JESUS Christ’s High Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7:1-10, FAR MORE EXCELLENT THAN Aaron’S PRIESTHOOD, 25-28
“Them that come unto God by Him”. This clause defines who are the partakers of His salvation. Only those who come unto God by Him, does He save. To come to God means, first, to believe on Him (Heb. 11:6); second, to draw nigh to Him in worship (Heb. 10:1, 22). “They that come unto God by Christ are such, as believing in Him, do give up themselves in holy obedience to worship God in and by Him” (John Owen). To be interested in His saving power as the High Priest of His people is to come, First, in obedience unto His authority. There must be a bowing to His scepter and a practical owning of His lordship, otherwise we are rebels and idolators, not worshippers. Second, with reliance upon His mediation as to the acceptance of it, counting on the sufficiency of His sacrifice to atone for our sins and His intercession to procure the acceptance of our persons and offerings. Third, with faith in His person as the foundation of it; so, to believe in Him as vested with His holy office that the discharge of it will save even to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him. Unless we are true believers, our worship will not be accepted. Pink A. W. 11:6. Job 22:17, Ps. 68:31, 32, Is. 45:24, Jer. 3:22. by him. ch. 13:15. Jn. 14:6, Rom. 5:2, Eph. 2:18, First, the quickened sinner comes to Christ, is drawn to Him by the Father Jn 6:44, and through Christ he comes unto God: cf. 1Pet. 3:18. In His priestly office Christ saves from sin unto God. His righteousness carries them beyond Himself as Mediator unto God Himself: cf. Heb. 10:22. “Seeing that He ever liveth ver. 8, 16, 24. These words express the reason why Christ is able to effectually save His people: that which secures them is His perpetual life—“He ever liveth”; to make intercession for them.” ch. 9:24, Is. 53:12, Jn. 14:13, 16; 16:23, 24; 17:9–26, Rom. 8:34, 1Tim. 2:5, Rev. 8:3, 4. His perpetual work—“to make intercession”. This is what gives efficacy to the priesthood of Christ. He assures them “because I live, ye shall live also” Jn. 14:19. The ultimate object of His death upon the cross was His resurrection and ascension. Let Romans 8:33–35 also be duly weighed. By the once offering of Himself, Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9:12). “The intercession of Christ is the great evidence of the continuance of His love and care, His pity and compassion towards His Church. “For such an High Priest became us, such. ver. 11; ch. 8:1; 9:23–26; 10:11–22, became. ch. 2:10, Lk. 24:26, 46, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, holy. Is. 53:9, Lk. 1:35; 23:22, 41, 47, Jn. 8:29; 14:30, 2Cor. 5:21, 1Pet. 2:22, and made higher than the heavens” (v. 26, ch. 1:3; 4:14; 8:1; 12:2, Ps. 68:18, Mk. 16:19, Eph. 1:20–22; 4:8–10, 1Pet. 3:22. “The only high priest fitted to officiate before God on the behalf of desperately-wicked sinners was one who was “holy”. The absolute purity of Christ’s nature. He was entirely free from the slightest spot or taint of our original defilement. His humanity was “that holy thing” (Luke 1:35). His conception by the operation of the Holy Spirit. He was completely exempt from the pollutions which corrupts every one of Adam’s descendants. He could say, “the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30): there was nothing within Him to which the Evil one could make a successful appeal.” Pink A. W. It continues.