Thursday, December 8, 2016

Jesus Christ's Priesthood is Forever (Heb. 7:23-24)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03-26-03

 

                                                                                                           

My Worship Time                              Focus:  The Priesthood of Christ is forever 

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 7:23-24

 

            Message of the verse:  “23 And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently.”  (NASB)  “Another difference is that there were many priests under the old system.  When one priest died, another had to take his place.  But Jesus remains a priest forever; his priesthood will never end.  (NLT)  “23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:  24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”  (KJV)

            In verse 24 the writer gives another reason why the Priesthood of Christ is better than that of Aaron, and that is because the priests died and had to be replaced by another.  The note from Dr. MacArthur says that there were eighty-four priests from the time of Aaron until the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70.  In verse five the writer gives the argument that because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ His Priesthood is eternal and nothing will ever happen to it because His will is carried out by Himself after His resurrection from the dead.  The reason that I added the KJV for theses verses is because of the word “unchangeable,” that is at the end of the verse.  This is what the Strong’s Concordance says about this word, “1) unviolated, not to be violated, inviolable 2) unchangeable and therefore not liable to pass to a successor.”  Warren Wiersbe says of this verse, “The Greek word translated ‘unchangeable’ carries the idea of ‘valid and unalterable.’  The word was used at the end of legal contracts.  Our Lord’s priesthood in heaven is ‘valid and unalterable.’  Because it is, we can have confidence in the midst of this shaking, changing world.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Because of the war in Iraq our world is certainly shaking and changing, and as Dr. Wiersbe says because of the unchangeableness of the Priesthood of our Lord I can have confidence in the midst of this shaking, changing world.

 

The Word of God affirmed my confidence in the Lord and His plan for this world and for His plan for my life.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord to give me the grace to continue to deal with the effects of IBS, and to give me the confidence that only He as my Great High Priest can give.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40: 1-6

 

1.      I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2.      He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

3.      And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to out God; Many will see and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

4.      How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

5.      Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which Thou art done, And Thy thoughts towards us; There is none to compare to Thee; If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.

6.      Sacrifice and meal offering Thou has not desired; My ears Thou has opened; Burnt offering and sin offering Thou hast not required.  

 

 

 

           

 

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