THOT [THE HOUR OF TRUTH] 384, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT GOD THINKS ABOUT YOU? That is an important question because whatever it is that will be HOW you approach Him, and how you deal with the people around you! Continued from the last issue. Part 9, “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” Gal. 4:21. The New Covenant verses the Old. The Levitical priesthood verses the Melchizedekian priesthood. Which one is for the church, IT CANNOT BE BOTH? CHRIST IS A PRIEST FOREVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK, [that fact alone AUTOMATICALLY set aside the Levitical order] 1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 WITHOUT FATHER, WITHOUT MOTHER, WITHOUT DESCENT, HAVING NEITHER BEGINNING OF DAYS, NOR END OF LIFE; BUT MADE LIKE UNTO THE SON OF GOD; ABIDETH A PRIEST CONTINUALLY. [Hallelujah! I added this here] 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is NOT COUNTED FROM THEM received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11 If 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? 12 FOR THE PRIESTHOOD BEING CHANGED, THERE IS MADE OF NECESSITY A CHANGE ALSO OF THE LAW. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Heb. 7:1-17. THESE ARE SOME STRONG WORDS! WE HAVE BEEN MADE PERFECT IN CHRIST [ONE sacrifice Heb. 10:14, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.] WHEN WE WERE BORN AGAIN, not through the Levitical priesthood, [MANY insufficient sacrifices to PERFECT us. 10:1-4] so why would we turn to it AFTER WE ARE SAVED as an example to live a life pleasing to God, or a way to continue to be perfected or righteous, 9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Gal. 4:9-11…. Col. 2:13-17, And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.… How do we WALK in him? Just back up to verse 6, As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: HOW did we receive him, BY FAITH …and… THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH, Gal.3:12… Gal. 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain…. Gal. 3:3, Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? WHY WOULD WE REASON THAT WAY? The very fact that God had to send his Son into the world as HIS sacrificial lamb ABSOLUTELY PROVES beyond a shadow of a doubt that the ministry of Aaron and his successors [Levites] was insufficient …MOREOVER… The very fact that we were UNABLE to be perfected until Christ offered Himself [ONE SACRIFICE, ONE TIME] as a sacrifice to God, CLEARLY shows the deficiency in those who came before him! We know from reading that THIS MELCHISEDEC is connected with Christ being the high priest AND THE TYPE OF MINISTRY THAT HE HAS. IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE WAS NOT FROM THE TRIBE OF LEVI [WHO WAS STILL IN THE LOINS OF ABRAHAM WHEN WE FIRST HEAR OF HIM] NEITHER WAS CHRIST, 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth BREAD AND WINE: [ingredients of the communion, I added this note] and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he GAVE [under law they were TAKEN, and a curse was added, I added this note] him tithes of all. Gen. 14:18-20. Think about that! We have covered some before about how things were with the early church [consisting only of Jews] when this CHANGE came, but let’s look again because I believe that we are dealing with the same thing today! Something new and TOTALLY different was being introduced [a new order if you please] in those days. THIS MEANT THAT THE OLD ORDER WAS FINISHED. That was a hard thing for them to accept! However I find that when the [full gospel of Christ] … not used as a Pentecostal term, of which I am not, just a word that I believe described it best … is taught today it is the same thing! This was an upsetting thing to Jews who had questions and doubts in regard to this change from the OLD TO THE NEW. For one thing under the new priesthood it would be taught (by Paul) that circumcision was NOT essential to please God; that the sacrifices and rituals of the law were no longer necessary or appropriate, AND even though [I believe] at the beginning of the church the twelve apostles did not yet know about the [OR AT LEAST THE FULL TRUTH OF] body of Christ [brought to light through Paul] it was disturbing enough that the GENTILES WERE BEING BROUGHT INTO [through Peter] GOD’S FAVOR! These changes troubled most Jews, and some who were actually born again were being tempt to fall back... that is, to MIX the OLD (Old Testament Judaism, based on the traditions and enforcements of the Pharisees) with the NEW. The accusers of Stephen said, among other things, ...we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and CHANGE the customs which Moses delivered to us, (Acts 6:14). The very idea of a change, or to believe that the temple in Jerusalem would one day be destroyed was a horrible to them, and fanatical Pharisees [like Saul of Tarsus] were disturbed to the point of action (persecution). God used Paul to clarify these things as we find in book of Romans chapters nine through eleven; also, in the books of Galatians and Hebrews. 12 For the priesthood BEING changed, there is made of “NECESSITY” a change also of the law. The change wasn’t a CONVENIENCE, but a “NECESSITY!” Let me close this issue with this, Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. 42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Acts 13:38-42. To be continued. Think about it. Bill, the man who Jesus loves! “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11, 12/2/13.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000
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