High Priestly and Priestly Ministry

High Priestly and Priestly Ministry

“In the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” Heb. 7:15-17.

Melchizedek was a king of Salem, a priest of the Most High God. His name is translated as king of righteousness and also king of Salem, which means king of peace.

Melchizedek appeared once in history. There is no mention of him before he met Abraham or afterward. Therefore he has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but is made like the Son of God—and he remains a priest continually.

“Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law . . . though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. . . . Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.”

We have received a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron. If the priesthood is changed, the law must also change. And if there is a change of high priest, there must also be a change of priests. According to the law, the priests had to be from the tribe of Levi, but now our High Priest is chosen in the likeness of Melchizedek—a person who was not related to Abraham, and who was far superior to Abraham and his descendants according to the flesh.

Our High Priest, Jesus Christ, lived His life here on earth in a body that was descended from Abraham. But He was from the tribe of Judah, to whom no priestly office was given. According to the flesh, Jesus had to give tithes to Levi because He was born under the law, but as a descendant of Abraham He partook in the blessing of Melchizedek together with Abraham.

We see that Jesus according to the flesh cannot benefit us any more than any other descendant of Abraham. Therefore Paul says, “Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.”

Melchizedek blessed the one who had the promises—Abraham. Heb. 7:6. In these promises we find Jesus Christ, but we never find Him in Abraham according to the flesh. Therefore Jesus says, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” God promised His Son through Abraham, but no one can promise to give anything that he does not possess. Thus Jesus was before Abraham.

The Law of Moses was given because of transgression and to make people aware of sin. For this reason, the priesthood according to the law was a priesthood that dealt with sin—transgression. But now Jesus Christ “has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” Heb. 8:6.

Seeing that the priesthood in the Old Testament was intended for transgression (committed sins) and that Jesus had obtained a more excellent ministry and a better covenant to be a minister for, we can conclude that He is not a priest for people who commit sin. Had He been, He would have been a priest according to the law of a fleshly commandment, whereas in fact He has become a High Priest according to the power of an endless life. Heb. 7:16.

From this we can see that when Jesus Christ serves us, He does so according to the power of an endless life (Norw.—incorruptible). This power of an incorruptible life transforms us into men of God by consuming and destroying our will according to the flesh, so that the corruptible is swallowed up by life.

Jesus became a sacrifice for sinners, but for believers He is the Mediator of a better covenant because sin in the flesh is condemned by the power of an endless life. Rom. 8:3. The most perfect and complete judgment over my self-life occurs when I, in Jesus Christ, agree with this judgment in God’s light. The Mosaic Law could not reach inside the veil of my flesh, but the power of an endless life reaches right to the very root of sin—original sin.

The first covenant has earthly promises, but the last and better covenant has heavenly promises. The distinction between the two can be found in the difference between Abraham and Melchizedek. Melchizedek is the king of righteousness and the king of peace. The last—and better—covenant is a covenant of righteousness and a covenant of peace. We enter into this through a Mediator, Jesus Christ. The Mediator is not just for one but for many. On the other hand, God is one. All mediation leads to Him.

“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. However, there is not in everyone that knowledge . . . .” 1 Cor. 8:6-7.

All things are of the Father and we are for Him, but all things have come into being through the Son, and we through Him. The ministry of mediation takes place through the Son but is for the Father—to whom we have access through the Son. Therefore no one can come to the Father except through the Son. This is the Son’s high priestly ministry.

The first covenant was consecrated with blood; thus the second and better covenant is also consecrated with blood. The first covenant was consecrated with the blood of calves and goats, but the second covenant with the precious blood of Jesus. Therefore it says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

The cleansing it speaks about here is not a cleansing from committed sins, because this cleansing takes place in one who walks in the light. If this does not refer to committed sins, then it must be referring to sin in the flesh, which we have inherited from our forefathers. God-fearing people will understand this, but the ungodly and sinners understand nothing.

Here we come a step further than the light of the law. The light of life shines into the body and judges the hidden thoughts and intents of the heart. We must always agree with this judgment; then the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all sin. The hidden cleansing that takes place in our inner being when we “walk in the light” is Christ’s ministry of mediation, or high priestly ministry.

Paul says that God has made him sufficient to be a minister of the new covenant, “Not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Cor. 3:6.

Christ is the High Priest, because all God’s work has been completed in Him; but now there are priests following Him. In the old covenant there were many priests but only one high priest, and it is the same in the new covenant. But in the old covenant the priests and the high priest all died, because they were appointed according to the law of a fleshly commandment. However, in the new covenant, the ministry of the priests and the High Priest is eternal because the ministers have themselves been made alive, and they minister in the power of an indestructible life. Jesus offered Himself in the power of an eternal Spirit. The ministry that the Spirit accomplished in Him is called the ministry of righteousness, and it is much more glorious. 2 Cor. 3:8. We can serve others in the same Spirit to the degree that the Spirit has been able to work in us to will and to do. But the ministry of the Spirit is both a high priestly and a priestly ministry. It always leads people into the blood of the covenant, the blood that cleanses us when we walk in the light. Everyone who is led into the blood of the eternal covenant is raised and seated in heavenly places—first Jesus, and then we who love Him—forever.

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2.

John writes so that we may not sin; but if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. The high priestly ministry of Christ is not for those who are overtaken by sin, as described here. Such a person has not walked in the light, so that the blood could cleanse him. Therefore Jesus has to act as the Advocate and the Righteous One before the Father and atone for that sin in the power of His suffering and death. This atonement was for the whole world. This ministry is not a ministry of mediation by which people draw near to the Father. It is a ministry that must take place to avoid the Father’s rejection.

“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death [because a death has taken place (Norw.)], for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Heb. 9:15. This Scripture makes it clear that a person does not partake in the promised eternal inheritance until a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgression under the first covenant. In other words, a person does not become a partaker of the inheritance of the promise until he has received forgiveness for his sin. The inheritance of the saints is in the light, and an ungodly man who is burdened by guilt is not fit to receive any inheritance in the light. On the other hand, the person who walks in the light receives the inheritance in the light.

“In that He says ‘A new covenant,’ He has judged the first to be old. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Heb. 8:13 (Norw.).

When we enter into the new covenant and the greater glory, we concur with God that the first covenant is old and obsolete. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new. But if you tell someone who is still living in the old covenant that it is obsolete, it will lead to contention. He thinks of the old as being new, and what is new for us does not exist for him, even though it is exceedingly rich in glory. Over everything glorious there is a covering. The covering over the glories of the new covenant is the word of the cross and the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. Most people do not partake in the inheritance of the saints in the light because they are enemies of the cross of Christ. They rejoice as long as they hear about the promises and glories, but as soon as they hear that they must live godly, wisely and righteously in this world, they display a heartfelt hatred. They call it bondage, because if they had to give up all their unrighteous ways, it would be terrible bondage for them. On the contrary, they think freedom is living an undisciplined life and enjoying a whole lot of promises. This freedom is imaginary. The soul who has received his inheritance in the light searches his heart and mind and discovers and proves that such liberty is completely false and empty.

Therefore, let us not be deterred by the covering that rests over these glories. Let us rather, as faithful disciples of Christ, take up our cross daily and follow Him. Do not consult with flesh and blood when you know God’s will. But if you are in doubt, confide in the elders.