The book of Hebrews was, interestingly, written to Hebrews. (Yes, that's very fine exegesis, right?) It was written with the Hebrew mindset in view. In the book, the author first sets out to explain that Jesus was higher than angels. Then he lays out how Jesus was higher than Moses (the #1 Prophet in Hebrew thinking). Then he lays out how Jesus is our High Priest. Better than the angels, better than the Prophet, and better than the high priests. From a Hebrew mind, that's remarkable. The author of Hebrews uses a phrase from Psalm 110 to refer to Jesus, calling Him "a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Psa 110:4; Heb 5:6, 10; Heb 6:20), and spends chapter 7 explaining just what that means.
To 21st century Americans, "high priest" doesn't have a lot of significance, but to the Hebrew mind this role was of critical importance. He was the intercessor for man before God. He was the guy that took their sacrifices and appeased God's wrath. He was the guy that kept God from doing dreadful things to them because of their sin. A prophet was the one who brought God's words to the people; a high priest was the one who brought the people to God. Of course, priests were human and needed the same intercession. And, they died. Unlike human priests, Christ is our High Priest forever. "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb 7:25). Now, that is a magnificent statement. "He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him." No human high priest could; they had to keep making sacrifices for themselves and the people. Christ can. And we debate about "save forever" -- "Can you lose your salvation?" -- but this text says He can save forever, so if our salvation depends on Him, we can't lose it. But that last phrase is something to examine. "... since He always lives to make intercession for them." There are two things we can draw from that. First, that "save forever" is an ongoing process since it says He always lives to make intercession. If it was an instantaneous, "one and done" process, He wouldn't have to keep making intercession. He does. And the other thing we can pull out of that is the answer to the question, "From what are we saved?" Are we saved from bad things or disaster? Are we saved from others or even from ourselves? Maybe we're saved from Satan's grasp? This text indicates that the "save forever" that He brings is a salvation ... from God. It is to God that He intercedes for us because it is God who has righteous wrath (Rom 1:16-18) for our sin. That's why He became "a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Heb 2:17).
The Jews understood the concept of an angry God. Scriptures warn us about our angry God (e.g., Rom 1:18; Rom 9:22; Heb Heb 3:11; Heb 10:31). God's Word also tells us of "propitiation" -- the appeasement of that wrath in the person of Christ (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10). those who trust in Christ are saved from God's wrath. And the author of Hebrews rightly asks, "How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Heb 2:3).
3 comments:
Saved from what is why I have issue with the modern Ransom Theory of salvation. Today, it says that Christ ransomed is from Satan, as if Satan has any power over God to hold anyone hostage. No, He paid the ransom to the Father to appease the just wrath of God against rebels deserving destruction.
It is true that we Gentiles have little concept of a “high priest,” apart from our studies in the Old Testament. (I never even understood it being raised as a Catholic, with priests at the forefront of our religious practice.) The teaching from the Book of Hebrews you highlight today must have been such a joyful one for new Jewish believers to embrace--just as it is for this modern-day American. Saved FROM God’s wrath and THROUGH God’s provision in Jesus Christ--that is a wonderful salvation indeed. I think you closed with the perfect verse from the Book of Hebrews--for if one disregards that salvation provided through Jesus Christ, how can we escape God’s wrath? Personally, I don’t want to rely on any inferior options when the Perfect Savior can be mine.
Your mention of the animal sacrifices by the Jews made me curious. I know that the sacrificial practice was ended in 70 A.D. when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Since the followers of Judaism don’t accept Jesus Christ as God’s propitiation for their sins, how do Jews now atone for their sins? I read online that contemporary Jews believe they receive forgiveness of sin through their repentance, prayer, and good deeds (there is no shedding of blood other than circumcision--and that doesn’t apply to females, of course). So Judaism has devolved into yet another ineffective, works-based religion that no longer adheres to God’s Word. (I knew this but was reminded of that sad reality by your post.) Just like the readers of the Book of Hebrews, modern-day Jews should embrace the great High Priest--who was also the perfect Lamb of God--and enter God’s rest.
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