The last phrase of that song
and brings us home to God. That is what he does as our great
high priest. And my desire in bringing this
message is that every one of us will have a new found appreciation
of Christ as our great high priest. The theme of Hebrews is Christ,
our great high priest. Let me make good on that. Turn to Hebrews chapter eight. Verse one. Now the things which
we have spoken, this is the sum. This is the principal point.
This is the end. Of everything we've said, this
is the sum. We have such an high priest who
is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the
heavens. Now that is the principle theme
of the book of Hebrews, the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let
me read some other scriptures. Turn to Hebrews chapter two. Verse 17, Wherefore in all things
it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might
be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to
God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in
that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to
succor them that are tempted Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers
of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of
our profession, Christ Jesus. Look in chapter four, verse 14. Seeing then that we have a great
high priest representing me, representing my interest before
God. that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Look
in chapter six, verse 20. Whether the forerunner is for
us entered into the holy place, into the holy of holies. Even
Jesus made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Now we're going to get more into that when we get into chapter
seven, but he's above a Levitical priest. He's a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek. Look in chapter seven, verse
24. But this man, because he continueth
ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood." Now, remember what a priest does.
He brings us to God. God cannot be approached apart
from this priest. But I want us to understand this.
God provided this priest. Somebody says, why is God so
unapproachable? If you approach through this
priest, you'll be received. That is his promise. He is very approachable
through this priest. He provided the priest. I always
think, why do we even think things like that? Why is he so unapproachable?
He provided the priest. He provided the sacrifice. He
provided himself. Verse 25, wherefore, he is able
also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them, for such a high priest
became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
and made higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily as those
priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins, and then
for the people's, for this he did once when he offered up himself. Chapter 10. Verse 11, and every priest, this is talking
about the Levitical priesthood and every priest standeth daily
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins. But this man, this priest, after
he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on
the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his enemies be
made his footstool for by one offering he hath perfected forever
them that are sanctified." Now I think this is interesting.
Do you know in the epistles of Paul, he doesn't use the word
priest one time. Now he speaks of the intercession
of Christ, which is obviously a part of his priestly function,
but he doesn't use the word priest or high priest once. The only
time he mentions it is in the book of Acts, when he said to
the high priest, God's gonna smite you, you whited wall. And
they said, are you going to speak to God's high priest thus? He
said, oh, I didn't know. I didn't know he was the high
priest. That's the only time Paul ever uses the word. But
do you know in the book of Hebrews, this is mentioned 29 times. The priest, the high priest,
the great high. Now chapter five gives us some
details about the earthly priesthood. The sons of Aaron turn with back
with me there. And generally when we think of
priests in this light, we think of the people who slew the animals
and burned the animals. offered them up as sacrifices.
Now, only the priest was allowed to do this, you couldn't do it.
I mean, we have so many examples in the scripture where men tried
to bypass a priest. The first thing that comes to
my mind is the Sons of Korah. They're in Numbers chapter 16. They said
to Aaron, Moses, we're as holy as you, You can't make this distinction. While we can offer up burnt incense
as priests, we're as holy as you. And God opened up the ground
and swallowed up 250 of them. What about Saul? When he offered up a sacrifice
and failed to wait for Samuel to offer up the sacrifice, God
took the throne away from him and he was no longer king and
he died in shame and infamy. What about Uzzah? Uzzah, all
he does is try to help God. So he put out his hand to steady
the ark when it was getting ready to fall off. God smote him instantly. You see, God doesn't need our
help. I say this reverently, but God doesn't need my help.
