Hebrews 8:
1Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain." 6But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
8For he finds fault with them when he says:"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.For they did not continue in my covenant,and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord:I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts,and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.11And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.12For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,and I will remember their sins no more."
13In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Psalm 40:
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
Luke 22:
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
In my last post, the relationship between Abram/Abraham, the Israel of God, the Covenant given to Abram/Abraham, and the high priest according to the order Melchizedek shows us that all who exist in Abraham, even prior to their own earthly existence as his descendants, submit to the better covenant and to the one who is both high priest and king and without beginning or end, which is Christ. This is so, as we were in the "loins" of Abraham when he both received the promise/covenant, and when he gave tithe to Melchizedek, and shared the bread and the cup with him. All that follows after that, be it the Law (the sinaic/mosaic covenant), or those who are Abraham's heirs, Israel (jew and gentile) now submit to the superior covenant and superior priesthood/kingship. Hebrews 8 begins with these established facts, that I have just reiterated.
1Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.
We have such a high priest. One who is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. The one who is seated at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly places (Eph 1:20). Therefore He ministers in the holy of holies, that is, in the heavenly places, the true tent erected by the Father in which the Son ministers.
Eph 2:
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The ministry that takes place in this divine structure is one of salvation, which is redemption, and reconciliation.
He is the one who forever lives to make intercession for us, and thereby provides a complete salvation. Nothing else needs be done. The one who is saved through Him, is saved completely. There is no other sacrifice necessary nor can one be given. This is the superior covenant, and priesthood. There is nothing better. (Heb 7:25; Heb 10: 18)
Hebrews 8 goes on to describe the duties of the high priesthood;
3For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.
and then this:
4Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.
Now while it must be noted that during the time that this book was written, there were still sacrifices being performed in the temple built by Herod, it can be said that even in the church today there are those "judaizers" who require adherence to a law, and certain sacrificial practices, things that Paul warned us of in his letters to the Galatians and Colossians, etc. So the conditions existing as described in verse 4 still exist in another manifestation.
The priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek, is a heavenly priesthood, (it can only exist in heaven). The high priest of the Melchizedek order can only dwell in the heavenlies. This priesthood, and priest cannot dwell where the Law and religion dwell.
5They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain."
We hear the words "type and shadow" used so much, that they have little or no meaning to us.
The Greek, hupodeigma, (translated as copy or type) has as its' root the combining of two words, which literally mean "a means of showing".
In other words, the old covenant, along with its' ceremonies and implements, are showing us the new and better way.
skia is the Greek word for shadow, Now what is a shadow but the evidence of the existence of that which is casting the shadow?
For example; if a person is standing between the sun or other source of light, and the wall of a building, a shadow is cast, which can be seen by anyone who looks at the wall. However if no one is standing between the light source and the wall, no shadow is cast.
So, if I were to walk up and look at the wall, and see a man's shadow, that would tell me that, in reality, someone is standing there. The shadow, and whatever or whomever is creating the shadow, are part of each other, they are both " the reality".
Both offer prove that the other exists.
Now the writer of Hebrews is obviously referring to the Law, the covenant given to Moses at Sinai. It points to Christ alone.
So now it is easy to see the error in the doctrine of transubstantiation in the roman church, and the false practice of offering a bloodless sacrifice on a regular basis.
Not to mention the fact that there those jews who are awaiting a rebuilding of the temple in which to re-establish the sacrificial system.
Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again!
The One whom the Law and the prophets pointed men toward has completely fulfilled the Word, work, and will of God.
John 19:
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Hebrews 10:
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
17 ....... "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."
18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The sacrifice of the Law was given so that men would look forward to the better covenant and priesthood.
The rebuilding of the temple, and the re-establishment of the sacrifices, as well as the "bloodless sacrifice" of the mass, are worthless, as everything has been accomplished. There is nothing to point forward to except the return of the King! This should give us a greater sense of urgency to proclaim the message of the Kingdom.
Hebrews 8:
6But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
The new (second) covenant, i.e. the covenant of His blood is this, which the prophet Jeremiah foretold:
(Jeremiah 31:31-34)
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more."
