For The Best Of Baptists-1

For The Best of Baptists-I—Hebrews 7:1-10

My great-grandfather Jesse Sherman/Shack behind them—Children in background-no one holding hands—No smiles—Wearing homemade shoes—Beside wife—Long white beard to center of his chest—Holding rifle—Dog at side/Learn a lot from the picture if know what to look for—Loved wife & family—Proud of his home—Trusted his rifle & his dogs.

Regardless of the seeming poverty, there is much of which they could be thankful & proud. There must be more than meets the eye. Internal standards.

Need:

Even Baptists can make good Christians.....when they resign themselves to be Christians first above Baptists.

The writer to the Hebrews described what was available in Christ Jesus to the religiously comfortable.

A higher plane is available to the religiously comfortable.

What heights are available to the religiously comfortable or the Best of Baptists?

7 Higher planes available to the Best of Baptists.

1—For the Best of Baptists, there is...

A Higher KING(:1a, 2)

Explanation:(:1a, 2)

:1—“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings & blessed him,”

Jesus is pictured in Melchizedek. In his name, his titles, & his responsibility.

This Melchizedek had been the subject of the author’s intent regarding the priesthood of Jesus & how it was typified in the priest, Melchizedek. This king “met Abraham” following Abram’s victory over the kings. Melchizedek approached Abram in order to “bless” him(:3).

Gen. 14:8-20—“8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, & the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out & joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, & Arioch king of Ellasar--four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; & the kings of Sodom & Gomorrah fled; some fell there, & the remainder fled to the mountains. 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom & Gomorrah, & all their provisions, & went their way. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, & his goods, & departed. 13 Then one who had escaped came & told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol & brother of Aner; & they were allies with Abram. 14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred & eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, & went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, & he & his servants attacked them & pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, & also brought back his brother Lot & his goods, as well as the women & the people. 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer & the kings who were with him. 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread & wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him & said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven & earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.”

:2—“to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated, “king of righteousness,” & then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace.”

The ultimate/supreme Sovereign of righteousness & thus justice.

We see here that our King Jesus is worthy of such honor as to command our finances.

We see here the significance of Melchizedek’s Name & Title.

Melchizedek—qdu-yklm— “My king is Sedek.” From —Klm meh’-lek—meaning “king”—&—qdu tseh’-dek—meaning Justice, rightness, righteousness. ‘My King is righteous(ness).’

“King”—basileuv—Sovereign leader of the people.

“Salem”—Salhm From—Mlv shaw-lame’(Salem)—Peace; complete, safe, peaceful, perfect, whole, full, at peace.

“Gave/Apportioned”—merizw—To divide or distribute.

“Tenth part”—dekath—A tenth part of anything.

“Translation”—ermhneuw—To explain in words, expound; To interpret.

“Righteousness”—dikaiosunh—The state of him who is as he ought to be. The condition acceptable to God.

“Peace”—eirhnh—A state of national tranquility, security, safety, prosperity.

Argumentation:

Rev. 17:14—“These[10 kings serving antichrist] will wage war against the Lamb, & the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords & King of kings, & those who are with Him are the called & chosen & faithful.””

Jesus is sovereign over all who are considered sovereigns!

Illustration:

Video or reading of S. M. Lockridge’s ‘That’s My King’(below)

Application:

?Your King the HIGHER KING?

?You one of the Best of Baptists?—Are you Christian?

The Bible says

He’s the King of the Jews