NT: “Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves. Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place… With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing. This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience. They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:1-3, 6-10‬ ‭CSB)

Not only was Christ the superior Great High Priest of a superior priesthood, and mediator of a superior covenant – He ministered in a superior sanctuary. When God gave Moses the law of the first covenant, He also gave Moses the blueprints for the tabernacle of meeting. God’s instructions for the building of the tabernacle and the crafting of its implements begins in Exodus 25 and continues through Exodus 27. We then read about the building of the tabernacle and its implements in Exodus 35-38. Finally, we read about God’s glory filling the tabernacle in Exodus 40. Even though God’s glory filled the tabernacle, it was not God’s actual dwelling place. The tabernacle was not built to house God. The tabernacle and its implements were types and symbols of the true sanctuary of God… they were types and symbols of Christ and the grace that can be found when we draw near to God through Christ.

Within the holy place of the earthly first-covenant tabernacle was a golden lamp stand, the table of showbread where the daily loaves of bread were kept, and the alter of incense. Those implements were types of Christ. Christ is the Light of the World, the Bread of Life, and our Great High Priest who ever intercedes on our behalf. The implements are also symbols of what we have in Christ by faith. In Christ, we have the light of the Holy Spirit to lead our way. In Christ, we receive our daily bread and we feed on His word. In Christ, through the leading of the Holy Spirit and the truth of His word, we are able to pray prayers that God hears and answers.

Just past the altar of incense was the veil (which was a thick curtain) that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Inside the Most Holy Place was the Ark of the Covenant, which held reminders of God’s covenant with Israel. On top of the Ark was the Mercy Seat – a representation of God’s throne. Once a year, the high priest would venture beyond the veil and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat to receive mercy and atonement for the sins of the people. That process of atonement foreshadowed what Christ would do through His death and resurrection, and the Most Holy Place was an earthly symbol of the throne room of God in the heavenlies.

In Matthew 27:51, we read that when Christ breathed His last breath on the cross, there was a great earthquake and the veil in the sanctuary was ripped in two from top to bottom, symbolizing that through Christ’s death, God Himself removed the veil that separated man from God. In that moment, the “tabernacle” as it were was turned on end, with the Most Holy Place now residing in heaven. When Christ went to be with the Father, he didn’t proceed to the earthly Holy of Holies. He ascended into heaven and entered into the true and everlasting sanctuary of God… and He remains there to this day, at the right hand of God the Father, ministering as our Great High Priest on our behalf.

The process of worship in the first covenant was all about ceremonial purification, but it had no power to bring true spiritual purification. Now, through Christ, we can approach – not a tabernacle or temple – but God Himself; and through faith in Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, we can be truly purified and made completely new. We are no longer relegated to worshiping God with types and symbols, but we can worship in the true Light of the World, feed from the true Bread of Life, Pray effective prayers by the Holy Spirit, and come boldly before the true Throne of Grace for help in time of need.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You, that through You my worship of God is no longer limited by my sinful impurity. Through You, I no longer have to rely on an imperfect man to approach God for me on my behalf. Through You, I am no longer relegated to worshiping God from a finite place on earth, but can worship Him anytime, anywhere. Thank You for providing the means for having the veil ripped in two so that I can approach God through You. I choose to not take all You have accomplished for grated, and choose to enjoy the fellowship with God through worship that You have provided. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

OT: ““What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live” — this is the declaration of the Lord God  — “you will no longer use this proverb in Israel. Look, every life belongs to me. The life of the father is like the life of the son — both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die… But you may ask, ‘Why doesn’t the son suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity? ’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all my statutes, he will certainly live. The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won’t suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity, and a father won’t suffer punishment for the son’s iniquity. The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him. But if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die. None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives? But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed… Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your rebellious acts, so they will not become a sinful stumbling block to you. Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!”” (‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:2-4, 19-24, 30-32‬ ‭CSB)

The Jewish exiles in Babylon were blaming their ancestors for the judgement they were now facing, and they used a popular proverb to justify themselves and pass blame to those who came before them. They were taking the proverb to mean that children suffer the consequences of their fathers’ sins. In a way that is true, but children are not required to pay for their fathers’ sins. Each person is responsible for their own unrighteous or righteous decisions and behaviors. God didn’t want the exiled Jews to blame their ancestors for their predicament. He wanted them to know that they were responsible for the judgement they were facing… and because they were responsible, they could also repent of their unrighteousness and experience God’s forgiveness.

