The Demands Of A Perfecting Priesthood

The DEMANDS OF A PERFECTING PRIESTHOOD—Hebrews 7:11-28

Need:

Can I be accepted/perfect before God? Can I earn His favor? If I follow the law spelled out in the Bible, will that make me accepted?

Mankind(in general) desperately wants to be accepted by his/her God. But we carry differing opinions as to how this can be accomplished.

I must know the truth regarding my status before God. Otherwise I will pointlessly waste my limited time on this earth with frivolous endeavors.

We must be accepted by God to find our peace, path & purpose.

But in order to do that we must rightly represent ourselves before Him.

Can we be sure that God accepts us?

& if so...

How can we be sure that God accepts us?

The Hebrew’s audience was informed of the need for a perfecting priesthood.

Mankind needs a means of access to God.

Thus...

Mankind needs a perfecting priesthood.

What defines a perfecting priesthood?

What are the marks of a completing priesthood?

4 demands of a perfecting priesthood.

1—A perfecting priesthood demands a...

Change of ORDER(:11)

Explanation:(:11)

:11—“Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, & not be called according to the order of Aaron?”

“Therefore”—The writer makes a rhetorical statement made for the sake of argument, which is done in response to the questions which will surely arise in his audience of Jewish converts.

This directly intersects us in that we assume following certain behavioral rules & patterns endears us to God just as the Jews.

“If perfection”—The audience, at the very depth of their being, is concerned with the “perfection” they receive “through the Levitical priesthood”. This should be a concern for every human being on earth of every generation. In fact many have this concern but misplace their trust in something/someone thru which perfection cannot be attained. Like the Jews who deny Jesus as Messiah, they cannot receive the perfection.

The Jews interpret the reception of God’s intended perfection for them thru reception of the law of God. & indeed if that were the case then there would be no need for “another priest” to arise “according to the order of Melchizedek”. He would instead or rather have been “called”/arisen according to the order of Aaron. That is, he would have continued in the same order as Aaron, ministering according to the law & officiating continually in regard to animal & cereal & drink offerings for sin.

God’s Moral law stands permanently(Adultery, Homosexuality, Theft, Murder, Lying, Covetousness, etc.). These encompass God’s desire for humanity thru our relationships with one another. Acceptance of these relationships simultaneously prepares our hearts for relationship with the Almighty God.

God’s Ceremonial law(limited to Israel thru Temple) is set aside.

“Perfection”—teleiwsiv—N.f.—A completing, a perfecting. Strong—(the act) Completion, i.e. (of prophecy) Verification, or (of expiation) absolution:-- Perfection, performance. From—teleiow—V.—1) To make perfect, complete; 2) To complete (perfect); 3) To bring to the end (goal) proposed; 4) To accomplish.

“Order”—taxiv—1) An arranging, arrangement; 2) Order—2a) a fixed succession observing a fixed time; 3) Due or right order, orderly condition; 4) The post, rank, or position which one holds in civic or other affairs. Strong—Regular arrangement, i.e. (in time) Fixed succession (of rank or character), official dignity:-- Order.

Argumentation:

Col. 2:8-14—“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Gal. 2:20-21—““I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; & the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.””

Illustration:

Supplier of goods

TV Show ‘Ice Pilots’/Story of Buffalo Airways a family-run airline in Hay River, NW Territories, Canada/Multi-faceted—Passengers-Commercial freight-Courier-Waterbombers(fire)/Called to deliver 2 generators to a town which had lost its elecricity in January!/Spent most of the day trying to get the largest generator in the DC-3 cargo door to no avail!/Tried the smaller generator—no go!/Came to find out that the town had acquired another transport co. which got the job done & the town had elecricity that night/Buffalo Airways couldn’t do it/It took a Change of ORDER!