The
American
Wisdom Series
Presents
Pamphlet 1960 kc 13-1
Christianity is not contained in
religion nor in the following after traditions...
it is the reality of
knowing
Him.
Paul is giving us quite a Bible lesson in this 7th chapter
of Hebrews
concerning the divine authority and power
of our Lord and High Priest, Jesus Christ,
who alone is able to "save
them to the uttermost
that come unto God by Him,
seeing He ever liveth
to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25)".
The point Paul is so thoroughly making and documenting
is that the priesthood of Christ,
promised by God and backed by His solemnly
sworn
oath to the highest power in the universe (Himself)
was "to be after the order of Melchisedec (Ps. 110:4)",
the one who "abideth
[remains] a priest continually [forever] (Heb.
7:3)".
Let us continue to enjoy this rich full-course meal Paul
has prepared for us to consume and digest.
(Keep in mind that were those who were still trying to
observe the law of ordinances
which Christ "blotted out" and completely "took away"
when He died on the cross (see Col. 2:10-17 below.)
Of course there is nothing new under the sun and there
are still those today
who follow church systems based on religious ceremonies
with commandments of do's and don'ts,
such as keep this day or that day or perform this ritual
or that ritual.)
Hebrews
7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under
it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another
priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after
the order of Aaron?
The law, i.e. of religious ordinances of blood sacrifices
to atone for sins, etc.,
including the keeping of certain days and performing
ceremonies and/or rituals of cleansing, etc.,
cannot give anyone life!
That is because "life" can only come from "life",
meaning that eternal life can only come from eternal
life itself,
for that which is temporal cannot supercede itself!
That is why it was necessary and promised by Almighty
God
that Jesus Christ would be a priest after the succession
of Melchisedec (Ps. 110:4),
who we learned in our last study was "Without
father, without mother,
without descent,
having neither beginning of days, nor end of life;
but
made
like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually
(Heb. 7:3)."
To that end, Paul just explained to us in verse 11 that
if perfection (meaning "salvation")
could have been obtained through the Levitical priesthood
under the Old Covenant,
then there simply would have been no need for another
priest to be raised up after the order of Melchisedec.
The logic is that there would be no need to have a New
Covenant if the Old Covenant of laws
and sacrifices administered by the priests of Aaron were
sufficient unto salvation, right?
Hebrews
7:12 For the priesthood
being changed, there is made of necessity
a change also of the law.
This is a profound statement!
You see, the law required that the priesthood be after
the order of Aaron, i.e. of the tribe of Levi... period!
So if Christ were to become the high priest through any
other tribe or order
(such as the tribe of Judah or after the order of Melchisedec),
that law would have to be changed, would it not?
Well, it was!
In fact, all the laws contained in ordinances were completely
done away with
when Christ died on the cross and rent the "veil" to
the Holy of Holies from top to bottom,
entering in as our High Priest once and for all time!
Never again would there ever be a need for
another high priest
for He is our priest forever, eternally, i.e. after the
order of Melchisedec!
If you do not believe and understand what Paul is saying
here,
you may waste much of your life following after the traditions
of men
and their church systems who say you must do some religious
thing
or keep this religious day or say that religious thing,
etc., etc.
Christianity is not contained in religion nor in the following
after traditions... it is the reality of
knowing Him.
Col.
2:10 And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all
principality and power:
[11] In whom
also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting
off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the
spirit,
and
not in the letter; whose praise is
not of men, but of God."
[12]
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
[13] And you,
being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened
together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
To be "quickened" is to be "made alive"... together
with Him... as in you abiding in Him and He in you (Jn. 15:5).
[14]
Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing
it to his cross;
There is a vast difference between the laws of God
such as the Ten Commandments,
and laws which are "statutes" and laws which are contained
in "ordinances"
pertaining to religious ceremonies and sacrifices, etc.
It is only the latter of these that Christ nailed to the
cross
and NOT the laws of God as is so commonly taught among
"milk" drinkers.
To wit... It is still against the law of God
to commit murder!
[15]
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
[16] Let no man
therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday,
or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Don't ever let some preacher type place you in the
bondage of religious things
by claiming you must do this or that
(including religiously going to church every Sunday to
show yourself approved*)
or you are not acceptable to God!
Tell the fool to go read Col. 2 and "bug off"!
* Please understand that I am not
condemning going to church, especially where the Word of God is taught.
[17]
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Again, we read in Col. 2:10 that we, meaning the
many membered body of Christ,
are complete in Him, not in keeping all
those ordinances which were merely temporal shadows
teaching us pictorially and symbolically all about the
One who would come and pay the price!
"Oh... but you don't understand brother!
You must keep Saturday as a holyday, or you must observe
lent,
or you must do this and that!"
I'm sorry,
I'm really not into religion.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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