There is a phenomenon known as “generational sins.” Generational sins are weaknesses, tendencies or behaviors that are handed down from one generation to another. They could be environmental or genetic in nature. For example, if a son grows up in a home with an alcoholic father, that son is likely to grow up to suffer from alcoholism as well. However, that alcoholism is not forced on the son. If the son becomes an alcoholic, he is not relinquished from his own personal responsibility. Though the son may “inherit” a predisposition toward alcoholism, ultimately he is the one that takes the actions to give in to alcoholism, and is the one who must take the actions needed to free himself from alcoholism.

The same phenomenon is true with righteousness as well. If a child grows up in a home with righteous parents, that child will likely behave in a righteous way. However, the parents’ righteousness does not automatically transfer to the child allowing the child a “free pass” into salvation. For the child to be made righteous by faith, they must come to their own confession of faith. Being a child of a redeemed disciple of Christ does not automatically make you a redeemed disciple of Christ.

As powerful and influential as generational sins can be, the grace that is found through faith in Christ is more powerful. I can’t count the number of times that I have seen generational sin patterns broken in a family because someone has come to faith in Christ, repented of the sin and allowed the grace of God to put an end to the cycle. God does not find joy in bringing judgement on anyone. It is always His desire to see people trust in Him, repent of their sin, and receive His grace unto freedom and life. If you find yourself stuck in generational sin patterns, there is good news for you – you can be set free. First, don’t blame your parents and take responsibility. Then trust in the saving and redeeming power of the Gospel. Repent from your sin, believe in Christ and receive His grace. Upon doing that, you will find freedom and life.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You don’t require me to pay for the sins of those who have gone before me – but I am responsible for the sins that I commit… even if the influence of my forebearers was to strong for me to resist. Thank you that Your salvation and Your grace is greater than the power of the sins passed down to me. In You, I can repent and renounce those sins and find freedom and life. Thank you for the freedom and new life I have in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. But finding fault with his people, he says: See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah — not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. I showed no concern for them, says the Lord, because they did not continue in my covenant. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them. For I will forgive their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins. By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:7-13‬ ‭CSB)

In verse 6 of chapter 8, the writer of Hebrews stated that Jesus, as the superior High Priest, was the mediator of a better covenant established on better promises. Beginning at verse 7, he expounded on why a new and better covenant was needed. There was a fault with the people with whom God established the first covenant. The Jewish people were sinful (as were all people) and unable to uphold their side of the covenant. That fault within the Jewish people underscored a fault within the first covenant: there were no provisions in the first covenant to save the people of the covenant from their sin, which prevented them from adhering to the terms of the covenant. The writer then quoted from Jeremiah 31:31-34. Jeremiah served as prophet during the height of Israel’s and Judah’s unfaithfulness to the Lord and His covenant. In the midst of Judah’s wanton disregard for God’s word, will and ways, God declared through Jeremiah that the days were coming when He would establish a new and better covenant with the people. That new covenant would provide a means to deal with the issue of sin and offer forgiveness for the people’s wrongdoing. This new covenant would provide a way for God’s laws to be seared into their minds and His words written on their hearts so that they would be able to obey the word, will and ways of the Lord and keep the covenant’s terms.

Before Jesus went to the cross, He celebrated Passover with His disciples. During the meal, He said this: “This is My body, which is given for you… This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:19-20)” Through Christ’s shed blood, this new and better covenant, which provided for the remission of sin, was established. Within that new covenant were better promises. On that same night, Jesus told His disciples about one of those promises. “If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever… When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgement… When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. (John 14:15; 16:8,13a)” As we place our faith in Christ, become participants in the new covenant, and receive the promise of the Holy Spirit, we are freed from sin, made new in Christ, given a living heart of flesh, and guided into all truth… that by grace through faith and the work of the Holy Spirit, we are able to be faithful to God the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord and His new covenant of grace.

