Christ's Eternal Priesthood: Our Hope and Redemption

Devotional

Day 1: The Eternal Nature of Christ's Priesthood

Jesus' priesthood is unique and eternal, unlike the temporary priesthoods of the Old Testament. His priesthood is based on the power of an indestructible life, making it unchanging and everlasting. This eternal priesthood is established by a divine oath, ensuring its permanence and superiority. As a result, believers have a constant intercessor before God, providing assurance and stability in their faith. The eternal nature of Christ's priesthood means that He is always present to mediate on our behalf, offering us a secure foundation in our relationship with God. [07:28]

Hebrews 7:24-25 (ESV): "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: In what ways can you rely on the eternal nature of Christ's priesthood to bring stability and assurance to your faith journey today?

Day 2: The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice

Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once for all, securing eternal redemption. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament, His sacrifice is final and never to be repeated, highlighting the sufficiency and completeness of His atoning work. Through this sacrifice, believers find forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The finality of Christ's sacrifice assures us that nothing more is needed for our salvation, allowing us to rest in the completeness of His work on the cross. [22:21]

Hebrews 10:12-14 (ESV): "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

Reflection: How does the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice impact your understanding of forgiveness and reconciliation with God? What steps can you take to rest in this truth today?

Day 3: The Complete Removal of Sin

Jesus' sacrifice propitiates God, removing His wrath and putting away our sins forever. This profound reality assures believers that their sins are not only forgiven but also removed as far as the east is from the west. This allows us to live with a clear conscience before God, free from the burden of guilt and shame. The complete removal of sin through Christ's sacrifice enables us to approach God with confidence, knowing that we are fully accepted and loved. [35:14]

Psalm 103:11-12 (ESV): "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin or guilt that you struggle to let go of? How can you embrace the complete removal of sin through Christ's sacrifice and live with a clear conscience today?

Day 4: Christ as Our Steadfast Anchor

Jesus is our steadfast anchor, providing us with a hope that is secure and unshakeable. In the tumultuous sea of life, our anchor is not in the depths but in the heights, secured in the holy place of God. This ensures our stability and peace, even amidst life's challenges and uncertainties. The steadfastness of Christ as our anchor offers us a firm foundation, allowing us to navigate life's storms with confidence and trust in His unchanging nature. [42:53]

Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV): "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

Reflection: What current challenges or uncertainties are you facing? How can you rely on Christ as your steadfast anchor to provide stability and peace in these situations?

Day 5: The Compassionate Intercession of Christ

Jesus, as our high priest, sympathizes with our weaknesses and opens the way for us to confidently approach the throne of grace. In Him, we find mercy and grace to help in our time of need, knowing that He understands our struggles and intercedes on our behalf. His compassionate intercession assures us that we are not alone in our weaknesses and that we have a high priest who truly understands and cares for us. This encourages us to draw near to God with confidence, trusting in His mercy and grace. [45:55]

Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV): "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel weak or in need of support? How can you draw near to the throne of grace today, trusting in Christ's compassionate intercession on your behalf?

Sermon Summary

In this Advent series, we explore the profound question of why God chose to send Jesus when He did, rather than immediately after the fall of Adam. This question leads us to reflect on the nature of humanity and the divine plan that unfolded over 2,000 years. Humanity, from the time of Adam, has been inherently sinful, bent away from God. Despite the presence of prophets, priests, and kings, the Old Testament reveals a consistent failure to achieve the righteousness that glorifies God. This historical backdrop sets the stage for the emergence of Jesus as the superior Prophet, Priest, and King.

Focusing on Jesus as the superior priest, we delve into the book of Hebrews, which highlights the unique and eternal nature of Christ's priesthood. Unlike the priests of the Old Testament, whose roles were temporary and based on lineage, Jesus' priesthood is based on the power of an indestructible life. He is a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who points to the eternal nature of Christ's priesthood. This priesthood is established by a divine oath, underscoring its permanence and superiority.

Jesus' priesthood is superior because He did not need to offer sacrifices for His own sins, being sinless Himself. Instead, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once for all, securing eternal redemption. This sacrifice is not only sufficient but also final, never to be repeated. The benefits of this superior priesthood are profound: Jesus propitiates God for our sins, putting them away forever, and provides eternal salvation. He is our steadfast anchor, offering us a hope that is secure and unshakeable. Moreover, He deals gently with us, sympathizing with our weaknesses and opening the way for us to confidently approach God.

