Central Thought: Only the sacrifice of the Blood of Jesus Christ our High Priest guarantees eternal
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Hymn: I’ve a message from the Lord.
Text: Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1-6, 7:23-27
The position of the High Priest in the Old Testament was a key and highly exalted one. The New Testament Church is not without a High Priest, Jesus Christ the Lord.
The Old Testament Priesthood was a shadow of what was to come. Like Melchizedek, Christ is ordained a priest forever (Hebrew 5:5-10). Like the Levitical priests, Jesus offered a sacrifice to satisfy the law of God when he offered Himself for our sins (Hebrews 7:26-27). Unlike the Levitical Priests who had to continually offer sacrifice for sins, Jesus only had to offer His sacrifice once, gaining eternal redemption for all who come to God through Him (Hebrews 9:12).
Every priest is appointed from among men, but Jesus, our High Priest, through God from eternity, became a man suffered death, to reconcile us back to God (Hebrews 2:9). As a man He was subject to all weakness and temptations that we are acquainted with, so that He could personally relate to us in our struggles (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus is greater than any other priest so He is called our “Great High Priest” in Hebrews 4:14, and that gives us the boldness to come “unto the throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and fine Grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
In this study, we shall examine the superiority of Christ’s Priesthood and His present ministry.
Lesson Objectives:
- To understand how the High Priests of Old Testament were selected and how it relates to Christ.
- To identify those things that made Christ
- To understand the present Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ as High Priest.
- To know how someone can benefit from Christ’s Priesthood.
Bible truth:
Question 1.A) How were the High Priests selected in the Old Testament? Relate same to Christ.
In the Old Testament, the High Priest has to be called by God and selected from among the descendant of Aaron whom God had chosen to serve in the Tabernacle as Priest in accordance with the Law of Moses.
Similarly Christ did not elect Himself to be a High Priest, he was also chosen by God, when He said to Him, “You are my son. Today I have begotten you…. You are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:5-6).
Question 1.B) What were the functions of the Old Testament High Priest?
The High Priest was chosen to speak for other men in their dealings with God. He presented their gifts to God and offered to Him the blood of animals that were sacrificed to cover the sins of the people and for his own sins because he also was a man subject to the same weakness as they were. He did this year after year to purify himself and the people before coming to God in the Tabernacle (Hebrews 5:1, Leviticus 9:7).
Question 2.A) Identify those things that made Christ’s priesthood superior to those of the Old Testament High Priest.
Christ’s Priesthood is superior to those of the Old Testament High Priests for the following reasons:
- Christ’s Priesthood was established with an oath, while that of Aaron and his descendants was not (Hebrews 7:20).
- The ordination of the Old Testament Priesthood was under the law of Moses, with all its imperfection, but Christ Priesthood is perfect because He was without sin, though in the form of a man, yet without sin before God, so He had no need to make sacrifice for his own sins like the Old Testament Priests (Hebrew 7:26, & 27).
- Christ our High Priest ministers in the Heavenly Tabernacles while Aaron and his descendants ministered in the earthly Tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2).
- While the Priesthood of the Old Testament ends at the death of the High Priest, Christ’s Priesthood is for ever-endless (Hebrews 7:20b, 5:6).
- The Old Testament Priests offered sacrifices for sin with animal, but Christ offered Himself for the remission of the sins of the people (Hebrews 7:27).
- Christ Priesthood brought eternal salvation to all who believe in Him (Hebrews 5:9).
Question 2.B) What is the place of the blood of Jesus in the salvation of Mankind?
The scripture says “without shedding of blood is no remission” (of sins) Hebrews 9:22. The Old Testament Priest entered the most Holy place in the Tabernacle to sprinkle the blood of goats and calves on the altar for the cleansing of his own and the people’s sins every year. The repetition of this exercise is as a result of the imperfection of the priest and the blood of sacrifice, but the priesthood of Christ is perfect (spiritual) and He entered into the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Tabernacle & Sprinkled His own (perfect) blood on the altar for the cleansing of the sins of those who believe on Him. His priesthood is perfect and everlasting, so He needed no repetition of the exercise. This is able to cleanse the people from their sins once and for all, and deliver them from everlasting damnation. Thus it is the blood of Jesus that secures salvation for as many as believe on Him (Ephesians 1:7, Matthew 26:28).
Question 3.) What is the present ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ as a high priest?
As a high Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ is presently sitting at the right hand of God the Father interceding on behalf of the believer, reminding God that He has paid for their sins with His Blood. He continues this until the believer returns to meet Him in glory, He is, therefore the kind of High Priest we need, He is holy, blameless, unstained with sin, undefiled by sinners, and has been given a place of honor in Heaven. He is able to save to the uttermost those who believe Him. Hallelujah (Hebrews 7:25).
Question 4.) What does it entail to obtain help from the throne of Grace?
To obtain help from the throne of Grace, the individual should be Born Again, which entails confessing his sins, repenting of them, and accepting Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He must go boldly to God with a true heart, fully trusting Him to receive. In other words, he must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Our confidence results from the fact that our High Priest Jesus Christ, is now the ruler over God’s house hold therefore we go in assurance (faith) that we will obtain help from God when we truly need it (Hebrews 10:19-23, 11:6).
Question 5.) Read Hebrews 4:15 and discuss the challenges this poses for the believer of today.
The passage reminds us that this our High Priest Jesus Christ, while on earth, though Divine was also human. He was exposed to the same circumstances, conditions and temptations todays believers are face with yet He did not sin. This really poses a challenge to today’s believers. We have no excuse or reason whatsoever to yield to any temptation. Our High Priest is able to deliver those that are being tempted, and He also promised to make a way out of the temptation (2 Peter 2:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13). All the believer needs do, is to run to Him who is able to sustain those who are being tempted. He either provides a way of escape from the temptation or provide enough grace to enable him endure it to the end.
Daily Living Application:
The Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ is superior to any other Priesthood. He abides forever, and unchanging. He is dependable and sufficient for all human needs- spiritual, physical or material; both in this life and the life eternal. All who truly believe and are sure of their salvation should see this as an advantage and opportunity to totally resign themselves to this High Priest who now, is the ruler over the household of God.
Memory Verse:
Hebrews 4:15
“For we have not an 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”.