save us, secure us, protect us, provide fo r us, and he gladly took on this great responsibility.

3^rd. It is better because it is unchangeable...vs 24

This great priesthood of Christ was prophesied in the OT and he is the one that fulfilled it: 1 Samuel 2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, [that] shall do according to [that] which [is] in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

JFB : not passing from one to another, intransmissible. Therefore no earthly so-called apostolic succession of priests are His viceregents. The Jewish priests had successors in office, because "they could not continue by reason of death." But this Man, because He liveth ever, hath no successor in office, not even Peter...

4^th. It is better because of his own ability to save lost sinners..vs 25

This is one of his chief ends to save sinners this he declared through out his public ministry. Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Paul said: 1 Timothy 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

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5^th. He hath a better priesthood because of his impeccable nature: vs 26

He names several...

a. He is holy: Christ was born holy: Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

b. Harmless: Which means he was without guile or fraud, you could trust him entirely...

c. Undefiled: Nothing about him was impure.

d. Separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens..

6^th. He hath a better priesthood because of he needed not sacrrifice for himself...vs 27-28