He doesn't need your help. What about Uzziah? The scripture says
when he was lifted up. The Lord had blessed him as a
king, but when he was lifted up, he went into the temple to
burn incense, and eighty-five priests said, Don't do this,
Uzziah, this appertaineth not to thee. And God turned him to
a leper immediately. Now, the point is, we cannot
approach God apart from this great high priest. But thank God he did give Christ
to be a great high priest. That's how merciful and that's
how gracious he is. He gave his son to be this glorious
high priest. Now look in verse one of Hebrews
chapter five. For every high priest taken from among men. And that's
talking about Aaron and his sons. They were men. is ordained for
men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts
and sacrifices for sins." Now, all of these priests are only
given to represent this one priest. the Lord Jesus Christ. These
physical priests had no saving efficacy in anything they did.
They were just given to represent the one priest, the Lord Jesus
Christ. You know, where there's multitudes of quote, priests,
sinful men that supposedly can bring you into God's presence.
That's so derogatory to God that you would think somebody like
that could bring you into God's presence and he could accept.
There's only one priest that can come into God's presence
and be accepted. And these men were just given
to show us that. Now these men were ordained for
men. God did this. A man could bring
us into God's presence, which Christ did. He's bringing me
into God's presence right now. Every high priest taken from
among men is ordained for men and things pertaining to God
that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. Now,
when these priests came into God's presence, it was not always
a sacrificial gift. There were grain gifts, wine
gifts, heaths. I mean, there's a bunch of different
kinds of gifts. And what these did, they expressed
love, thankfulness, and a desire for fellowship. That's what they
were expressing in that. And every believer loves God
and is thankful and wants to express that in gifts. Love gives, doesn't it? That's
what love does, love gives. And we know God doesn't need
anything we have as far as our money. Do you think he needs
anything you've got? You've got another thing to think
about. No, no, he doesn't need a dime
from you. But it is our privilege of grace
to offer up these gifts, these grain gifts and so on. They're
called gifts. Not only does He offer up the
gifts as our priest, you see, it's only through Christ things
can be accepted. You offer up your love, your prayer, your
adoration, your gift. There's only one reason God can
accept it, and it ain't because of you. It's because His Son
offers it. And let me remind you, He provided
His Son to do that. What a glorious God to do something
like that. He provided His Son. And it also
says that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. Why? Because God is holy and we're
not. That's the bare facts of the
matter. God is holy and we're not, and
he cannot be approached apart from the sacrifice. You see the
sacrifice. That's a manifestation of God's
character. He can't be approached apart
from justice being satisfied and holiness being satisfied. Every attribute of God is glorified
in the sacrifice of Christ. Now these men priests, these
sons of Levi, sons of Aaron, they offered gifts and sacrifices
And that's what the Lord does. He takes our gifts and makes
them acceptable, a sweet smelling savor to God. And his sacrifice
is utterly successful. Now in verse two, these earthly
priests, and I love this verse of scripture. You know what it
says about these earthly priests, they're going to have to have
this. They're going to have to be able to have compassion on
the ignorant and on them that are out of the way. That is the word that generally
is talking about being led astray. Notice there's two ways that
the sheep are described here. Number one, ignorant. Me and you are ignorant. Dumb
sheep. And easily led astray. You know that's so. And so what
we need is a priest who is compassionate and humane and merciful toward
these dumb, straying sheep. Someone who's moderate, gentle,
and understanding. And here's why he could be this
way. Look in verse two. And this is the way our Lord
is. He is much more compassionate because of, look in verse 15
of chapter four. For we have not a high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
He never sinned, but he experienced everything with regard to sin,
but the commission of it. I don't know what all that means,
but I don't need to. He is the merciful, faithful,
compassionate high priest. Now, these human high priests,
here's why they can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that
are out of the way, for that he himself also is compassed
with infirmity. He couldn't look down on these
people because he knew he was just as ignorant. He knew he
was just as easily led astray as they were. I think of that
passage of scripture in Romans chapter 2 verse 1. And this is
so applicable to all of us. Wherefore thou art inexcusable,
O man. And these priests knew that.
Wherefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that
judgest. For you that judgest. Anybody know the rest of the
verse? Doest. the same things. Now this high
priest taken from among men was very cognizant of that. Verse
3, And by reason hereof, because he was compassed, bound with
infirmity himself, and by reason thereof, he ought as for himself,
so as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins. Now he had first had to offer
sacrifice for his own sins before he could legitimately offer sacrifice
sins for the people. Look in chapter seven, verse
27. This is the high priest after
the order of Melchizedek, unlike these Levitical priests who need,
if not daily as those high priests to offer up sacrifice first for
his own sins. And then for the peoples for
this, he did once when he offered up himself. Christ didn't have to offer two
sacrifices, only one. Now look in chapter five once
again. Now this office of priest that
he was given, no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that's
called of God, as was Aaron. No man designated this honor
to himself. Nobody said, I think I'd like
to be a priest. It's very similar really to the call to preach.
So I think I want to be a preacher. I want to be a pastor. Doesn't
work that way. Your call of God to preach. It's a calling. It's not a vocation.
It's not a job. It's a calling. And where there's
a calling, there will be a desire, there will be a gift, and there
will be a hearing. And if all three of those are
not in place, you have no evidence that God is in it. Now, these
priests were called by God, the sons of Aaron. Verse five, so
also Christ glorified not himself to be made in high priest, but
he that said unto him, thou art my son, today have I begotten
thee, as he said also another place, thou art a priest forever
after the more, after the order of Melchizedek. Now God made
Christ priest and what an honor that was to him. And what good
news it is to me and you that God made his blessed son this
priest. God provided a priest who is
more compassionate than any of those Levitical priests were.
The Lord Jesus is infinitely more compassionate and more,
for lack of a better word, sympathetic and understanding. What a glorious
high priest we have. He knows our frame. He remembers
that we're dust. Our great high priest does. Now,
not only was he called to be priest, he was called also to
be the sacrifice. Now, in order to worship, you
had to have a priest, you had to have a sacrifice, you had
to have an altar. Now the priest would come into
God's presence with a sacrifice. But our great high priest brings
a different sacrifice, not the blood of bulls and goats, which
can never take away sin, but he brought his own blood and
the father accepted it. His blood makes it to where when
God looks at me, he's pleased. There's no sin there. There's
nothing for him to be mad at me about. I'm accepted in the
beloved. I'm beautiful in the beloved
because of my high priest bringing me into the very presence of
God. He is the priest. He himself
is the sacrifice. He brings his own blood and he's
the altar. His body is the altar upon which
the sacrifice was offered. What a great high priest. Now, notice it says in verse
5, But he said unto him, Thou art my son this day, if thou
begot me. Now, that was quoted in Psalm 27. Thou art my son
this day, if thou begot me. And that was written one thousand
years before the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary's tree. But let
me show you what Paul says about this in Acts chapter 13. We declare
unto you glad tidings of the promise which was made unto the
fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us, their children,
and that he hath raised up Jesus again, as it's also written in
the second Psalm, thou art my son, this day have I begotten
thee. Now this thing of the begetting of Christ, how many times has
he called the only begotten son? This day have I begotten thee.
This is telling us that his begetting is every day. It's eternal. It's not a one-time event. He's
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and He's the Lamb
raised from the foundation of the world, and God always refers
to His Son. This day have I begotten thee,
and that's the blood of Christ to the Father is always poignant.
It's always fresh. It's always new, like the resurrection
just took place and the accomplishments of it. As He said also in another
place, verse 6, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. unusual figure that shows up
in Genesis chapter 14, Melchizedek. I have no doubt that this is
a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we're
going to get into him more when we get into Hebrews chapter 7.