Psalms: “Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have done wrong and have acted wickedly. Our ancestors in Egypt did not grasp the significance of your wondrous works or remember your many acts of faithful love; instead, they rebelled by the sea — the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his power known. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert. He saved them from the power of the adversary; he redeemed them from the power of the enemy. Water covered their foes; not one of them remained. Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭106:6-12‬ ‭CSB)

As the author of Psalm 106 began to recount the ways that Israel had been unfaithful to God, he mentioned some of the reasons they fell into unfaithfulness. The psalmist said that they did not grasp (or understand) God’s wondrous works, nor remember God’s many acts of faithful, covenantal love and mercy. Because they did not fully consider what God had done and did not remember His faithfulness and mercy, they rebelled. Yet even in the midst of their contentiousness against God, He still saved them from their adversary and enemy.

While we were still sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for us and established a new and better covenant of grace. As stated earlier, one of the better promises of Christ’s better covenant is the promise of the Holy Spirit. Part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to us is that He helps us to understand and remember. Jesus said on the night before He was arrested, “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:25-26)” As we become participants in Christ’s new covenant by faith and receive His promise of the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit will help us to more fully understand God’s wondrous works and help us to remember all the things that Christ said about God’s love and mercy… and as we understand and remember, we will be less likely to drift into unfaithfulness.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for your new and better covenant which provided a way for me to be set free from sin and made fully alive in You. I thank You for the better promises, including the promise of the Holy Spirit Who creates in me a new heart, who leads me into all truth, who teaches me all things and helps me to remember all that You have said. I receive Your promise of the Holy Spirit, and endeavor to walk faithfully in Your new covenant by grace through faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law. These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain. But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:1-6‬ ‭CSB)

The writer of Hebrews spent the last chapter talking about Melchizedek and the priesthood of Christ – but for what reason. He stated His reason here: to prove that the priesthood of Christ is better than the Levitical priesthood, as He is the forever minister of the real and true tabernacle of God, not a temporary minister of an earthly copy that is merely a shadow of the real thing. The tabernacle that God instructed Moses to build, and later the temple that David charged Solomon to build, were not the real and true dwelling place of the Lord God. They were copies and shadows, giving those on earth an idea and foreshadowing of what was to come. The Levitical priesthood was just a shadow of the priesthood to come in order to help people understand what Christ’s ministry would be. Christ, through His sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension, became the fullness of what the priesthood was intended to be. He serves in the true tabernacle at the right hand of God the Father. He intercedes for us, not before a mercy seat, but to God the Father Himself. And He is the mediator of a better covenant which is established on better promises. Through faith in Christ, we reap the benefits of His superior priesthood, better covenant and better promises.

Psalms: “How happy are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times. Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people. Come to me with your salvation so that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your nation, and boast about your heritage.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭106:3-5‬ ‭CSB)

The writer of Psalm 106 knew that God had promised to show favor to His people and bring them salvation. He knew that God had promised to bless those whom He had chosen with prosperity. So when it came time for God’s promises to be fulfilled, The psalmist wanted God to remember him as one who practiced righteousness and not as one who was unfaithful. Abraham was chosen by God because of his faith. Isaac was chosen by God because he was the son of faith and promise. God then chose Jacob (later named Israel) over Esau and chose the descendants of Israel to be His chosen people. The nation of Israel was chosen by God to live according to His word, will and ways, proclaim His praises, and make the name of God famous throughout the earth. His intent was that they were to serve as a kingdom of priests bringing the rest of the world to the knowledge and worship of God.

One could make a case that, in a way, God’s choosing of Israel was a foreshadow of the chosen generation of royal priests that would come out of every nation, tribe and tongue in Christ Jesus. To those in Christ, the Apostle Peter wrote this: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)” How do we become one of God’s chosen? Well, the details and beliefs around that question have been debated for centuries. The great Charles H Spurgeon, known as the “Prince of Preachers,” once said this:

“Do not imagine for an instant that I pretend to be able thoroughly to elucidate the great mysteries of predestination. There are some men who claim to know all about the matter. They twist it round their fingers as easily as if it were an everyday thing; but depend upon it, he who thinks he knows all about this mystery, knows but very little. It is but the shallowness of his mind that permits him to see the bottom of his knowledge; he who dived deep, finds that there is in the lowest depth to which he can attain a deeper depth still. The fact is, that the great questions about man’s responsibility, free-will, and predestination, have been fought over, and over, and over again, and have been answered in ten thousand different ways; and the result has been, that we know just as much about the matter as when we first began. The combatants have thrown dust into each other’s eyes, and have hindered each other from seeing; and then they have concluded, that because they put other people’s eyes out, they could therefore see.”

