OUR HIGH PRIEST

 

OUR HIGH PRIEST

Heb. 7:26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has now been set apart from sinners, and he has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. NLT

The high priest is he who stands before God on behalf of others and offers a sacrifice for their sins. Before the coming of Christ, the high priest was allowed to enter the most holy part of the Temple to offer blood before God on first his own behalf, and then the people's. First for his own sins because he too was a sinner in need of forgiveness. Once his heart was pure he could then go to God for the people. It was the most sacred duty he had and he could only do it once a year. He had very strict procedures to follow, and if he didn't do it he would die.

Jesus did away with the high priestly role when he died for our sins because He became our high priest in heaven. He is holy and blameless having never sinned before God. He did not have to make atonement for His sins since He had none. His death was the ultimate sin sacrifice, sufficient to wash away the sins of all people for all time. His sacrifice was the perfect sacrifice sufficient to appease God's wrath against sin. He is now in heaven working to make holy all who give their hearts to Him, preparing them for heaven when they die.

He is now in heaven where there is no sin, standing before God on our behalf. He makes it possible for God to look upon us with favor and pleasure because He is our righteousness and holiness from God. He has the highest place of honor in heaven as He sits on God's right hand ministering there on our behalf.

He is heaven’s sunlight, her glory. He is worthy of all our adoration, worship and praise. Let us never take Him for granted and give Him on earth the honor and glory He deserves, even as He receives it in heaven. Glory be our Lord and King! Let your life bring Him glory until He comes.

CHRIST’S SHED BLOOD

Heb. 9:22b Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. NLT

Early in the life of the Israelites, God established a way for sinful man to deal with his sins. It involved the sacrificial offering of approved animals. Blood had to be sprinkled on the altar and around various parts of the Tabernacle. It was essential because God put the life of all living creatures in the blood. It is the most essential part of the body. It is what carries the oxygen throughout the body. If there is no blood flowing, there is no life.

In doing this, God prepared the way for the death of Christ for our sins. Life had to be given for life. Animal sacrifices had to be made often because they could only cover up the sins of the people, not do away with them. As long as the sacrifices were made, they would not be subject to God’s holy wrath. They were imperfect offerings that were acceptable until Jesus came. Jesus was the perfect offering. He lived life without sin and went to the cross as a perfectly righteous and holy sacrifice. His death was the perfect sacrifice and it is sufficient to take away the sins of all who come to Him for all time.

If Jesus had not died, we would still be lost in our sins. We would still be under the Law and have to offer animal sacrifices. But, Jesus did die, was buried and rose from the dead. He is seated in heaven at God’s right hand and ministers on our behalf before God our Father. Anyone who desires to be made right with God must first be made right with Christ. He must come to Christ acknowledging his sins, confess them to Christ, and ask Him for forgiveness. Only then can God forgive us and adopt us into His heavenly family.

Have you confessed your sins to Jesus and asked Him to forgive you? If you haven’t, you are going to hell unless you do. If Jesus is your Savior, live like it and tell all you can that they can be saved, too.