Nov. 03, 2024

“LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT”

“TO THE UTTERMOST”

HEBREWS 7:1-28

Introduction: Melchizedek: Genesis 14:17-24, Psalm 110:4 

Genesis 14:18-24

Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

As believers, you and I don’t have a changing Priesthood- Jesus Christ will always live to make intercession for us.

Hebrews 7:1-22

The Similarities between Christ and Melchizedek:

*Both are kings and priest- vs.1

*Second, there are parallels between the names Melchizedek and “Salem” on the one hand and Christ’s work as King on the other. The name “Melchizedek” itself seems to point forward in a way to Jesus Christ- vs.2

*Third, the way in which Melchizedek appears in the narrative of Genesis 14 suggest additional similarities with Christ.

Melchizedek foreshadows the coming of the Son of God.

*A Perfect And Permanent Priesthood- Hebrews 7:23-28

1.   The Permanent Priesthood of Jesus

Hebrews 7:23-25 “Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Therefore our Great High Priest, is uninterrupted in ministry, He is able to “save to the uttermost…” vs.25. 

The word “uttermost” is a Greek compound word, meaning “all & to the end,” and the completion of all things. Thus Jesus serves us as priest until He has brought about our complete salvation.

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

“He always lives” vs.25 or He ever liveth.

“to make intercession” vs.25- actually means intervention. He intervenes for us.

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

An advocate is a comforter, someone to stand at our side, Jesus Christ the righteous.

How wonderful to know we have a living Christ! You are not alone, so why not turn to Him?

2.   The Nature and Station of Our High Priest-Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 7:26-28 “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” 

vs.26 “For such a High Priest was fitting for us…” Jesus was suited to us, He meets our needs completely.

*He is “Holy”- vs.26- and therefore He can bring us to a state of holiness. That is in relationship to God, He is the holy One.

*He is “Harmless”-vs.26- He is free from evil and has no motive except for our ultimate good.

*He is “Undefiled”-vs.26- While on earth, Christ proved His sinlessness in that He was not stained by sin while in a world full of sinners.

*He is now “separate from sinners..” vs.26- that is, He is now been exalted to His heavenly state as our High Priest.

*He is now “become higher than the heavens.” vs.26- There is no position in heaven or on the earth more exalted than Jesus’.

Hebrews 1:4 “Having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

Hebrews 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”

vs.27 “who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.”

The Lord Jesus did not need to offer any sacrifices for His own sin, He had none. On the cross, Jesus provided an all-sufficient sacrifice for sin.

Hebrews 6:17-18 “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”

vs.28 “For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” 

We have a High Priest who can be touched, who can be reached today.

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

If we confess our sins to Him, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“To the Uttermost” Christ is able.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”