Charles H. Spurgeon, Sermon #239, Delivered Jan 16th, 1859

I, like Spurgeon, do not pretend to know or understand everything about God’s election, nor do I find it worthwhile to debate the various sides. I do have my individual beliefs, which are informed through my study of the scripture, my 40+ years of walking with the Lord, and the teachings of proven people that I respect – and those beliefs come out in the things that I write – but I am sure there is much that I don’t understand and won’t fully understand. However, this I do know: Those who are in Christ are chosen… and they are grafted into God’s chosen people through faith in Christ. So as much as it depends on me, I will endeavor to walk with Christ and abide in Christ by faith… and steadfastly hope with assurance, that at the end of days, I will be among the chosen.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that through You I am no longer limited to approaching a shadow of Your dwelling place, but can now abide in You through faith and can boldly approach the true throne of grace through You. I also thank You, that through faith in You, I am now part of the holy nation of royal priests that You always intended. Keep me in You as I endeavor to walk with You, proclaim Your praises, and abide in You through faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do — first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:26-28‬ ‭CSB)

Unlike the Levitical priests, Jesus Christ was holy (unmarred by sin and free from wickedness), innocent (without deceitfulness, fraud or guilt), and undefiled (pure and unsoiled by the world or a sin nature). Before the Levitical priests could approach the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the people, they first had to deal with their own sin. Sacrifices had to be made to temporarily atone for their sins first. Then the priests could offer sacrifices to temporarily atone for the sins of the people. The atonement was temporary, because the blood of bulls, goats, rams and lambs was not sufficient to fully pay for the sins of mankind. The animal sacrifices did not remove sin, they merely covered the sin for a time… then more sacrifices would have to be offered.

Because Jesus was holy, innocent and undefiled, He did not have to offer sacrifices for Himself, for He had no sin to cover up. Because Jesus was holy, innocent and undefiled, He could could offer His life as a completely sufficient sacrifice – not to just cover up sin, but to pay for it and remove it all together. When Jesus offered Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sin, He did it once and for all time. No other sacrifices are required. By the offering of His life, He was then separated (departed) from the world of sinners and exalted above the heavens to sit as our Great High Priest and Mediator forever. When we place our faith in His life, death and resurrection, His sacrifice is applied to us, our sin is removed, and we are declared righteous in Christ.

Psalms: “Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. Who can declare the Lord’s mighty acts or proclaim all the praise due him?” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭106:1-2‬ ‭CSB)

Psalm 106 is primarily about the faithlessness of the nation of Israel. However, its purpose was not to condemn Israel, but to praise the Lord for His unceasing and unconditional faithfulness. Before the psalmist dove into the sordid details of Israel’s failings, he wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the Lord was faithful. His first word: Hallelujah! Which means to boast loudly and fanatically in the Lord. He then charged every reader to give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and His checed (zealous mercy, faithfulness, and covenantal love) that endures forever. How much more should that be said to us who have been recipients of Christ’s sacrificial love which removed our sin completely and His everlasting grace which continuously makes us holy. As the psalmist wrote, no one is capable of giving the Lord the praise that is due Him – but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try. Despite our faithlessness, God has been faithful to save us to the uttermost. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You loved me so much that You offered Your life as the perfect, once and for all sacrifice that paid for and removed my sin and provided a way for me to be molded into Your perfect and holy image. Help me to not take that for granted, but to ever give You thanks and the praise that is due Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.” Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:18-25‬ ‭CSB)

As a reminder, the book of Hebrews was primarily written to Jewish Christians, who under the pressures of persecution, were considering leaving their faith in Christ and reverting back to Judaism. Much of the book of Hebrews proves out that everything we have through faith in Christ is better than what was available under strict adherence to Judaic law. Ultimately, the law was giving for this purpose: to make people aware of their own unrighteousness and their need for salvation. The law only had the power to condemn. It did not have the power to save, to make one righteous, or to give life. Ultimately, as the law pointed to our need for salvation, it pointed to Christ who was the only one worthy to fulfill the law and complete its intended purpose. Because the law was weak and unprofitable, and because the law became fulfilled in Christ; through Christ, the law was annulled and a new covenant was established. With the establishment of a new covenant came the establishment of a new priesthood; which was much, much better.

