Take peace knowing that you're represented before God by Christ.
Hebrews 5:1-10 (NIV)
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”
6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Listen to passage & devotional:
Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 21: The Atonement
We believe
that Jesus Christ is a high priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek—
made such by an oath—
and that he presented himself
in our name
before his Father,
to appease his wrath
with full satisfaction
by offering himself
on the tree of the cross
and pouring out his precious blood
for the cleansing of our sins,
as the prophets had predicted.
Summary
In the Old Testament, the priests offered gifts and sacrifices for sins to God on behalf of the people of God. These men were called by God to serve in this office. It was not anything that any of them deserved or could work toward; they were called by God to the office of priest.
God called these men to serve in this office on behalf of the people. The people could not make these sacrifices on their own. The people would bring a bull, lamb, goat, doves, or pigeons to the priest, who would take them to the altar and sacrifice them on behalf of the people.
At times, the priests would have to bring their own sin offering, and sacrifice it because of their own sin. This was done to atone for the sin committed, and they would be forgiven (Lev 4:35).
Dig Deeper
The various offerings talked about at the beginning of the book of Leviticus were practiced on a regular basis by the people of God. They would bring the required animal(s) to the priest who would offer it to God on their behalf. Why don’t we do that anymore? We will spend time answering that question this week.
The first piece of that answer is that we believe Jesus Christ is a high priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. Jesus was appointed to this office by God, the Father. It is not something he sought out; he was sent by God to be the high priest we needed.
Just like the Israelites could not offer sacrifices on their own behalf - they needed the priest to do it for them - you cannot do anything about your own sin. You cannot get rid of your own sin. It is impossible to wash off, make up for, or gotten rid of on your own.
As the people of God, we need someone to make atonement for our sins. We need a high priest. God sent Jesus to be the high priest. Jesus was designated by God to be the high priest needed to offer the great sacrifice that would atone for our sins.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who called His Son to be our priest;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God that your sin has been atoned for by Christ;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Philippians 3
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