The Law of Atonement- Part 2: The Substance

Genesis 14:14-20 ESV

• KING of Salem—Jerusalem

• High Priest to God most High

• Jesus and Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:11-12 ESV

• The argument is this: IF perfection could have been attained under the Levitical priesthood, then there would have been no need to change to Jesus’ priesthood

• The goal of the Law—perfection

Leviticus 11:44 ESV

• If we are to be Holy, perfection is the only destination

• The guidelines of the Levitical law showed HOW one could accomplish perfection, HOWEVER, the law was not able to make men perfect!

• Sacrificial system—Leviticus 16

• God graciously accepted these “shadows”

* The Levitical Priesthood, then, stood as a “TEMPORARY” solution for an immeasurable problem! *

• A TEMPORARY solution that pointed to the ULTIMATE SOLUTION (dress Rehearsal)

Verse 12- The Change in Priesthood=A Change in the Law

• When the change of priesthood occurred with Christ, there also came a change in the Law!

•How has the Law Changed?

Hebrews 7:13-14 ESV

• Christ is now our High Priest

• Christ is from the tribe of Judah

• The law does not give the priestly office to that tribe, because it was given to Levi

Deuteronomy 31:9 ESV

Joshua 3:3, 6 ESV

1 Chronicles 15:14-15 ESV

* Since Christ is now the High Priest, but not from the tribe of Levi, the law has clearly changed. *

• This argument would silence objections that Jews in his day may have raised

• Jesus cannot be high priest since he is of the tribe of Judah

• This argument is countered by the entire teaching about the order of Melchizedek

• Because Jesus serves under the order of Melchizedek, He is completely worthy of serving as High Priest!

* Since Melchizedek’s priesthood>Levi’s *

• Jesus’ Priesthood>Aaron’s

• A Priest Forever

Hebrews 7:15-17 ESV

* Many Jews in the 1st Century were looking for a Messiah who would also serve as High priest. However, they expected the Messiah to come from Aaron’s order. *

•This was a wrong Expectation as the writer of Hebrews shows by referencing our Old Testament

Psalms 110:1-4 ESV

• In response, the writer of Hebrews emphasizes the SUPERIORITY of the Melchizedekian priesthood.

•The Levitical priesthood was inferior to Melchizedek because the sacrifices under the Levitical order could not save anyone

Hebrews 10:1-4 ESV

• The Sacrifice of the priest of the order of Melchizedek is able to make men RIGHTEOUS

Isaiah 53:10-11 ESV

* When Jesus stepped on the scene 2,000 years ago, He brought with Him a change in the Priestly requirements of the Law (verse 12)

• This change has already been evidenced

• Jesus—Tribe of Judah>Tribe of Levi

• Tribe of Judah—Royal line

* As if the fact that Jesus is from the tribe of Judah wasn’t enough to confirm a change in priesthood, the writer of Hebrews gives us more evidence to confirm Jesus’ priestly work.

Hebrews 7:15-16 ESV

• Jesus’ indestructible life not only shows that His priesthood is superior, but it also evidences His eternality!

John Calvin on Jesus’ Priesthood

• “Unlike the Levitical priesthood, a mortal man did not consecrate him, but the Holy Spirit, and not with oil, nor with the blood of goats, nor with the outward pomp of vestments, but with CELESTIAL Power”

• This indestructible life qualifies Jesus to be the High Priest FOREVER, and enables Him to justify the many by counting them RIGHTEOUS in front of the Father. He will never die or cease to be High priest

* The Levitical Priesthood was TEMPORARY; Christ’s priesthood is ETERNAL *

• A Better Hope

Hebrews 7:18-19 ESV

* Because of persecution, many of the audience of Hebrews were considering returning back to the old covenant *

• They had forgotten the hope found in Christ was better than the hope offered under the old Covenant system

Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV

The Former commandment’s uselessness and weakness

• It is important to understand that at the core of this argument is not the Old Covenant itself, rather, the Levitical priesthood and the attendant sacrifices that were offered year after year for the forgiveness of sin.

• Now that Christ has come, they have ceased! Because they were but a “shadow” of HIS perfect sacrifice!

* The WEAKNESS of the Old is then, to the writer of Hebrews, given way to the PERFECTION of the New.

• The reason for the Law’s weakness is not to be found in the law itself (Romans 7:12)

Romans 7:12 ESV

• The law’s weakness is found in man

• Man’s sinful heart made the law USELESS by itself to grant the righteousness needed

• In the hands of law-breaking humanity, it became an instrument of death. (Romans 7:10)

• The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.

* Christ has now introduced a BETTER HOPE by FULFILLING THE LAW, which now enables the wretched sinner to “Draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7:19)

• Not Without an Oath

Hebrews 7:20-21 ESV

* The people of God have always had a hope for Salvation

Genesis 3:14-15 ESV

• Under the Levitical system, this hope was but a shadow

• It only provided a TEMPORARY solution to the problem of sin.

In this section, the writer of Hebrews again emphasizes the SURETY of Christ’s priesthood by again quoting the 110th psalm.

• God never declared to Aaron that His priesthood would be Eternal (20)

• Rather, God declared that this eternal priesthood would belong to His Son (Psalm 110:4)

* God has SWORN Christ as the Eternal High Priest. This oath is ETERNAL *

• A Better Covenant

Hebrews 7:22-24 ESV

* Legalism has always been a temptation of the church *

• Paul’s admonition of the Galatians for trying to ensure their salvation by works of Law

• Various holiness groups shun anyone who drinks coffee, plays cards, etc.

* Like the Galatians, and some today, the audience of this letter seemed to be doubting the superiority and freedom found in the New Covenant.

• The New Covenant IS SUPERIOR

• We have a high priest appointed not on the basis of legal descent, but of an indestructible life (16)

• Unlike the priests of old, the New High Priest was made so by God’s divine oath (20-21)

• FREEDOM!!!

* Again, the argument is not that the old covenant was worthless, but that it was a SHADOW, a PICTURE of what was to come when the real high priest took His place!

• Instead of having to look forward to a day when God will solve the problem of sin

• We can now look BACK to the CROSS AT CALVARY as the ANSWER to the problem. That is why the New Covenant is SUPERIOR!

• No longer sacrificing bulls and Goats—Jesus was the sacrifice!

• We can now rejoice in the one who has provided PERFECT ATONEMENT!

• We do not have a mediator who has sinned as we have (old)

• We have a mediator without sin!

• We have, not a shadowy promise, but a GLORIOUS FULFILLMENT!

* This Covenant is greater because Jesus is Greater!

• A Priest who Saves Perfectly

Hebrews 7:24-25 ESV

* The priests of the Old Covenant made the FULL experience of salvation IMPOSSIBLE. Why?

• They were sinful

• They were not eternal

They were NEVER able to offer a sacrifice COMPLETELY separated from their sin!

• They could never save anyone, WHY

• They needed to be saved themselves!

* Because Jesus is Eternal and free from sin, He is the power of Salvation itself!

• He can save TO THE UTTERMOST

• ABSOLUTELY DIVINE!

• Christ does not leave us to ourselves for salvation (works) but He brings about our WHOLE salvation!

* Christ’s atonement is perfect, and His intercession is ETERNAL

• Christ FOREVER pleads on behalf of the Children of God

• The priests of old could only do this imperfectly…

• They all died

• Christ FOREVER intercedes for His children!