Like the law under which it was established, the Levitical priesthood was imperfect. Because it was imperfect, it could not continue forever. Because it could not continue forever, God swore in an oath that He would establish a new and everlasting priesthood. All of the Levitical priests eventually died, but the new priest of the new everlasting priesthood would remain forever and hold His priesthood permanently. That new permanent priest is Jesus Christ who has become the eternal guarantee of God’s new and better covenant. The Greek word for covenant refers to a last will and testament. As the Son of God and the Word of God made flesh, Christ basically wrote the will. He then died, sealing the will with His own blood and allowing the will to take effect. Finally, Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven where He now sits overseeing and guaranteeing the terms of the will forever.

Christ’s death provided the means for our salvation: it paid for our sin and put the new covenant of grace in effect. When we place our faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross, we are saved. However, it doesn’t end there. Because Christ ever lives and intercedes for us as our priest before God, Christ not only saves – He saves us completely. In other words, beyond just saving us, Christ continues sanctifying those who come to God through Him unto perfection. The longer we remain in Christ by faith… approaching God through Him… the more we are sanctified from glory, to glory into His likeness. And if we remain in Him by faith until the end, we will be completely perfected by Him in glory.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the salvation that You provided and secured for me through Your sacrificial death on the cross. Through faith in You, I am truly saved. I also thank You that Your word didn’t end there. As I remain in You, not only am I saved, I am continuously sanctified and made more and more like You… here on earth and ultimately with You in glory. Thank You for Your covenant of grace. Continue molding me, shaping me and sanctifying me by grace as I reman in You through faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. For it has been testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:11-17‬ ‭CSB)

The word ‘perfection’ here has to do with completion and fulfillment. The Levitical priesthood under the order of Aaron was prescribed by the law to uphold the law, but it could not complete and fulfill the law. The One who was called by God the Father and anointed by God the Spirit to complete and fulfill the law was Jesus Christ. He was not from the tribe of Levi, but was from the tribe of Judah. According to the law, only Levites could serve as priest. Therefore, by Christ’s fulfillment of the law, the law was made obsolete and a new priesthood was established.

Centuries before Christ’s ministry on earth, King David prophesied that the Anointed One of God would be made a priest, not under the Aaronic order, but according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). Melchizedek pre-dated the law. He was the King of Salem (now known as Jerusalem) and had been appointed by God to serve as Priest of the Most High God. As the writer of Hebrews explained, while Levi was yet unborn and still within the loins of Abraham, he, through Abraham, offered tithes to Melchizedek. Therefore Melchizedek was greater than Levi and the Levitical priests that came from his seed. Melchizedek was not of the law, he was not limited by the law, and his priesthood was not ordained under the law. In the same way, Jesus Christ (who brought perfection to the law and priesthood) transcends the law and has been appointed as priest, not by law or inheritance, but by God the Father and the power of indestructible life. Through Christ, the old has been fulfilled and done away with, and a new covenant has been established by His sacrificed life and is ever upheld by His everlasting and indestructible life.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You have brought perfection and power to the priesthood. I thank You that You fulfilled the law and the prophets (when no one else was able) and now serve under the new covenant of grace as my powerful Priest forever. Now, as I remain in You, I am called and anointed to serve God as a member of His royal priesthood – bringing people to Christ and bringing praise and honor to the Lord forever. Help me to serve by grace under Your priesthood as I remain in You by faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