He meets Abraham after the return from the slaughter of the kings,
and he blessed him, and Abraham paid tithes to him. And he brought
Abraham bread and wine. I have no doubt that that prefigures
the Lord's table. He brought unto Abraham bread
and wine, and he is a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. You read
Hebrews chapter seven, and you'll see why I say that, but we'll
get back to that later. Verse seven. who in the days of his flesh,
our great high priest, when he was here on this planet, who
in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and
supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able
to save him from death and was heard and that he feared though
he were a son. Yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered. Now, I have no doubt that this
is talking about Gethsemane's garden. When he offered up strong
cryings and tears, Father, if it be possible, let this cup
pass from me. And if it were possible, God
would have answered that. But it was not possible for me
or you to be saved. This had to take place with him.
If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." And the scripture
says, he sweat great drops of blood at this time, offering
up to God strong cryings and tears. And though he were a son,
verse eight, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.
Now, God doesn't have to be anybody, does he? He's God. Nobody's going
to tell him what to do. But the son had to learn obedience
by the things which he suffered. Now, you know how he learned obedience?
Son, drink the cup. Yes, father. Son, let him nail you to a cross. Yes, father. Son, let him kill
you. Yes, father. Yet learned he obedience
through the things that he suffered. I stand amazed that the father
gave him for this. I stand amazed that he willingly
took this upon himself for God's glory and for me and you. Yet
learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. Verse nine, and being made perfect. Now, because of the things he
suffered, he is the perfect priest. He's the perfect savior for you. being made perfect. Having completed
what the Father gave Him to do, being made perfect, He became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him. Now, first let's consider the
word salvation. He became the author of eternal
salvation. Now, to be saved, to be saved. One thing is to be saved from
punishment. I realize that, but it's more than that. To be saved. You and I need to be saved. And he is the author of eternal
salvation. Now, what do I need to be saved
from? Well, number one, I need to be saved from God. He's the one I've sinned against.
And I need to be saved from him. And I can't stand before him
on my own. I'm gonna have to have the priest undertake for
me. I need to be saved from God.
And I need to be saved from myself. I am my biggest problem. I have no doubt about that. I
am my biggest problem. I'm my greatest hindrance, not
you, not somebody else. I'm the problem. You believe
that about yourself? And I need to be saved from my
sin. And you remember Matthew 121?
Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people
from their sins. I'm saved from the penalty of
sin? That's called being justified.
There's nothing to condemn me for. When Christ said it is finished,
I was justified. When he was raised from the dead,
I was justified. When he stood as my surety, I
was justified. It's an eternal justification.
I've heard people say, what are you talking about eternal justification?
Everything he does is eternal. He's called the author of eternal
salvation in this very verse. And he saves from the condemnation
of sin by making me sinless, righteous, without fault before
God. saved from the power of sin.
Now, what does that mean? If I'm saved, I'm saved from
the power of sin. Well, let me tell you exactly what that means.
There was a time when I was so completely under
the dominion of sin that I didn't even know it. I was so completely
under the dominion of sin that I could not believe, I lacked
the ability to believe, I lacked the ability to repent. I had
no love for God. I was under the complete dominion
of sin. But listen to this. Sin shall
not reign over you, for you're not under the law, but under
grace. And I can now do what I could
not do. Not only am I saved from the
penalty of sin, this is why I need a Savior. You need a Savior.
I need somebody to save me. I can't save myself, I need Him
to save me. I'm saved from the penalty, from
the power, and even right now, as I'm talking to you, I'm saved
from the presence of sin. Now somebody says, do you still
sin? Yeah, you do. But yet the scripture says that
we're already glorified, seated together in the heavenlies in
Christ. If I'm glorified, whom He did
justify, then He also glorified. If I'm glorified, and that's
not will be glorified, it means I am right now. I can only know
that by faith, I realize that, but it's true nonetheless. I'm
saved from the very presence of sin. I'm in heaven right now,
a place where there is no sin. And that is only known by faith. Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
look at verse 9 again, and being made perfect, He became the author
of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him. Now, this
is the only time this word is used in the New Testament, the
author. You know what it means? He's
the cause. He's the cause of eternal salvation. He's the cause of salvation in
every way you can look at that. He's the cause in the sense of
salvation for His glory. That's why I did it. It's to
honor God. He's the cause in the sense that
He purposed salvation. We read of the eternal purpose,
which He purposed in Christ Jesus, our Lord. He is the cause in
the sense that He purchased our salvation. He paid the debt.
