Hebrews 7:3
Unique
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. (Hebrews 7:3)
The Uniqueness of Christ
Verse 3 of Hebrews Chapter 7 is truly a unique verse all to itself. It describes the most unique personality, the most unique Person, the most unique possessor of heaven and earth, the most unique Creator of all things, and the most unique Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30) The Son of God is the unique and only wise God. This verse describes the Lord Jesus in relationship to Melchisedec through the phrase made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually written by the will and of the mind of the Spirit of God. Whereas according to the Spirit’s thinking cap in the gospel of John, Chapter 17, the Son of God possessed a glory with the Father before the world was brought into existence. Before the very discussion of creation, the Lord Jesus had a unique glory with God the Father. In fact, we can say, even in glory the Lord Jesus is equal with the Father. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was (John 17:5). The sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most important aspect of His Being to the Father. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This is not an expression of earthly glory, but glory that is coequal in both Father and Son.
There are different aspects to the glory of Jesus Christ because of His redemptive work on the cross, He receives of the Father a specific glory as the Man Christ Jesus, the Man in heaven for us. He is the Man to which every knee will bow, to the glory of His name, the name that is above every name, the name of Jesus Christ. You cannot escape this, that all things were made by Him, and for Him. He is the fullness of all in all. He is the beginning of the creation of God, and yet, He Himself was ever existent with the Father. When the Spirit of God in verse 3 of Hebrews Chapter 7 compares both Christ and His manifestation as Melchisedec, it is Melchisedec made like unto the Son of God. This establishes the eternal existence of the Lord Jesus Christ in eternity with the Father. This Son of God was always the Son of the Father’s love in the very bosom of the Father. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him (John 1:18). Here in the gospel of John we see Christ ever present with the Father, although on earth, He shared omnipresence in the bosom of the Father. The manifestation of the Son of God was not only for the purpose of redemption, but to glorify a Man in heaven. We forget that part of His manifestation was to bring about His eternal glory as the Man Christ Jesus, and the Redeemer of mankind. He is truly made unto us wisdom, righteousness sanctification and redemption. As the Son, He shared equality of the Godhead before there was any thought of creation. When the determinate counsels of God were discussed, the provision of an Eternal Being was the GodPriest appointed and received through an oath that He would be not only the Son of God, but the divine eternal Priest of the Almighty God. So it is Melchisedec’s manifestation on earth that presents Melchisedec made like unto the Son of God.
Apart From Christ
In 1st Corinthians 1:30, we see four divine gifts given to us from the Son of God. And each one of these four gifts can only come from the divine Man with the divine glory of God, yes, the divine Priest, Jesus Christ, Melchisedec. Each one of these divine gifts must come from the Lord Jesus Christ. He was made unto us all four, apart from Christ man can have no wisdom of God, apart from Christ man can have no righteousness of God, apart from Christ man can have no sanctification, and apart from Christ man can have no redemption. The thought of the Holy Spirit is this that these four gifts to man can only come through the divine priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. For He was the One who was made unto us the Son of man, the GodMan, Christ Jesus. He is the One who is without father, without mother, the Eternal with the power of an endless life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)
I would like to interject (at this point) that great is the mystery of godliness. It is far beyond us. We are only created beings, and the Creator will always have more mysteries than we can ever comprehend. However, the Holy Spirit does unravel some of these mysteries for us by divine revelation. God, Himself, gives us a window into the mystery of Melchisedec, the Son of God. (Note the addendum: another window into a mystery of God)
The Mystery of Godliness
1st Timothy 3:16, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. The first mystery that we will deal with is that God was manifested in the flesh. God gave a visible image to His name, and then gave a name to His visible image, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. The eternal Creator, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ has no father, it is He who is coequal with the Father, and shares the glorious Light and Perfection, He is the outpouring of the Urim and Thummim. He is the center and heart of ALL that has been created.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. (1st Corinthians 8:6)
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? (Malachi 2:10)
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9)
The Lord Jesus is the great Creator of all things. We should spend some time meditating on the great God of our salvation. First, our being is created by Him, this is the One who has the power of life, and that power of life is endless. I might remind you that we are all created for His good pleasure. He is in complete sovereign control of our being. The psalmist in Psalm 104 brings out so much about our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. (Psalm 104:1-6)
This is just a taste of this wonderful psalm. This psalm brings out so much of the greatness of our God, for it is Jesus Christ who is the beginning of the creation of God. He is without father, without mother, without having descent, neither having beginning of days, nor end of life, but is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, but made like unto the Son of God.