The new covenant promised to Abraham and to His seed, Christ, and therefore to all who are in Christ. Jeremiah speaks of both the house of Israel, and Judah. This is an important point. This is a united Israel;all 12 tribes, both jew and gentile, the remnant of the Goy.
The last verse of Hebrews 8 says it all.
13In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
In this post I was hoping to go into Hebrews 9 and 10 also, but it is easily seen that they deserve a more in depth study. There is simply too much profound truth to be found in these passages.
Sola scriptura
Soli Deo Gloria
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Abraham, Israel, and The Goy Part 2: Melek-Tsedek The Great High Priest (Updated)
Hebrews 7:
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well..........
22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.............
25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them..................
27He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Genesis 14:
17After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Psalm 110:
4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind,"You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:6; 7:17 and 7:21)
In the first installment of this study, an often overlooked fact was brought out; Abraham was called a Hebrew ,i.e. "one from the other side, who has come from over there" etc. He was called a Hebrew before the sign of circumcision was commanded by God. (more on this in a bit)
We now go to one of the greatest books in Scripture, The Book of (to) the Hebrews.
The title, "Hebrews", would suggest that this book is not only addressing Moses and the Covenant at Sinai, which Jesus fulfilled through His death on the cross, as the Lamb of Passover; it is addressing the covenant given to Abram, without which we are in serious trouble, and is sealed by the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
In part one we looked at Genesis 12, which is the command and promised reward, given to Abram by God.
Genesis 12:
1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
The Lord reveals more of what this covenant contains in Genesis 13:14-18; 15:1-21 and in 17:1-27 (where his name was changed to Abraham and the covenant of faith was sealed through circumcision.)
Paul writes;
Romans 4:
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?
We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.
10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.
11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
Paul can then correctly state;
Galatians 5:
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Abraham was given the sign of circumcision as a testimony that he was called out of Babylon by the Lord, had heard the Word of God, believed it, and was now found to be righteous
through that faith. Circumcision came after his being declared righteous. In this Abraham became the Father of ALL the redeemed i.e. Israel, which is both jew and gentile.
Romans 1:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
Salvation has always been by grace through faith. Eph 2:8-10
It is vital to understand the emphasis Paul places on the fact that circumcision, the Law, came after Abraham was justified by faith, and indeed even before he was given his new name.
The reason being that another extraordinary event had taken place during the time after the original call and promise and the sealing of the covenant through circumcision;
Abraham had an encounter with Melchizedek, the King of Salem and high priest of God.
After having rescued his cousin Lot by defeating Chedorlaomer and his allies, who had taken Lot and his family captive, Abraham was met in the Valley of the Kings by the king of Sodom, and most importantly by Melchizedek. Melchizedek blessed Abram the victor, and blessed God who had given him the victory. What is generally overlooked is that Melchizedek brought out bread and wine to Abram, and after they had partaken in this, Abram gave a tithe to Melchizedek.
Another important fact given to us is, Melchizedek was king of Salem, later known as Jerusalem.
It is also revealed that Melchizedek was "priest of God most high", according to Genesis 14: 18. It is interesting to note that this information is presented in the context of Melchizedek bringing out the bread and wine, which suggests that the "title" and the act belong together.
While Genesis 14 provides scant knowledge concerning this High priestly King of Salem.
The rest of scripture has much to say.
In Psalm 110, which Jesus quotes re: the messiah being the son of David, this passage is written seemingly "out of the blue";
Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
While this reference to Melchizedek may seem out of place, as this Psalm is a prophecy of the Messiah to come, the book of Hebrews brings the revelation to completeness.
Hebrews 7:
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
To review the vital facts concerning Melchizedek:
1. His name means king of righteousness
2. He is also king of Salem (Jerusalem) king of peace
3. He is a priest of God most high.
4. His genealogy is not revealed, i.e. neither father, mother, nor descendants.
5. In this he "appears" to have no beginning nor end.
6. In all of this he resembles the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is a priest forever.
7. He was superior to Abram in that he blessed Abram, and received tithes from Abram.
This indicates a position of superior authority.
Without the reference found in Psalm 110, this episode in Genesis 14 would have no consequence outside of its historical and narrative context.
Let's look at the passage.
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind,
"You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
This comes from God. He has sworn this.