OT: “Again the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, what is this proverb you people have about the land of Israel, which goes, ‘The days keep passing by, and every vision fails’? Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will put a stop to this proverb, and they will not use it again in Israel.’ But say to them, ‘The days have arrived, as well as the fulfillment of every vision. For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. But I, the Lord, will speak whatever message I will speak, and it will be done. It will no longer be delayed. For in your days, rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”” (‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭12:21-25‬ ‭CSB)

Warren Wiersbe wrote this in The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: “During the siege of Jerusalem (606-586 BC), error had the support of government and religious leaders, and most of the Jewish exiles in Babylon agreed with them. “We will never give in to the Babylonian army!” was the cry of the Jewish people in Jerusalem. “The Lord will never allow the Gentiles to destroy His Holy City or defile His holy temple!” One dissenting voice in Jerusalem was Jeremiah; in Babylon it was Ezekiel.”

Throughout scripture, there have been times when God has sent a prophetic voice to a people to confront them of their sin and warn them of judgement to come. God then delays His judgement to give the people the opportunity to hear His words, respond to His words and repent of their sin and unrighteousness. If the prophetic warnings are not responded to, eventually judgement comes. In the case of the city of Nineveh, the people heeded the words of Jonah and judgement was averted. Other times, as it was with Israel and Judah, the prophetic warnings were ignored and judgement eventually came.

For some time, Ezekiel had been sharing his visions with the Babylonian exiles, warning them of the impending fall of Jerusalem – but nothing had happened. Instead of heeding Ezekiel’s warnings, the people began to ridicule them… even coming up with a proverb about his visions that never came to fruition. Though God had delayed His judgement for a time, the merciful delay of the Lord had come to an end. God’s word to Ezekiel was, “The days have arrived, as well as the fulfillment of every vision… it will no longer be delayed.”

There is a phrase that the pastor of my church often says: “Judgement delayed is not judgement denied.” God is merciful and longsuffering, slow to anger and abounding in love. He delays judgement for our sakes – to give us the opportunity to repent and be saved from judgement and wrath. But we can’t confuse His delay with a denial of judgement. His judgement will come. For nearly two millennia, the church has been both looking forward to and warning of the immanent return of Christ… and for nearly two millennia, nothing has happened. God delays because it is His desire that all will be saved and come to the knowledge of Christ. He is waiting for every language and every people group on earth to have the opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ, respond, repent and believe. When that happens, the end will come and God’s final judgement will be delayed no longer.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for Your mercy and longsuffering to humanity – giving everyone time to hear Your words, be convicted of unrighteousness, repent and believe on Christ for salvation. Help me to not grow doubtful in the waiting, but to be like Ezekiel: a consistent voice to all who will hear, proclaiming the gospel and calling people to repent and believe. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

OT: ““Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Though I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’ “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ “When they arrive there, they will remove all its abhorrent acts and detestable practices from it. I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, so that they will follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts pursue their desire for abhorrent acts and detestable practices, I will bring their conduct down on their own heads.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.” (‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭11:16-21‬ ‭CSB)

While Ezekiel was exiled in Babylon, the Lord appeared to him in a vision – and in the vision, He swept Ezekiel off to Jerusalem and allowed him to witness the depravity that was going on behind closed doors, which led to God’s judgement of Jerusalem and the departure of God’s glory from the temple. It was quite a sobering and somber experience. Yet, in the midst of the despair and hopelessness, God gave Ezekiel this promise.

Though God’s people had been taken into exile… though God’s glory had left the temple, and the temple would soon be destroyed, there would come a day when God would assemble all His people from the nations of the world and bring them back home. God would then give His people integrity of heart and fill them with a new spirit. He would remove their hardened heart of stone and give them a new and living heart of flesh. With that new heart and new spirit, they would be able to follow God’s statutes, keep God’s ordinances, practice His ways, and remove the depravity from the land. God declared it, therefore God would do it.

The initial fulfillment of God’s promise occurred when the exiles were allowed to return to the land and rebuild the temple and walls of Jerusalem. God’s promise of giving His people a new spirit and a new heart was initially fulfilled through the salvation and new birth that is experienced through faith in Christ. The ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise has not yet happened. One day, at the end of the age, Christ will return to completely defeat His enemies. Sin, death and the devil will be completely destroyed once and for all, and a new heaven and earth will be populated by the redeemed sons and daughters of God forever. The hope that God gave Ezekiel so many years ago is still the blessed hope of all who call on the name of the Lord and place their faith in Him.