Consider The Mystery of Godliness
In verse 4 of chapter 7 of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit asks us to consider. Part of this consideration is verse 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. We must consider a self existent Man now in heaven for us. He is the highest himself of Psalm 84. For in His work of redemption He not only gives us a path to heaven, but He has brought heaven to us. For we have been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13). This is a present reality for the child of God, to be present before and with the Son of God Jesus Christ, that his Creator would walk supernaturally with him in this evil world. This is all brought about by the determinate counsels of God working through the power of creation and the power of an endless life to bring His counsel to the tangibles of creation. God’s counsel has been carried through the history of mankind by His Spirit and by the dispensation of angels.
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. (Acts 7: 51 – 53)
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; (Hebrews 2:2)
We also have God the Holy Spirit guiding the holy prophets for they were kept by the Spirit of Christ which was in them.
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1st Peter 1:10 – 11)
Christ was working within them and through them to bring to man an unquestionable word of prophecy. There has been much denied in recent years of the inspiration and the very word that God gave unto these prophets. It has developed in the realm of Christianity an unsure belief in the word of God. This has come about by the ministers of Satan denying the very words that were put into the being and mouths of the prophets. This can be easily proven by reading Jeremiah 1:9, Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. In the book of Hebrews, Chapter 1 and verse 3, we are told that the Lord Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power. These holy men of old received the very words that they penned from the Almighty God. These words had nothing to do with the intellectual powers of mankind. The verse in Jeremiah covers all of the holy prophets. God inserts such verses to deny the false prophets and to lay hold of the word of God which abides forever and is settled in heaven. We also have the very voices of the angels, several times in the book of Daniel we hear the very words from the angels to God’s prophet, a man greatly beloved, the man called Daniel. We also have the Holy Spirit as a preserver of the very words and thoughts that were written by the prophets. Languages may change, but the mind of the Spirit of God does not change concerning His word. A phrase that is much overlooked is, the Spirit speaketh expressly, meaning that there is no variableness or shadow of turning in the word of God. The same Spirit of Christ that spoke by the holy prophets speaks today in all of the children of God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (Philippians 1:19)
One of the mysteries of godliness is that the Spirit of Christ dwells within the believer. This is the same Spirit of Christ that spoke to the holy prophets before the Lord Jesus was manifested in the flesh. The Lord Jesus was not only the manifestation of God on earth, but He was the full embodiment of His own Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. He walked on earth, He died on earth, He rose from the dead on earth, and ascended up to heaven from the earth. And this same Spirit of Christ dwells in and supplies the need for every child of God. The presence of the Spirit of Christ is a present reality of the Son of God with the Christian on earth. We have an irremovable unction of the Spirit of Christ within us to give us the power of His resurrection and endless life. The day that Christ came and called you out of this world was the very moment in time that Christ started working within you to perfect His character within you. In that moment of time you began the power of an endless life, and the power comes from that One who contains and fills eternity.
