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BETTER THINGS THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC Hebrews 7:17 Hebrews 8:1-2
I want to bite off a pretty big chunk of the book of Hebrews tonight and cover in this one message chapters 7-10.
I have not made mention of it a lot, but the title for the series I am preaching is “Better Things.”
That’s because the major theme presented in the whole book is that Jesus is better…..
In our message tonight we will discover that Jesus is in
The title for tonight’s message is The order of Melchisedec
The subject of this new and better priesthood, after the order of Melchisedec was first introduced in chapter four.
We find hints of it in chapters 5 and 6 and the subject develops until;
There are in chapters 7 through 10, not so much a comparison as a contrast between the Old Testament Levitical priesthood.
And the heavenly priesthood after the order of Melchisedec
The Levitical priesthood is a pattern of the heavenly priesthood, but they are not the same
With that said, and in an attempt to maintain my focus in this series of messages to diligently seek Jesus, allow me to give you three major messages, specific to Jesus Christ, we find within these chapters -
First notice with me I. THE EXTENT OF CHRIST’S SALVATION Hebrews 7:25
Some of the grandest words in all of the Bible are “He is able….”
Don’t ever let go of that!
Jesus Christ is able.
But let’s stick right to our text tonight A. He is able to save them to the uttermost The word is very powerful….
It means Altogether, entirely, completely
1. He can save all who come to Him
No one is excluded from this.
Christ can save anyone, at any time, under any conditions
That does not mean that everyone is saved. But everyone could be saved if they would come to Him
2. He saves those who come to Him completely.
He doesn’t just partially save us so that we will go to heaven but we have a wreck of a life on earth
He doesn’t save us, but tell us we are such vile people we could never serve Him
The moment we get saved, we are ordained to serve God, to do good works for the Lord.
3. He saves in the uttermost parts of the earth Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV)
No one excluded from the invitation to come to Jesus.
Jesus invites souls to come to Him for salvation
There is not a soul that has ever lived who is invited to come to Christ for salvation
But that is not only true of other countries It is also true in our own United States.
We have our own “uttermost part”
II. THE ELEMENT OF CHRIST’S SALVATION Hebrews 9:12-14 The blood of Christ
Blood is mentioned 10 times in this one chapter contrasting the blood of the sacrificial animals of the Old Testament to the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ.
A. This blood is His own blood Vs 12
B. This blood purges the conscience Vs 14
C. This blood puts away sin once for all Vs 26
D. This blood looks for His return Vs 28
When you have been washed in this blood you are excited for Jesus to appear because you know you will appear without sin before Him.
Finally le me speak about III. THE END OF CHRIST’S SALVATION Hebrews 10:12-14
Illustration: When I was in college I worked as the janitor for the college and the Christian school attached to it.
I am thankful for those who serve the Lord’s work (as well as commercially) by cleaning up after others…
But to be honest, it was not my favorite job.
Every day was exactly the same as the day before. About the most exciting thing was that I got to collect all the pop cans and cash them in for a McDonald’s date about every two weeks.
One day one of the kids was going through the pop cans and found a $2000 winner in a Coke contest. That just about ended our college days dates!
In the Old Testament sacrificial system the priest never finished their work.
Every day was exactly the same as the day before. Hebrews 10:11 KJV And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Every day was the same old same old. And the priest KNEW his work could never REALLY take away sins.
No so with Jesus Christ. There are three indicators in the text that what Jesus did is done
A. He sat down Vs 12
John 17:1-4 KJV These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, ….. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
The priest could never sit down because he was never finished.
Jesus said, “I have finished the work…”
B. He hath perfected for ever them Vs 14
Not only has He finished His work – He has finished us; forever.
C. He has forgotten our sin Vs 17-18
Vs 3 said that the repetition of the Old Testament sacrifices was a constant reminder of sins.
But with the sacrifice of Christ our sins are forgotten….
And there is no need for another sacrifice – ever again!
Conclusion I am confident in this room I do not need to make a case why we should put away the Levitical priesthood in favor of Jesus Christ.
But I am equally confident that the same theme – that Christ is so much better; is one that we all would do well to come to grips with.
Jesus Christ is able.
It is Jesus we need and therefore Hebrews chapter 10 ends with two last remarks I want to give you…. Hebrews 10:35 KJV Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Hebrews 10:38 KJV Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. |
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For further information contact Pastor Marvin McKenzie at marvinmckenzie@bbcpuyallup.org |