There are many areas of perfection and right living is a crucial area. There is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is destruction. Since the Fall of Adam, no man was able to live rightly until Christ came.
Somewhere within an unregenerated heart, something displeases God. This is much more than fornication. One could even be very morally upright but there is still something inside them that disqualifies them for Glory. It is called the nature and law of sin and death inside them.
For all have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God. This Glory of God that man fell short of is not just about going to heaven, rather it is about the perfect state that God intended for man.
After the fall of man, God instituted the Law, Sacrificial systems and the Priesthood for the perfection of man. The reason for all of this was to bring the children of Israel into right living.
[biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 7:19″ display=”Hebrews 7:19″]; [biblegateway passage=”Romans 8:3″ display=”Romans 8:3″]
The insufficiency of the Law is in the weakness of the flesh, because the Law in itself is spiritual and good. The flesh rendered the law impotent. There is a problem inside us called the flesh. The flesh is not our physical human body, it is the operation of sin in us which can manifest in our bodies. We must also make sure we properly understand scenarios in the Old Testament in order to be able to fully appreciate the book of Hebrews and Romans.
[biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 1:1-6″ display=”Hebrews 1:1-6″]; [biblegateway passage=”Ephesians 1:21″ display=”Ephesians 1:21″]; [biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 3:1-2″ display=”Hebrews 3:1-2″]; [biblegateway passage=”1 Corinthians 2:10-11″ display=”1 Corinthians 2:10-11″]
Jesus came to give us His name that is superior to the Patriachal Fathers, Prophets and the Angels. In the realm of the Spirit, names are codes that reveal rankings and stature. Jesus’ name is more excellent than every other name. He stepped out of the order of God and obtained a superior nature. The name of Jesus is far and above every name that is named (Ephesians 1:20,21). Moses is highly venerated by the Jews but the name of Jesus is far above that if Moses because He is the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession (Hebrews 3:1-3).
THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS.
[biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 5″ display=”Hebrews 5″]
The giving of the Law of Moses ushered in the Levitical Priesthood but the Levitival priesthood could not save the children of Israel because of their infirmities.
A priest is a man taken from among men to represent men before God and to represent God before men. His primary assignment is to deal with sin because man naturally has the propensity to go astray and certain instructions for the atonement of the sins was given to him.
Ignorance and willfulness are the major sources of sin. If you don’t know God’s law or you know it and you choose not to do it, all you will live is a wayward life. There is even grace in knowing that we are susceptible to the same infirmities every other person is subject to. As such, we must live our lives with care so that we not go around bashing people indiscriminately.
1 Corinthians 10:12
“He that thinketh he stand, let him take heed lest he fall”
A Priest must first be a person that has compassion on the ignorant and people that are out of the way. Some people are ignorant, some are not and yet they have the propensity to go astray.
Priesthood is not an honour a man takes unto himself. It is a prerogative of God. Jesus did not acquire this standing as high priest by ambition. He was chosen and glorified by God as Aaron was. Melchizedek first appeared in the Book of Genesis bringing bread and wine which are emblems of communion just as Jesus brought his body and his blood for our communion. [biblegateway passage=”Genesis 14:20″ display=”Genesis 14:20″]
But why would God say in the Psalms that Jesus is an high priest in the order of Melchizedek. There were priests before and after Melchizedek, but none was like him. Who exactly is Melchizedek? The Priesthood of Jesus is in the Order of Melchizedek who is both a King and a Priest. Balaam and Jethro were non-Jews who were priests recognized by God but the Melchizedek order is excellent even above the Jewish Aaronic Order.
[biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 6:13-20″ display=”Hebrews 6:13-20″]; [biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 7:1-12″ display=”Hebrews 7:1-12″]
The High Priest wears his robe once a year, into the Most Holy Place with the atonement sacrifice to sprinkle it upon the seat of mercy but Jesus has gone in beyond the veil into the Most Holy Place; making a path for us to follow him to enter. The High Priest in Israel could only obtain atonement for sins for one year but Jesus did much more than eternal atonement by his single service, his priesthood also brings us to coming in through the veil.
Nobody in human history was ever called the King of righteousness and King of Peace. Jesus mastered righteousness and peace to the extent that He can administer them to us. This could only be a title given to God. Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is simply our confidence in God despite anything. Peace goes to war. The God of Peace bruised the head of Satan.
In Abraham’s meeting with Melchizedek, he learned more about God when Melchizedek mentioned God as the possessor of the Heavens and the Earth. A single encounter with Melchizedek stabilized Abraham; he understood better how to walk with God.
There is something I believe to be called the precarnate Christ. And I suggest that Melchizedek was the precarnate Christ that appeared to Abraham because Jesus said that Abraham saw His days and he rejoiced. The Priesthood of Melchizedek is eternal; it is never ending. It is a self perpetuating priesthood. It speaks forever in heaven. That Priesthood was hanging in heaven until Jesus came as a man capable to take it on. This priesthood has what it takes to deal decisively with sin and bring man unto perfection.