The Mystery of the Spiritual Birth: No Father, No Mother
He is the One without father, without mother, for God is Spirit. (John 4:24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Can this Spirit have a father or mother? Can the Spirit of Christ be contained in a genealogy of man? Can the Spirit of Christ have a beginning and an ending? It is God, the Eternal God, that neither has beginning of days nor end of life! And God’s children must worship Him in Spirit and truth.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:5-8)
Here in the gospel of John we have the mind of Christ explaining the work of the Spirit. It is through this Spirit and the power of the Spirit of Christ that He brings forth a new creation out of ruin. He brings forth beings that are called the sons of God. There is neither male nor female, there is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), for the redeemed of the Lord are all one in Christ Jesus. They have the power of His endless life. And they have been born without father, without mother, we are born of God, and not by blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man. We are born by the Spirit of Christ into a new creation as the sons of God. We have become the endless generation of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:1) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Psalm 22:30) A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. The Lord Jesus, in the power of His endless life, is the beginning of the creation of God. This is without controversy, for we, the children of God, are created by Him, and in Him in this power of an endless life.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:15 – 16)
These words by the Spirit of God were fulfilled by the Lord Jesus in His power of an endless life. By His own words He fulfilled the very words written in Hebrews 7:16. In the gospel of John He declared to the world, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:17 – 18)
This is another mystery of godliness. A man was born of God, he is created in a new image that you cannot see. He has come into a new realm of the ministry of the Spirit of God and the ministry of angels. He has been spiritually translated into a kingdom far greater than all the kingdoms of the world both past and present. He is born of the Spirit of Christ, and within him that Spirit dwells, and in this birth he (I) have no natural father or mother. (Let us move from a generic man to a particular man, me). There is nothing of man, or my past, or the past of my ancestors. I have been taken out of the world as a new creature and I belong to heaven and not to the earth. I belong to Christ, the GodMan who has purchased my soul from the pit of destruction by His own blood. This GodMan (not Adam) has redeemed me. Adam made me a sinner. Adam gave me death, however, in Christ I am made alive by the Spirit of Christ that dwells within me.
The Two Goats
One a Sacrifice, the Other Sent Into the Wilderness of the World
Galatians 2:20 gives us death, and it also gives us life. Christ was crucified in the world, and He was crucified by the world. This was the world that He possessed. (Psalm 24:1) The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Christ’s death on the cross took away sin. Adam was put to death so that this poor beggar could be set free on new ground. The slave to sin was set free in the death of the crucified one, so the new creature is crucified with Christ, and by the very act of Christ on the cross, all is finished. The work of the cross took away sin, and it was sent out by the scapegoat and released into the wilderness never to be seen again.
And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. (Leviticus 16:5)
And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. (Leviticus 16:6)
And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 16:7)
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. (Leviticus 16:8)
And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. (Leviticus 16:9)
But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:10)
And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. (Leviticus 16:26)
Side Note: The scapegoat is the messenger to the world. It is only mentioned four (4) times in the entire Scriptures. The message of the gospel has gone into all the world, and of course, the number four represents the world. The scapegoat is a silent witness (the number of witness is the number 2) for he carries the sin of the whole world so that mankind will be without excuse. No one will stand at the great white throne of judgment and declare that Christ did not die for them, or for their sin. Shall not the Judge of the whole world do right? Righteousness must answer every claim made by God, and fulfilled by the Man Christ Jesus. Once again, we refer to the two thieves, one repented and called on the Lord, he partook of the brazen altar, the cross. The other thief refused the mercies of God, but the scapegoat is the continuous witness against him bearing the sin of the whole world, going into the wilderness, and thus going into the world.
In the picture of the two goats, the sacrifice was placed on the great altar of the cross. There the Spirit of Christ takes hold of the transgressor, and the transgressor is crucified with Him. This was made clear when Christ said to the dying thief, This day thou shalt be with me in paradise, Christ was the sacrificial Lamb for him. However, there were two thieves, one on His right and one on His left. One thief would not receive the mercies of the Son of God. He refused the sacrifice of God. Here is where the scape goat comes in. Although the thief would not come to Christ, the payment for his transgressions was placed on the scape goat to carry sin away. All sin was atoned for on the cross of Christ, for all must be changed. And a new creature must come forth by a divine miracle of the new birth. The old creature must die, and be destroyed in the flesh so that the man who loves the Lord Jesus is crucified with Him. It is no longer I, but Christ within me. I have been crucified with Christ, and the result of that crucifixion is my death in Christ. But now, or, nevertheless I live because the Spirit of Christ has breathed life into me. The Spirit of Christ takes the lifeless corpse and breaths breathe into a new creation far above the world of Adam because my life is in Christ. I am joined to the Man in heaven for me. It is Christ in me, the hope of glory. And now I have a new life to live, and this life (once again) has no father or mother. I am no longer in the realm of Adam. I have been supernaturally translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. God calls my salvation a gift, and so it is. I have the gift of Christ within me. The paradox is that I still have a being of flesh, and I must carry it until it is put down in death. I now live in the flesh to combat this anomaly of the Spirit and flesh. I live by the gift of faith given by the Son of God to me. He has breathed faith into my being, nevertheless, I live.
