JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE PERFECT PERMANENT HIGH PRIEST

Proclamation:

“Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.  Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.  Such a priest truly meets our need; one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”  Hebrews 7:23-26 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by an unknown human author under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter the author begins by describing Melchizedek and how great he was. (Hebrews 7:1-10)  Then he compares Jesus to Melchizedek. (Hebrews 7:11-16)  Jesus was declared a priest by an oath and not by His pedigree. (Hebrews 7:17-22)  Jesus is greater than all of the other priests because He lives forever, He can save a person completely, and He is always available to intercede for them.  Unlike the other priests, Jesus does not need to offer regular sacrifices because He offered Himself as a sacrifice for all sins on Calvary. (Hebrews 7:27)  Men are appointed as priests with all of their weaknesses and shortcomings, but The Son of God, who is perfect, was appointed as the perfect priest forever. (Hebrews 7:28)

Application:

Human priests and pastors, with all of their sins, weaknesses, and shortcomings, can help us with The Word of God but they come and go, and they die, and they cannot save themselves or us.  Only Jesus, The Christ, can save us.  We can pray to God anytime that we want but we can only come to Him through Christ. (John 14:6)  He is our perfect high priest who lives forever and who sits at the right hand of God, The Father, making intercessions for us. (Hebrews 7:24-25)  Thank God for Jesus.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SAVED

Proclamation:

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.  Anyone who does not love remains in death."  1 John 3:14 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle John, who referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, here in this verse provided the answer to the question, "How do we know that we are saved?"  Under The Divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God his answer was, we know that we are saved because we love our brothers.  Those who do not love their fellowman are still lost in sin and are unsaved.

Application:

God is love, and he who does not love is not of God. (1 John 4:8 and 1 John 4:20)  If we love one another, then we are in God and God is in us. (1 John 4:12 and 1 John 4:16)  Jesus, The Christ, taught us that we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Mark 12:31)  If The Holy Spirit of God is within us, then we will exhibit evidence of the fruit of The Spirit, part of which is love. (Galatians 5:22-23)  When we display the love of God in our behavior, then we know that we are saved.  Death is the separation from God.  Those who live in the darkness of spiritual death, live a life which is dominated by hate, and not by love, because they have not accepted Christ. (John 3:36)  Therefore, they have not been born into the light of life with Christ.  Salvation is only available to those who believe. (John 3:16 and Romans 10:9)