Podcast 129, Hebrews, “Pt 10, Ch 10”

Podcast 129, Hebrews, “Pt 10, Ch 10”One of Paul’s great gifts is in explaining the law. Being a former Pharisee, he was strictly educated in the law of Moses. Paul is a transitional prophet because he lives in transitional times. The Lord has moved from the First, or Old Testament, to the Second, or New Testament. The First Testament has been fulfilled, and the sacrifice of animals has ended. The First Testament did not lead to perfection because it was administered by imperfect people on animals that had no power of forgiving sins. It was a symbol only. The entire purpose of the First Testament was to lead people to Christ who did have the power to forgive sins. In the beginning statement of Chapter 10 Paul said, Hebrews 10:1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.The end goal is perfection. One statement made by our Savior Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount summarizes his entire mission. Let’s turn to Matthew 5.Matthew 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.That is not an idle statement. That is why Christ came to earth to atone for our sins. Remember from our earlier reading of Paul—for perfection to come we must have two things. As stated above, first we must have the Second or New Testament. And as stated below, we must have the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Melchizedek Priesthood and the Second or New Testament are inseparable. Hebrews 7:11-12If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.Paul explains the difference.Hebrews 7:15-17And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.Notice the emphasis on the phrases “the power of an endless life” and “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Animal Sacrifice came to an end in Christ. Animal sacrifice could neither perfect nor offer endless life. It was after the “law of carnal commandments” only.  Notice Paul’s words,Hebrews 7:18-22For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.Only through the Melchisedec Priesthood can we ‘draw night unto God.’ Perfection does not come in this life. It can only come in the next for it is of “endless duration.” Only by living in the presence of the Father can one be “made perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect.” Christ made it very clear. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”Paul further explains why the Levitical Priesthood cannot perfect us.Hebrews 10:2-8For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;Isaiah taught that same principle hundreds of years before Paul. Isaiah fully understood the mission of Jesus Christ and the necessity of his atoning sacrifice. In the very beginning of his ministry he said,Isaiah 1:16-18Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.Isaiah teaches that when Christ forgives, he will not remember our sins. Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”Jeremiah, who also knew Christ, taught the same principle. He also is speaking of the New Testament, or “New Covenant.”Jeremiah 31:33-34But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.Paul had Jeremiah in mind when he wrote, Hebrews 10: 9-22Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.Christ symbolizes the veil of the temple. Remember the image in the New Testament after Christ was crucified. Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;