The Acts of Creation
We are not angels (nor will we become angels), for the angels were created in the heavens above. God in His marvelous work of creation, created the beauties of heaven before He created the earth. There were two separate acts of creation: the heaven and the earth. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) These were two separate acts, God established one realm in heaven, this included creating the angels, and other created creatures, for we have the ‘beasts’ of Revelation, and we also have the figures of men in Ezekiel, the manifestation of the man with the ink horn. When all was complete in heaven, then God created the earth. This was another realm, and in this realm He placed man. Adam was created in the image of God, and He who has the power of an endless life breathed life into Adam. God is the possessor of the eternal power of all life. When man takes life away from another (as in Cain and Abel) he is stealing life from God. Life belongs to God and God alone. In the new birth, in the new creation of God, when the Christian is formed by the mystery and power of God, he is possessed by the Spirit of Christ. It is the eternal Spirit of Christ who gives new life from death. It is Christ who breathes new life into a new creature, the creation of God. Why? because He loved me and gave Himself for me. In my present position, I am in Christ and with Christ. I am joined to Him in His power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. The modern gospel preacher likes to quote John 3:16, however, John 3:16 is a broad picture of God’s love. It seems to dull the individual’s spiritual sense of being loved individually by the Almighty God. The gospel preacher of old (Paul) declared in Galatians 2:20 that Christ loved him and gave himself for him. It was and is the individual awareness of the love of God within the particular Christian because of his relationship with Jesus Christ his Savior. In His power of an endless life (which He shed upon us) there is neither father nor mother; there is no descent from Adam, for Adam descended into the realm of sin.
This realm of sin became a slave master over all humanity. We do not look at sin as a kingdom, yet it has ruled over man since the fall of Adam. Adam had a kingdom that was given to him from God. Adam was the ruler of the kingdom that God had given him, and he gave this kingdom away for sin. When he committed sin, he became the receptacle and the reservoir of sin. And in that act he brought the dominion of sin into the world, thus, sin would rule over mankind till the fullness of time.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:4-6)
The fullness of time, and the purpose of that time was to destroy sin, to destroy death, and to destroy the works of the devil.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14 – 15)
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1st Corinthians 15:53 – 57)
The Wall of Death Falls
Sin is a tyrant, for it leaves behind a sea of death. For the result of the rule of sin is death. (Romans 5:12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:. This death that is in every man is the result of Adam’s work. Adam lost his glory, lost his position in the garden, but retained his position in the world as the head of the human race. It became the work of Adam’s race to obey sin unto their own death. Try to break this rule. One cannot. The dominion of sin is so powerful it took the Son of God to overcome this kingdom of death. The Lord Jesus on the cross first defeated sin by nailing it to His cross, in a moment of time, sin was vanquished on the cross, and by removing sin He brought down the wall of the kingdom of death. This was to bring in a new generation of supernatural beings born of the Spirit of Christ, the Son of God. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and gives those of that kingdom everlasting life. The man of earth had failed, and they who followed Adam failed in his footsteps, and death took them one by one.
