The Priests

INTRODUCTION

Since the garden, the world has been about anticipation of what is to come. Hope.

Obvious that this world is broken.

It is not the way it was meant to be.

Last week- prophets anticipated the Messiah— who was also a prophet, priest and king.

Priests also anticipated the Messiah, who would be a perfect priest with a perfect sacrifice.

Psalm 110 says the messiah would be a priest by order of Melchizedek.

Anticipation of a better priest offering a better sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:11–12 ESV

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

Priest as intercessor. One who bridges gap between us and God through sacrifice.

Priest’s job never ends. Sin continues. Wasn’t there something better than all the blood.

Hebrews 7:11–17 ESV

11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

3 Reasons Priests Anticipated Something Greater

1. The Need for a Perfect Sacrifice (11-14)

         A.     Animal sacrifice could not give anyone perfect standing before God.

Hebrews 10:1–4 ESV

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

                  2.      Perfect is forever.

                           a.      Sacrifice covered past sins but Jesus forgives all sin, once for all.  – Even future.

         B.      The Old System Was Temporary--  just until the perfect came

Galatians 3:19–26 ESV

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

                  2.      ILL—U.S. President cannot declare himself king.

                           -U.S. Constitution does not allow it.  A new law would have to be put in place.

                           -vs 14—Old Law said nothing about priests from Tribe of Judah. – However, prophecy did—a new law should have been expected and is necessary.

         C.      Application

                  1.      Your old life, without Christ, was not adequate to make  you perfect.  You cannot make yourself perfect.‎

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

                  4.      Perfection is necessary for us to draw near to God.

                           - Walking into Heaven is only possible through Jesus.

2.      The Need for an Eternal Sacrifice (15-19)

Hebrews 7:15–19 ESV

15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

    “indestructible life”= not able to be destroyed; cannot be ended; cannot be brought to an end.  Reference to Jesus

         B.      “a better hope…we draw near to God= hope of Old Covenant was the coming of the Messiah.  The hope of the New Covenant                is to eternally draw near to God.  Near as in person.

         C.      Old Covenant—only the priests could draw near to god.

                  -because of Jesus we all can draw near.

                  -curtain to the Holy of Holies was split at resurrection.

         D.     Application—because of Christ being eternal we are eternal.‎

Romans 6:21–23 ESV

21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 ESV

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

‎                     

3.    The Need for a Guaranteed Sacrifice (20-25)

Hebrews 7:20–25 ESV

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” 22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

“Oath”—God cannot lie and he said Jesus is a priest forever.

                  1.      We are called to let our “yes” be “yes” and “No, “no”.

         B.      “guarantor”= Co-signer

                  1.      ILL—Tara’s wedding ring – no one in their right mind would loan me money for that.

                           -Dad guaranteed it.

         C.      “Better Covenant”—because we are made perfect, forever.  No more need for sacrifice—once for all

         D.     vs 23-25

                  1.      “uttermost”= to be saved completely—it is enough—it is permanent—it is perfect.

                  2.      “draw near to God” … “through him”= only through Jesus   can we draw near—we are not perfect—we need our sin                                    paid for.

                  3.      “always…intercession” == our salvation is for eternity.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

         E.      It is guaranteed by the one who is perfect, who paid the price,  who lives forever, and intercedes for us.

         F.      Application—Our old life only guarantees judgment-

Romans 6:6–7 ESV

6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

                  2.      Because we are slaves to sin we cannot make ourselves  holy.

4.   The Need For a Perfect Sacrifice (26-28)

         A.    The Priests of OT had to offer sacrifice for their own sin.

Why Christ’s Sacrifice is Superior

                  1.      He is Holy

                  2.      He is Innocent

                  3.      He is Unstained

                  4.      He is Separated from Sinners

                  5.      He is Exalted

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

                  6.      He Does not Need Sacrifice for Self

                  7.      He Was the Sacrifice—Died once for all

                  8.      He is Perfect Forever

CONCLUSION

         He is perfect forever and can make you perfect forever.

   Have you accepted the sacrifice of the perfect Priest?