Psalms: “He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he ordained for a thousand generations  — the covenant he made with Abraham, swore to Isaac, and confirmed to Jacob as a decree and to Israel as a permanent covenant: “I will give the land of Canaan to you as your inherited portion.”” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105:8-11‬ ‭CSB)

God is faithful to His covenant forever. Whatever He says He will do, He will do. Fulfillment delayed is not fulfillment denied. The promise that He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – though it tarried over the course of generations – was fulfilled. The promise that God made to Ezekiel was fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled. The new covenant that was sealed through the blood of Christ and offered to all who place their faith in Him is being fulfilled will ultimately be fulfilled at the end of the age.  For those who place their hope on God and on His Christ, their hope is secure and will not be denied.

NT: “Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance… Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:11-12, 17-20‬ ‭CSB)

God’s purpose is unchangeable and the truth of His word is unchangeable. If God purposes in His heart to do something, and says that He is going to do something, it will be done. God’s purpose and all of His word is fulfilled in Jesus Christ who is our firm and secure anchor of Hope. As Christ was resurrected bodily to reign forever with God, we too have a promise of a bodily resurrection and a joint inheritance with Christ. He was our forerunner… our prototype. As He is, we will be in Him, at the end of days – provided we persevere through faith to the end. That is why it is imperative that we do not grow lazy in our waiting, but continue to press on to take hold of the upward call that is in Christ Jesus. Our hope is assured and is steadfastly anchored in Christ. We just need to be diligent to walk by grace through faith as we look to Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the steadfast and secure hope that I have in You. Regardless of what life may throw at me, You are unchanging, and I can seize the hope I have in You and hang on to it by faith. Help me to not grow weary of well-doing and lazy in the waiting, but to persevere by grace through faith to the end. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits. For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:1-6‬ ‭CSB)

In this passage, the writer of Hebrews laid out what the elementary and foundational teachings of faith in Christ were and continue to be. Those are: repentance from sin and dead works, faith in God, baptism in water, laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgement. In order to be a stable and functioning believer of the faith and follower of Christ, there needed to be applied understanding of those six things. Foundations must be soundly established before building can begin – and if building occurs on a faulty or weak foundation, it is much harder to go back and lay the foundation again. Apparently, among the Hebrew audience of this book, there was a lack of solid foundational understanding – and it was preventing the Hebrews from building on that foundational understanding and progressing toward maturity.

There is a saying among the church that in spiritual matters, there is no such thing as sitting in neutral – you are either pressing forward, or you are getting pushed backward. That is why discipleship is so important… and that is probably why Jesus gave us a commission of preaching the gospel AND making disciples. If someone does not have a solid foundation in the faith through discipleship, not only will they not be able to progress toward maturity, they will probably get pushed into constant cycle of back sliding or even fall into apostasy. The warning given in this passage is not referring to people who back slide, but people who have fallen into apostasy – rejecting the faith and “recrucifying Christ” – which is a possibility and sometimes a reality for people who respond to the gospel message, but never build a solid foundation in the faith and progress toward maturity.

Psalms: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works! Boast in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced, you offspring of Abraham his servant, Jacob’s descendants — his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God; his judgments govern the whole earth.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105:1-7‬ ‭CSB)

Part of a good and solid foundation in Christ is faith in God. Faith in God begins by hearing about God through His word. Faith grows as we understand who God is, what He has done, and express that understanding through praise and thanksgiving. A well-established disciple of Christ will be a person of great praise and thanksgiving – constantly and consistently praising God the Father and His Son for who They are, and constantly and consistently giving thanks for what they have done. Praise and thanksgiving is one of the ways we push against the forces that push against us and press forward to maturity in Christ.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the foundational doctrines of the church that not only keep me rooted and grounded in You, but equip me and enable me to progress forward to maturity in You. I also thank You for Your Holy Spirit who reminds me of Who You are and what You have done, and keeps me rooted to You in faith. Keep me in You as I keep Your word in my heart and press forward by grace through faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.