The Unique Man
It took a supernatural Man from heaven, a unique Man in every way, His birth was unique for there was no trace of Adam in Him. His life was unique for He did not sin. His death was unique for He overcame sin and death. He also destroyed the works of the devil. His resurrection was unique for no one had ever had the power to claim life from death. Only death had the power to claim life unto death, but Christ (in His defeat of death and death’s kingdom) came forth from the tomb in His own power of an endless life. In this He activated a new life for those who believe in Him. His ascension to the right hand of God was unique. For now we have a unique Man, a supernatural Man in heaven for us, and He is now giving life from above. He ministers this life from the right hand of the majesty on high. After He purged our sins, and broke the dominion of sin, He (Himself) has all power in heaven and earth. He took away Adam’s dominion to replace it with His own. And in His dominion He rules in righteousness with the power of an endless life. There is no descent, for I live in the generation of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:1) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. This generation is a supernatural generation. It is made up of heavenly people born from the Spirit of God to eternally dwell with Christ through eternity. These people are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, and not the spirit of Adam. The heritage of the world brought forth death, and all have a genealogy of death, the soul that sinneth shall die. In Christ we have a new generation, a heavenly generation, and that makes this generation one with Christ and in Christ with the power of His endless life. It is quite evident, in the professing world of the religionist, that mankind in his natural state wants to hold onto earth. If he desires this, then he must hold onto sin, and he must hold onto death. For only the new birth in Christ can set the slave free. And his new Master is the heavenly Man, Christ Jesus our Lord. One can say that we only have one descent, for our genealogy is in Christ and by Christ alone. We could say of ourselves (in the new birth) that we have neither father nor mother. We neither have beginning of days, nor end of life. For we have entered into the eternal realm of Christ, and Christ does not count days in eternity. Even in His realm a thousand years are but a day. The Eternal has no beginning of days. He can call Himself the beginning, for there was nothing but the Almighty, and it is the Almighty who fills the eternal and eternity. We cannot add or take away from the Person of God. For all comes from His eternal power and Godhead. (Romans 1:20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Even the witness of creation gives way to His self existence, and His eternal Godhead. He has neither beginning of days nor end of life, for He is the Eternal, and He holds all power in the full spectrum of eternity. God, who is life, cannot die! The Lord Jesus declared of life, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This reveals the complete power of the endless life of God, however, when Christ took upon Himself life in resurrection, He took it as the Man Christ Jesus, as the angels proclaimed on His ascension, This same Jesus will come again. This same supernatural Man that has snatched life out of death will come again. He took sin and death and eradicated them both. How? with the power of His endless life. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55)
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1st Corinthians 15:20-26)
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:10 -11)
In Christ’s victory He defeated both sin and death. He cast His own soul as an offering as we understand through Isaiah Chapter 53. For only eternal life, the power of an endless life, could defeat sin and death.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14 – 15)
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2nd Timothy 1:10)
The Cross and What Transpired at Calvary
We, as Christians, lose so much in not understanding the work of Christ in the cross. Many look at the cross as a relic like the brazen serpent (Nehushtan – 2 Kings 18:4). Many look at the cross as a piece of jewelry. Many look at the cross as a place of a dying Savior, and in their great halls He remains on that cross. The cross was a place of transaction where Melchisedec as Jesus Christ offered Himself as the Lamb of God for the sin of the world. This offering was so deep that the very soul of the Son of God was offered for your redemption. There has never been so great a place of death than the cross at Calvary. For the Eternal laid down His life, and then through the power of an endless life He took it again. The phrase that is in Hebrews 7, but made like unto the Son of God, is only a description of the Man Christ Jesus as both Melchisedec and the Man who came forth in the fullness of time, Jesus Christ. The Man Jesus Christ was made a body, and that body was prepared for Him. (Hebrews 10:5) Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: He was fashioned by the Eternal. He was made with the power of an endless life. For all must revolve around Christ, He is the fullness of the Godhead bodily, He is the beginning of the creation of God, all things were made by Him, and for Him. As Christ rules over eternity He also dwells in the eternity that He rules over. All must be fulfilled in Him, righteousness can only be put forth by He who is righteous and that is Christ our Lord. All things must pass through Him, for He is the Eternal State. He has created the things that are seen and the things that are unseen. All things that transpire in His earthly state as Man shows His complete uniqueness, therefore, the Man in heaven is unique. He is the Redeemer of all things. He has redeemed man, and He has redeemed heaven and earth. He has manifested Himself through Scripture, and each time He was a witness of Himself in many different facets, and forms. This One is the only One who has self existence, and this is shown by the power of His eternal Godhead. (Colossians 2:9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. In this verse, Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily. The body that was prepared, the body that was manifested was the very fullness of the Godhead bodily. The image of Melchisedec is the preexistent revelation of the Son of God. In that revelation to Abraham, Christ declared the fullness of time to the patriarch Abraham. He came as the righteous Priest of God, the Holy One out of heaven. Just as He was manifested as the Son of God, He came from heaven above. He was a Priest before the priesthood was given to man. Aaron was only a shadow of the great high Priest that maintained the heavenly priesthood. The heavenly priesthood cannot end or pass away. The body of redemption does not nullify the eternal priesthood. For the Son abides forever. These were the words of the Lord Jesus, His priesthood abides continually, continued from when? and continued how long? He is the eternal Priest with neither beginning of days nor end of life, and this priesthood is established with an oath. Aaron’s priesthood was established by sanctification. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. (Exodus 40:12 – 13) (Also read Chapter 8 of the book of Leviticus).