Hebrews 6:
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
Hebrews 7:
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,
21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"
Therefore, this psalm which prophesies of the Messiah, also prophesies TO the Messiah.This promise is a sworn oath, of which no other oath is higher as there is no one higher than God; "a priest forever". This is an eternal promise, which means it has no beginning or end. This promise has always existed. There will be no changing of mind, on God's part, regarding this.
So we have Abram to whom another sworn promise/covenant was given, submitting to Melchizedek whose "order of priesthood" the eternal high priest/messiah comes from.
Abram, in being the Father of a great nation,and later Abraham, the father of many nations, carried in himself the seed of all his descendants. So they also were blessed by Melchizedek, and paid tithe to him, though they were not yet born.
Hebrews 7:
7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Not only does the priestly tribe of Levi submit to the superior authority of this priesthood, so do all the tribes, and so so all the nations.
We can say without qualm, that everything and everyone, from the point of Abram's meeting with the king of Salem on, are in submission to the one who is the priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. This would include the covenant given at Sinai. So the Law is inferior to the covenant given to Abram.
Hebrews 7:
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
Abram believed by faith, was accounted as righteous,tithed to, and receive blessing from Melchizedek all before he received the seal of circumcision.
Hebrews 7:22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
Because He is a priest forever, and because He is also King of both peace and righteousness:
"He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
He has accomplished this through the better covenant of the better priesthood.
Hebrews 8:
6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Hebrews 9:
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
The Israel of God, is both jew and gentile as both submit (in Abraham) to the same great high priest who saves through eternal intercession, and by His own shed blood, through a superior covenant.
In the next installment I would like to look at Hebrews 8 and 9 in greater depth.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Update: One more thought re: Abram and his meeting with Melchizedek. I believe that this meeting, especially with the priest introducing the bread and cup, lends a special clarity to Jesus' words in this exchange from John 8:
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."
57 So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well..........
22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.............
25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them..................
27He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Genesis 14:
17After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Psalm 110:
4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind,"You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:6; 7:17 and 7:21)
In the first installment of this study, an often overlooked fact was brought out; Abraham was called a Hebrew ,i.e. "one from the other side, who has come from over there" etc. He was called a Hebrew before the sign of circumcision was commanded by God. (more on this in a bit)
We now go to one of the greatest books in Scripture, The Book of (to) the Hebrews.
The title, "Hebrews", would suggest that this book is not only addressing Moses and the Covenant at Sinai, which Jesus fulfilled through His death on the cross, as the Lamb of Passover; it is addressing the covenant given to Abram, without which we are in serious trouble, and is sealed by the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
In part one we looked at Genesis 12, which is the command and promised reward, given to Abram by God.
Genesis 12:
1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
The Lord reveals more of what this covenant contains in Genesis 13:14-18; 15:1-21 and in 17:1-27 (where his name was changed to Abraham and the covenant of faith was sealed through circumcision.)
Paul writes;
Romans 4:
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?
We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.
10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.
11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
Paul can then correctly state;
Galatians 5:
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Abraham was given the sign of circumcision as a testimony that he was called out of Babylon by the Lord, had heard the Word of God, believed it, and was now found to be righteous
through that faith. Circumcision came after his being declared righteous. In this Abraham became the Father of ALL the redeemed i.e. Israel, which is both jew and gentile.
Romans 1:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
Salvation has always been by grace through faith. Eph 2:8-10
It is vital to understand the emphasis Paul places on the fact that circumcision, the Law, came after Abraham was justified by faith, and indeed even before he was given his new name.
The reason being that another extraordinary event had taken place during the time after the original call and promise and the sealing of the covenant through circumcision;
Abraham had an encounter with Melchizedek, the King of Salem and high priest of God.
After having rescued his cousin Lot by defeating Chedorlaomer and his allies, who had taken Lot and his family captive, Abraham was met in the Valley of the Kings by the king of Sodom, and most importantly by Melchizedek. Melchizedek blessed Abram the victor, and blessed God who had given him the victory. What is generally overlooked is that Melchizedek brought out bread and wine to Abram, and after they had partaken in this, Abram gave a tithe to Melchizedek.
Another important fact given to us is, Melchizedek was king of Salem, later known as Jerusalem.
