Portrait of the Pure Priest

We have talked the last couple of sessions in the Portraits of God - A Glimpse of God's Holiness how out of God's many attributes that over-arching attribute, the one that governs all others is God's Holiness. This holiness has three main ways in which it is used;

Radiance and brilliance- the concept of "glory"/God's presence is often linked with radiance - note burning bush in Ex. 3:5; also Mt. Sinai in Ex. 19:16-23; God's presence in the temple - Ex. 40:34-38, II Chron. 7:1ff; the pillar of fire by day Ex. 14:24. See also Isa. 6:3; Lev. 10:3; Ex. 29:43.

Separation- the idea is common to all occurrences of the word qadosh in the OT...separation from, separation to. Set apart for divine use or separated as/for deity. (see Ex. 19:3-6; Ex. 13:1-3)

Purity- ceremonial and also moral/ethical. (see Ez. 43:7-9)

We have seen God's holiness displayed as 1. Sovereign King 2. Personal Revealer and tonight we want to see it as 3. PURE PRIEST.

God's holiness is still connected to his brilliance in the terms of purity and grace which are closely woven together in this role of priest.

The idea of God as priest is taken from the tabernacle and the responsibilities of the priesthood. It is the language of the house of God, worship, offerings and sacrifices, basically the way God relates to worshipers. As priest there is a dual focus;

Purity - That part of God's nature that says he is not like some things. In some ways it is the negative side of holiness, which indicates God is free from certain characteristics. This purity is contrasted with the unholy, the common, the impure or unclean. God uses the Ceremonial law as an object lesson for teaching moral law. It lays the groundwork for a holy people to understand that there are certain things that according to God's standard are holy, clean and pure, by contrast there are things that are common, unholy, impure and unclean. Something I think we as American's have forgotten. Grace - Three parts to God's grace

God's unmerited favor toward people Refers to God's self-giving to people Resulting empowering of God so people are able to do certain things that he asks.

We will regularly see grace as these three components, unmerited favor, self-giving and enabling power.

In looking at the Trinity I notice that this particular role of Pure Priest is not seen equally in all three of the Godhead. It is really only Jesus that fully develops this role. The Father and the Holy Spirit however do function in this role as you will see as we look at this tonight.

The Role of the Pure Priest is seen in several different aspects

Mediator - a mediator at least in the role as a priest is one who represents God to people and people to God. He is the one who stands between God and the people and mediates between the two.

When one is representing God to people, they do it usually in the form of commands or teaching the Word of God. Atonement - There is in the thought of a mediator that of atonement. When one is representing God to the people there is the barrier of sin to consider

Provision of the Atonement - The commands of what God wants, the sacrifice or offering.

In the mediating role as priest God basically makes the provision of atonement for sin which makes possible a new relationship between God and people.

While a priest as mediator would take the imitative in salvation to reach out to his people

In the OT we find God as Mediator initiating covenants with people

Abraham Gen. 12 Moses and children of Israel Ex 3:1-10 Om the NT it is God again initiating salvation by sending Jesus into the world to provide salvation for all. Romans 5:8 says " But God commendeth (shows) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God provides for atonement in two ways

Setting the pattern in Exodus allowing the provision of a sacrifice as a substitute for the life of the oldest son. (Passover)

The blood of the lamb on the doorpost was the evidence that life had been offered for life. There was also accompanying meal, symbolizing fellowship between God and his people (EX 11-12) The Day of Atonement (Lev 16) God provided a day of atonement a symbol of how Israel was to deal with its sin.

It was an annual reminder of sin. The High priest had to be dressed in his holy garments to come into the holy place where God said he would "appear in the cloud on the mercy seat" (Lev. 16:2)

A sacrifice was offered both for the priest and for the people, with the shedding of blood. Confession of sins over the head of the scapegoat which was then sent away symbolized God's forgetfulness of forgiven sins. Their sins were put away from them God's anger at their sin was propitiated (appeased) God told them in Lev 16:30 "For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord." If God gave instruction on atonement in the OT it is no surprise that he also provides atonement in the New Testament. John 3:16 "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Paul reminds us it is an atonement by a gift of grace, through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God made to be a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith. Romans 3:24-25

Appropriation of the Atonement - The priest also served in the meditating role of assisting the people in taking advantage of the atonement and it provisions.

Their role was to pronounce the forgiveness and cleansing of God on individuals

Conditioned by their properly seeking God, appropriating by faith the sacrifices made on their behalf. While we no longer depend on an earthly priest - we are still helped by a mediator who assists us in appropriating the atonement.

Conviction and guidance of the Holy Spirit Witness of the Spirit that forgiveness is granted Helping and strengthening our faith. Presentation of the Atonement - We know that Jesus himself was the lamb, His life for our life. His blood causes the death angel to Passover us. He serves not only as priest to make atonement, but he also serves as the sacrifice offered to God. The only priest who has been able to perform this.

Purifier - God is also seen as a purifier. While the OT priest performed the cleansing ceremony it is ultimately God who does the actual purification.

A priest could declare a person clean based on them meeting certain criteria and following particular instructions, but it is God who actually makes the person pure. The human priest is only a verbal instrument they declare what God does in the individual. Jesus as Purifier In one of the Old Testament references to the coming of the Messiah, he is described as "like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver" (Mal 3:3).

Hebrews declares that if the blood of goats and bulls sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Heb 9:14).

This purification or cleansing is also based on the atonement because "under the law almost everything is purified with blood" (9:22). The Holy Spirit as Purifier - The priestly ministry of the Spirit is related to initial cleansing in the passage where Paul writes, "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor 6:11).

It is also related to a deeper cleansing of the heart in sanctifying grace.

Thus David couples his cry for the creation of a clean heart with his plea that the Holy Spirit of God not be taken from him. "Create in me a clean heart, 0 God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me" (Ps 51:10-11). Peter, describing the work of the Holy Spirit among the Gentiles, can declare to the Jerusalem conference, "God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:8-9). Intercessor - When the mediator represents the people to God, It is done in the terms of intercession or prayer.

Jesus as intercessor -

Reconciliation - Mediates between God and individuals in terms of establishing a relationship between them. Preservation - Also continues to serve as the means of maintaining this relationship. Helping us to "hold fast our confession" because he is our High Priest he is able to understand and sympathize with our weaknesses having "been tempted as we are, yet without sin" Heb 4:14-15 Part of this ongoing mediatorial role for Jesus is in terms of his intercession for believers.

"Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (7:25). A graphic picture of Jesus in this role comes in his high priestly prayer in John 17,

where Jesus prays not only for his disciples an 17:9-19) but also for others who were to believe in him (17:20-21). After his death, resurrection and ascension Jesus continues to pray for believers. It is "Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us" (Rom 8:34).17

The Holy Spirit, like the Father, is not referred to directly as a priest in Scripture. He does however serve [as[ Intercessor.

We need the Spirit's priestly ministry in our prayer lives "for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." The Spirit is an excellent mediator in this function because he knows both the hearts of individuals as well as the mind of God, and therefore "intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Rom 8:26-27).