In light of these truths, we are called to trust, treasure, and draw near to God through Jesus, our eternal high priest. This Advent, let us reflect on the superiority of Christ's priesthood and the eternal benefits it brings to our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. The Eternal Priesthood of Christ: Jesus' priesthood is based on the power of an indestructible life, making it eternal and unchanging. Unlike the temporary priesthoods of the Old Testament, His priesthood is established by a divine oath, ensuring its permanence and superiority. This eternal priesthood assures us of a constant intercessor before God. [07:28]
2. The Perfect Sacrifice: Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once for all, securing eternal redemption. This sacrifice is final and never to be repeated, highlighting the sufficiency and completeness of His atoning work. It is through this sacrifice that we find forgiveness and reconciliation with God. [22:21]
3. Propitiation and Removal of Sin: Jesus' sacrifice propitiates God, removing His wrath and putting away our sins forever. This profound reality assures us that our sins are not only forgiven but also removed as far as the east is from the west, allowing us to live with a clear conscience before God. [35:14]
4. A Steadfast Anchor: Jesus is our steadfast anchor, providing us with a hope that is secure and unshakeable. In the tumultuous sea of life, our anchor is not in the depths but in the heights, secured in the holy place of God, ensuring our stability and peace. [42:53]
5. Sympathetic High Priest: Jesus, as our high priest, sympathizes with our weaknesses and opens the way for us to confidently approach the throne of grace. In Him, we find mercy and grace to help in our time of need, knowing that He understands our struggles and intercedes on our behalf. [45:55]
** [45:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Opening Prayer
[00:32] - The Question of Timing
[01:14] - Humanity's Sinful Nature
[02:39] - The Role of Prophets, Priests, and Kings
[03:35] - Letting God Be God
[04:57] - Understanding Jesus as Superior
[06:14] - Key Verse from Hebrews
[07:28] - Eternal Priesthood of Christ
[08:39] - The Role of a Priest
[10:07] - Superiority of Christ's Priesthood
[12:46] - Connection to Melchizedek
[19:06] - Divine Oath and Its Significance
[22:21] - The Perfect Sacrifice
[35:14] - Propitiation and Removal of Sin
[42:53] - A Steadfast Anchor
[45:55] - Sympathetic High Priest
[50:13] - Living in Light of Christ's Priesthood

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Hebrews 7:24-25 - "He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
Hebrews 9:12 - "He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption."
Psalm 110:4 - "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.'"

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Observation Questions:

According to Hebrews 7:24-25, what is the significance of Jesus holding his priesthood permanently? How does this relate to his ability to save? [07:28]
In Hebrews 9:12, what distinguishes Jesus' sacrifice from those of the Old Testament priests? What does this imply about the nature of his redemption? [22:21]
How does Psalm 110:4 connect to the concept of Jesus being a priest after the order of Melchizedek, and why is this important? [14:21]
What role does the divine oath play in establishing the superiority of Christ's priesthood according to Hebrews 7:20-21? [19:06]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the permanence of Jesus' priesthood provide assurance of eternal salvation for believers? What does it mean to be saved "to the uttermost"? [07:28]
Why is it significant that Jesus' sacrifice was made "once for all"? How does this impact the way believers view forgiveness and redemption? [22:21]
What does the connection to Melchizedek reveal about the nature of Jesus' priesthood, and how does it differ from the Levitical priesthood? [14:21]
How does the divine oath in Psalm 110:4 enhance our understanding of Jesus' role as a high priest? What does this oath signify about God's plan? [19:06]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the idea of Jesus as a "steadfast anchor" for your soul. In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on this anchor for stability and peace? [42:53]
Considering Jesus' role as a sympathetic high priest, how can you approach God with more confidence in your daily prayers and struggles? [45:55]
How does understanding the finality and sufficiency of Jesus' sacrifice change the way you deal with guilt and seek forgiveness? [22:21]
In what ways can you draw near to God through Jesus, especially during times of doubt or difficulty? How can this practice become a regular part of your spiritual life? [07:28]
How can the concept of Jesus' eternal priesthood influence the way you view your own spiritual journey and growth? What steps can you take to deepen your trust in his intercession? [07:28]
Reflect on the divine oath that establishes Jesus' priesthood. How does this assurance affect your faith and understanding of God's promises? [19:06]
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to experience the removal of sin and the peace that comes from knowing your sins are put away forever. How can you actively seek this transformation? [35:14]

Sermon Clips

"Have you ever asked why God did not send his son to be born of a virgin to live a sinless life to die for Sinners to rise again to rain why he did not send him 2,000 years earlier When sin entered the world world through Adam Adam's Disobedience was counted as everybody's now so everybody comes into the world you all not only Sinners you are sinful I'm sinful meaning I'm I'm bent by Nature I come into the world bent away from God against God not trusting God not loving God not treasuring God not obeying God that's the way we are." [00:35:12]

"Why didn't God send Jesus then instead of choosing Abraham and the Jewish people and for 2,000 years send prophets who gave us scripture and Priests who gave us sacrifices and Kings who gave some measure of security and order all of which failed what's with that and you and I in our arrogance might say I wouldn't have done it that way you don't need 2,000 years a failure to get the message across we need a better Prophet a better priest a better King how about a hundred years that's arrogance." [02:23:08]