He paid it all. All the debt I owe. He's the
cause of salvation in the sense that there's one reason I'm born
again. It's because God elected me and Christ died for me and
Christ is my surety. That's why I'm born again. Because
he is the cause. I'm thankful I've been born from
above, aren't you? I'm so thankful for that, but I know why I am.
It's not because of some decision I made. It's because he is the
cause. He's in every aspect of salvation. Why do you think you're elect?
There's one reason you were chosen in him before the foundation
of the world. Why are you redeemed? He redeemed
you. Why are you justified? He justified
you. He declared you to be without
guilt. You know, even in our glorification,
as far as our experience goes, our glorification will be experienced
simply by looking at him. 1 John 3, 1. Brethren, it does
not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he
shall appear, we'll be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And heaven will be beholding
his glory. And don't miss this. Verse nine, in being made perfect,
he became the author of Eternal salvation. A salvation that never had a
beginning. Now, how can that be? I don't
know, but it's so. It never had a beginning. It
will never have an end. You see, everything he does is
eternal. It's that way because he is eternal.
He never stopped being eternal. Look at Hebrews chapter four,
verse three. For we which have believed do
enter into rest. As he said, as I've sworn in
my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest or they shall not
enter into my rest, is how that should read. Although the works
were finished, every single one of them from the foundation of
the world. Now this is how secure the salvation
is. It was already finished from
the foundation of the world. Second Timothy 1.9, he saved
us. He called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose
and grace which were given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began. Everything I have now was given
to me in Christ before time began. He is the author of eternal salvation. Now, back in verse 9 of Hebrews
chapter 5, this is what we're going to close with, and being made perfect. He became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him. Here's the evidence that you
have eternal salvation. You obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And understand this, the gospel
is something that is obeyed. When you hear, believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, you know what you do? You obey. When it says,
this is His commandment that we believe on the name of His
Son and love one another as He gave His commandment. And what
you do? You obey. There is no salvation apart from
obedience. And turn with me to Matthew 7.
This is the last scripture we're going to look at. Matthew chapter 7. This will
give us some idea as to what obedience to Him means. And I'm
not saved. I'm not saved eternally. I'm
not saved in time. If I don't OBEY Him, Matthew
chapter 7, verse 21, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter the kingdom of heaven. I think that's interesting the
way they don't just say, Lord, they say, Lord, Lord, surely
you know us. Surely you know us." And he goes
on to say why he thought the Lord would know them. But yet
the Lord says, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of
my Father, which is in heaven. There is no salvation apart from
doing His will. Now look at the next verse. Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not preached in
your name? And in your name, have we not cast out devils?
And in your name, we've done many wonderful works. We've done
your will. Look at all the things we've
done. I mean, we've preached, we've cast out devils, many wonderful
works we've done. Surely we've done your will. And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work
iniquity. Now what is it that they never
did? You know the answer to this question. They never believed
the gospel. They never believed the gospel. They never trusted the Lord Jesus
Christ as their great high priest to bring them into God's presence. Let me leave you with this thought.
We have this great high priest and you know what? We're obeying
him right now. We're believing that he is all
in our salvation and that he brings us before the father and
we are accepted in the beloved. What a great high priest, the
author of eternal salvation. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for our
great high priest. Lord, we fumble in our thoughts
and our words. In our motives and everything
we do. But he takes. What we bring. And makes it perfectly acceptable. By you through his intercession
as our great high priest and Lord to know that were made perfect
in him. and that we can't get any more
saved or any more accepted or any more love than we are through
our great high priest. We thank you for giving him as
our great high priest. Lord, what glorious grace on
your part and we give thanks. Enable us to trust our great
high priest. In his name we pray.