It is also revealed that Melchizedek was "priest of God most high", according to Genesis 14: 18. It is interesting to note that this information is presented in the context of Melchizedek bringing out the bread and wine, which suggests that the "title" and the act belong together.
While Genesis 14 provides scant knowledge concerning this High priestly King of Salem.
The rest of scripture has much to say.
In Psalm 110, which Jesus quotes re: the messiah being the son of David, this passage is written seemingly "out of the blue";
Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
While this reference to Melchizedek may seem out of place, as this Psalm is a prophecy of the Messiah to come, the book of Hebrews brings the revelation to completeness.
Hebrews 7:
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
To review the vital facts concerning Melchizedek:
1. His name means king of righteousness
2. He is also king of Salem (Jerusalem) king of peace
3. He is a priest of God most high.
4. His genealogy is not revealed, i.e. neither father, mother, nor descendants.
5. In this he "appears" to have no beginning nor end.
6. In all of this he resembles the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is a priest forever.
7. He was superior to Abram in that he blessed Abram, and received tithes from Abram.
This indicates a position of superior authority.
Without the reference found in Psalm 110, this episode in Genesis 14 would have no consequence outside of its historical and narrative context.
Let's look at the passage.
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind,
"You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
This comes from God. He has sworn this.
Hebrews 6:
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
Hebrews 7:
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,
21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"
Therefore, this psalm which prophesies of the Messiah, also prophesies TO the Messiah.This promise is a sworn oath, of which no other oath is higher as there is no one higher than God; "a priest forever". This is an eternal promise, which means it has no beginning or end. This promise has always existed. There will be no changing of mind, on God's part, regarding this.
So we have Abram to whom another sworn promise/covenant was given, submitting to Melchizedek whose "order of priesthood" the eternal high priest/messiah comes from.
Abram, in being the Father of a great nation,and later Abraham, the father of many nations, carried in himself the seed of all his descendants. So they also were blessed by Melchizedek, and paid tithe to him, though they were not yet born.
Hebrews 7:
7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Not only does the priestly tribe of Levi submit to the superior authority of this priesthood, so do all the tribes, and so so all the nations.
We can say without qualm, that everything and everyone, from the point of Abram's meeting with the king of Salem on, are in submission to the one who is the priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. This would include the covenant given at Sinai. So the Law is inferior to the covenant given to Abram.
Hebrews 7:
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
Abram believed by faith, was accounted as righteous,tithed to, and receive blessing from Melchizedek all before he received the seal of circumcision.
Hebrews 7:22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
Because He is a priest forever, and because He is also King of both peace and righteousness:
"He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
He has accomplished this through the better covenant of the better priesthood.
Hebrews 8:
6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Hebrews 9:
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
The Israel of God, is both jew and gentile as both submit (in Abraham) to the same great high priest who saves through eternal intercession, and by His own shed blood, through a superior covenant.
In the next installment I would like to look at Hebrews 8 and 9 in greater depth.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Update: One more thought re: Abram and his meeting with Melchizedek. I believe that this meeting, especially with the priest introducing the bread and cup, lends a special clarity to Jesus' words in this exchange from John 8:
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."
57 So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Abraham, Israel, and the Goy:What's In A Name? Part 1
Genesis 11:
1Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." 5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech." 8So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
10 These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. 11And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
12When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Shelah. 13And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Shelah 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
14When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. 15And Shelah lived after he fathered Eber 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
16When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. 17And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
18When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. 19And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters.
20When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. 21And Reu lived after he fathered Serug 207 years and had other sons and daughters.
22When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. 23And Serug lived after he fathered Nahor 200 years and had other sons and daughters.
24When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. 25And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
26When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
27Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. 28Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.
31Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 12:
1Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
This entire section scripture contains some of the most important revelation given to us, and certainly these words are foundational in terms of understanding the unfolding of God's plan of restoration and salvation.
Genesis 12:1-3 has been used by many in reference to "eretz (the land of) Israel" of today. I disagree with that interpretation, and over the course of the next several posts I would like to go through the scriptures concerning jews, gentiles and the Israel of God.
It is very curious that Genesis 11 which begins with the story of the rebellion at Babel (Babylon) and the beginnings of the nations and cultures of the earth, and ends with Abraham and family being called out of Ur (Babylon) would have the lineage of Noah's son Shem placed right in the middle of it all.