"Let God be God and we just going to learn how Jesus became a better Prophet how Jesus became a better priest how Jesus became a better King as a son we going to tell God how to do we're going to look how he did it and we're going to learn part of the answer for why he did it that way I think is that today in this room in this church in this city God intends for us to understand Jesus to trust him treasure him adore him obey him as a superior Prophet as a superior priest as a superior King." [04:25:04]

"He holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever now let that sink in right now he's alive and by his spirit in this room in his resurrection body he's at the right hand of the father and he reigns over the world and is conscious of what you're thinking right now this is just off the charts glorious he continues forever consequently he is able to save to the uttermost we don't use that word much I like it uttermost continually completely fully everything that can be done for us he will do for us for those who draw near to God through him." [07:08:24]

"Christ priesthood is superior because it was based not on the legal requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi or Aaron that was the tribe that in Deuteronomy 18 only only priests come from this line that is priests come only from this line Levi rather his priesthood was not based on that it was based on the power of an indestructible life okay that's verse 16 of chapter 7 Hebrews 7:16 he has become a priest not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily desent like from Levi or Aaron but by the power of an indestructible life." [10:21:32]

"Christ's priesthood is superior because he did not have to sacrifice for his own sins chapter 7 verse 27 Hebrews 7:27 he has no need like those High priests to offer sacrifices daily first for his own sins and then for those of the people since he did not since he did this once for all when he offered up himself the reason he didn't have to offer anything for his own sins is because he didn't have any right the verse just before that verse 26 he was separated from Sinners chapter 4: 16 one of our favorite verses he was tempted as we are yet without sin." [20:26:52]

"Because Jesus is a superior priest he propitiates God for our sins if that word does not make you happy because you don't even know what it means hang on Hebrews chapter 2:1 17 chapter 2:1 17 therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make propitiation for the sins of the people there are a lot of people who think that big relig words from old versions of the Bible can be dispensed with because we can just use different words you know what happens often if you lose an old word you lose an old real reality." [29:41:44]

"Propitiation is the reality that when he died when the infinite sacrifice was made everything that needed to be done to set right the injuries done to the honor of God have been set right Justice is satisfied wrath is appeased removed guilt is gone propitiation is the removal of the wrath of God the removal of the offense that we have brought upon God the repair of the injury that my shortcomings bring upon God even today as a Christian there's not a perfect person in this room and every shortfall of perfection dishonors the King which means we should be happy that we have a priest." [33:18:08]

"Because Jesus is a superior priest he provides Eternal salvation chapter 5:9 Eternal salvation being made perfect he became the source of Eternal salvation for all who obey him don't stumble over that word obey like oo so you got to you got to earn it that would contradict just about everything so far in this sermon if Jesus says trust me treasure Me Above All Things draw near to God through me what would you do would obey I trust you I treasure you I draw near to God through you that's the first and decisive obedience obedience to the invitation come don't stumble over that word it's The Obedience of faith." [37:56:20]

"Because Jesus is a superior priest he is a steadfast anchor of the Soul this may be my favorite although my favorites move around depending on what my daily need is anchor anchor of the Soul there is I hope in your life Christian a profound steadiness is there you walk through life steady steady you're not like others perhaps who are anxious and steady what why would I say that here's chapter 6 Hebrews again verse 19 the only place in the Bible where Christ is called an anchor we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the Soul a hope that enters in into the inner place behind the curtain." [42:24:28]

"Because Jesus is a superior priest he deals gently and sympathetically with us and opens the way to come to God and receive from him everything we need to honor him and love people I'm going to read the last the last text about his priesthood it's chapter 4 Hebrews 4:15 and 16 many of us in our lives have memorized this I recommend it to you Hebrews 4:15 we do not have a high priest who is unable to s sympathize now that's a that's a negative way of saying we have a high priest who is able to sympathize just think of it just think of it I mean how can this even be that he looks upon you with sympathy in your struggles in your weakness." [45:21:76]

"Let us then with confidence you do this let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace what a name for the throne of God infinitely holy infinitely just infinitely wise and now it's called a throne of grace because of our priest let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace and what's going to happen when we do that we may receive Mercy that is undeserved so you can get out of your mind I got to deserve this I got to deserve this you don't you never will you come to God through Jesus it's his Merit not your own you're coming through Jesus and you're going to get mercy and Grace to help to preach the sermon." [46:41:80]

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Christ's Eternal Priesthood: Our Hope and Redemption

Devotional

Day 1: The Eternal Nature of Christ's Priesthood

Day 2: The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice

Day 3: The Complete Removal of Sin

Day 4: Christ as Our Steadfast Anchor

Day 5: The Compassionate Intercession of Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Christ's Eternal Priesthood: Our Hope and Redemption

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