Christ's Superior Priesthood

I. EXORDIUM:

Who is Your Mediator?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that CHRIST is the Mediator of the New Covenant based on better promises.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 8:6 (Amplified Bible)

8:6 But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent [than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.

V. THESIS:

Thank You very much LORD JESUS, for I am set as royal priesthood while living on this earth and my standing with GOD is identical with CHRIST. Thank You LORD JESUS, for You are a Go-between between GOD and me, so every promises I have in the Old Testament and New Testament are already YES in JESUS. I celebrate You LORD JESUS in my life.

VI. TITLE:

CHRIST's Superior Priesthood

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Date of writing: Before AD. 70

B. Style of writing: Best Greek style

C. Authorship: Not specific, but generally attributed to Apostle Paul. Can be also ascribed to Barnabas, Luke, Apollos

D. Audience: Hebrew Christians

E. Theme: Christ is superior to the prophets; Christ is superior to angels—J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

F. Purpose: The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

VIII. MAIN BODY:

Obtained or acquired came from the Greek word "tugchano" meaning:

a. to make ready or bring to pass

b. idea of effecting

c. to attain or secure an object or end

d. to self-obtained

For our sakes and benefits, CHRIST has obtained a much superior and more excellent priestly ministry in the New covenant of which He is also the Mediator.

Mediator came from the Greek word "mesites" meaning:

a. a go between

b. a reconciler (intercessor): - mediator.

A. CHRIST is the Mediator of this covenant - CHRIST has acquired a much superior and more excellent priestly ministry

"But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent [than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent,"

Hebrews 8:7-13 (Amplified Bible)

8:7 For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one.

8:8 However, He finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

8:9 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day when I grasped them by the hand to help and relieve them and to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide in My agreement with them, and so I withdrew My favor and disregarded them, says the Lord.

8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

8:11 And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them.

8:12 For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more.

8:13 When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.

2 Corinthians 3:6-11 (Amplified Bible)

3:6 [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive.

3:7 Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone [the ministration of the Law], was inaugurated with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, [a glory] that was to fade and pass away,