As always the Lord has a reason for this. First we have this statement made by the men of Babel:
4Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."
These men knew that if they succeeded in building this city and tower, they could stand in defiance of God, having made a name for themselves. They also understood that they would not be dispersed, since a dispersion would no longer serve a useful purpose, i.e. from the Lord's point of view,the damage would have been done. God brings a speedy end to their ambitions and disperses them throughout the earth, having first confused their common language, by turning their one tongue into many.
Immediately after this narrative, we have the recitation of Shem and his descendants, leading all the way to Terah and his three sons, one of which is Abram/Abraham.
Now I believe that the Lord has other things to show us other than the fact that Abraham being in the lineage of Shem puts him in the lineage of Jesus.
The word used as name in verse 4 which the men of Babel use as in "let us make a name...., is the word "Shem" which also happens to be the name of Noah's son.
שׁם
shêm
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character: -
This is also the word the Lord uses as He speaks to Abram/Abraham in Genesis 12:2
"And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."
So we have men desiring to create a "shem", a distinctive name for themselves, but the Lord had already prepared the way through the descendants of Shem, in order that the honor of the "great name" would be given to Abraham, father of many nations. Only God can originate and bestow this great name. Man will never be allowed to make this name for himself.
As awesome as this is. it gets even better.
He will make a great nation of Abraham, also. Here is one of the most under-discussed facts found in scripture. The same word used as nation here, in relation to Abraham, is the word;
גּוי
gôy
a foreign nation; hence a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
This "great nation" which is proclaimed by evangelicals today as the nation of Israel, is referred to here with the word which is commonly used for the gentiles, that is, non-jews.
The truth of the matter is that the word goy used some 550 times in the scriptures is applied as much to the nation state of Israel, as it is to the gentiles.
For example in Exodus 19:
"and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
compare this to:
1Peter 2:
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Peter is speaking to the church,which is both jew and gentile.
When God established His covenant with Abram, there was nothing known as Israel, and no people called jews, in existence. Abram was called a Hebrew (Genesis 14) but neither he, nor his descendants, called themselves by that name, which makes the letter to the "Hebrews" all the more compelling. (The word Hebrew roughly translated as "one from the other side, or from over there")
This parallels the fact that those in the early church did not refer to themselves as "christians", but were given that name by non-believers
Looking at the scriptures as a whole, and a not a book of "proof texts", the conclusion is that the Lord intended that Israel to be comprised all of those who come out of Babel/Babylon. like their father Abraham, be they jew or gentile. The Mosaic covenant was given to a people at Sinai, who were called to be a kingdom of priests, and failed in that the very day they received the Law.
Exodus 32
They failed as priests, and in keeping the Law.
The need for Christ was foreknown before time began; He being both the great high priest and the ultimate and final sacrifice. He also kept the law perfectly. His death and resurrection fulfill the covenant of Sinai.
The Law was given so that sin might be known.
Romans 5:
13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.
Romans 7:
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."
8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
Hebrews 2:
16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Rom 9:
7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Matthew 5:
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Acts 15: 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Act 15:11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
The people known as jews were called to a specific purpose.
Romans 3:
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
8 And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
However the original plan of God was to have a great nation created from every tribe tongue and nation. This is the promise given to Abraham. The promise that He would bless all who bless and curse all who dishonor was spoken directly to and specifically for Abraham. It applies to all who are his descendants.
We are the children of Abraham.
Eph 2:
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands--
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The wall of hostility is the Law!! The dwelling place of God, His living temple, is us, His body,His priests.
1Peter 2:
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Israel, both jew and gentile is the children of Abraham, the called-out remnant of the goy.
Galatians 3:
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Glory to God!
1Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." 5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech." 8So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
10 These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. 11And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
12When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Shelah. 13And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Shelah 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
14When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. 15And Shelah lived after he fathered Eber 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
16When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. 17And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
18When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. 19And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters.
20When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. 21And Reu lived after he fathered Serug 207 years and had other sons and daughters.
22When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. 23And Serug lived after he fathered Nahor 200 years and had other sons and daughters.
24When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. 25And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
26When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
27Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. 28Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.
31Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 12:
1Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
This entire section scripture contains some of the most important revelation given to us, and certainly these words are foundational in terms of understanding the unfolding of God's plan of restoration and salvation.
Genesis 12:1-3 has been used by many in reference to "eretz (the land of) Israel" of today. I disagree with that interpretation, and over the course of the next several posts I would like to go through the scriptures concerning jews, gentiles and the Israel of God.
It is very curious that Genesis 11 which begins with the story of the rebellion at Babel (Babylon) and the beginnings of the nations and cultures of the earth, and ends with Abraham and family being called out of Ur (Babylon) would have the lineage of Noah's son Shem placed right in the middle of it all.
As always the Lord has a reason for this. First we have this statement made by the men of Babel:
4Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."
These men knew that if they succeeded in building this city and tower, they could stand in defiance of God, having made a name for themselves. They also understood that they would not be dispersed, since a dispersion would no longer serve a useful purpose, i.e. from the Lord's point of view,the damage would have been done. God brings a speedy end to their ambitions and disperses them throughout the earth, having first confused their common language, by turning their one tongue into many.
Immediately after this narrative, we have the recitation of Shem and his descendants, leading all the way to Terah and his three sons, one of which is Abram/Abraham.
Now I believe that the Lord has other things to show us other than the fact that Abraham being in the lineage of Shem puts him in the lineage of Jesus.
The word used as name in verse 4 which the men of Babel use as in "let us make a name...., is the word "Shem" which also happens to be the name of Noah's son.
שׁם
shêm
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character: -
This is also the word the Lord uses as He speaks to Abram/Abraham in Genesis 12:2
"And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."
So we have men desiring to create a "shem", a distinctive name for themselves, but the Lord had already prepared the way through the descendants of Shem, in order that the honor of the "great name" would be given to Abraham, father of many nations. Only God can originate and bestow this great name. Man will never be allowed to make this name for himself.
As awesome as this is. it gets even better.
He will make a great nation of Abraham, also. Here is one of the most under-discussed facts found in scripture. The same word used as nation here, in relation to Abraham, is the word;
גּוי
gôy
a foreign nation; hence a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
This "great nation" which is proclaimed by evangelicals today as the nation of Israel, is referred to here with the word which is commonly used for the gentiles, that is, non-jews.
The truth of the matter is that the word goy used some 550 times in the scriptures is applied as much to the nation state of Israel, as it is to the gentiles.
For example in Exodus 19:
"and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
compare this to:
1Peter 2:
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Peter is speaking to the church,which is both jew and gentile.
When God established His covenant with Abram, there was nothing known as Israel, and no people called jews, in existence. Abram was called a Hebrew (Genesis 14) but neither he, nor his descendants, called themselves by that name, which makes the letter to the "Hebrews" all the more compelling. (The word Hebrew roughly translated as "one from the other side, or from over there")
This parallels the fact that those in the early church did not refer to themselves as "christians", but were given that name by non-believers
Looking at the scriptures as a whole, and a not a book of "proof texts", the conclusion is that the Lord intended that Israel to be comprised all of those who come out of Babel/Babylon. like their father Abraham, be they jew or gentile. The Mosaic covenant was given to a people at Sinai, who were called to be a kingdom of priests, and failed in that the very day they received the Law.
Exodus 32
They failed as priests, and in keeping the Law.
The need for Christ was foreknown before time began; He being both the great high priest and the ultimate and final sacrifice. He also kept the law perfectly. His death and resurrection fulfill the covenant of Sinai.
The Law was given so that sin might be known.
Romans 5:
13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.
Romans 7:
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."
8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
Hebrews 2:
16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Rom 9:
7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Matthew 5:
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Acts 15: 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Act 15:11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
The people known as jews were called to a specific purpose.
Romans 3:
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
8 And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
However the original plan of God was to have a great nation created from every tribe tongue and nation. This is the promise given to Abraham. The promise that He would bless all who bless and curse all who dishonor was spoken directly to and specifically for Abraham. It applies to all who are his descendants.
We are the children of Abraham.
Eph 2:
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands--
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The wall of hostility is the Law!! The dwelling place of God, His living temple, is us, His body,His priests.
1Peter 2:
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Israel, both jew and gentile is the children of Abraham, the called-out remnant of the goy.
Galatians 3:
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Glory to God!
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