The Unique Priest and the Unique Priesthood
There are two different priesthoods: one, is only a shadow of the One who is Eternal, Melchisedec, with neither beginning of days nor end of life; and by the oath cannot be broken.
For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 7:17)
And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (Hebrews 7:20)
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. (Hebrews 7:28)
Aaron was of the earth, earthly, as he was a descent of Adam. Melchisedec was the Priest from heaven, and He is revealed as the Eternal Son. These are the offices that Christ possesses: He is the Eternal Prophet, the Eternal Priest and the Eternal King. The fullness of this will be seen when He sits on His throne.
His office of Prophet can be seen as an example in Enoch, the man who ascended to God without death as a type of the everlasting Son of God defeating death in ascending up to God. The next example of His office of Priest was manifested when Christ met Abraham as the Priest of the most high God possessor of heaven and earth. The third example of the office of King would be king David. The statement that God made is prophetic speaking of David, God said, A man after my own heart, speaking of His own kingship when He will descend from His throne in heaven to take up the throne upon the earth as both Priest and King. The earthly throne will be in Jerusalem. He will sit upon that throne as the Son, as the Lamb, as the Priest, as the Prophet (for the Spirit of prophecy is Christ), and as the King of kings, as the Lord of lords with neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God: completely unique. Amen.
Addendum: Turn to the book of Daniel, Chapter 3, verses 22 thru 26.
Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3:22)
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:23)
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. (Daniel 3:24)
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (Daniel 3:25)
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. (Daniel 3:26)
We need to set the scene in the land of Shinar on the plain of Dura. All of Babylon, all the princes of the different provinces of the king’s realm, all the priests, all the soothsayers, all the magicians, all the judges, all the sheriffs, all the elites, all the treasurers, all the counselors, and all the rulers had come to pay tribute, and to worship in the grandest display of idolatry on planet Earth. Nebuchadnezzar had erected his treasured image to display his power, and his glory. We should not forget the cry to worship his image was to all people, nations, and languages that when they heard the music they were to bow down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. This was the scene. It must have been tremendous scene, a sea of humanity in opposition to the Almighty God, shaking their fists in the face of God, and denying the Creator of all things. Now, we have the counsels of God, among the children of the captivity were three devoted Israelites, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three young Hebrew men worshiped the Almighty God, and were not about to bow their knees to what they understood was the image of Satan. For all idolatry is inspired by Satan himself. This goes back to Satan’s initial sin, desiring the angels of God to worship him and not the Almighty God. Your reference can be found in Isaiah 14, and Ezekiel 28. So this is the scene before us on the plain of Dura. The music played, and every knee bowed, except three young men who refused to bow to the idolatry of the king. The penalty was death by fire. Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath demanded that the furnace be heated seven times beyond the normal intensity of heat. The heat was so great that the servants who threw the bound Hebrews into the flames perished. The divine miracle takes life in a world of darkness, but the burning bush is not consumed. The marvel is the presence of the God of the burning bush. Nebuchadnezzar looked and was astonished, for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked unhurt in the midst of the flames. Only their bindings were consumed, and they walked freely in the flames to the glory of God, and in the presence of God. Nebuchadnezzar must have rubbed his eyes for he proclaimed, but Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? Yet, he saw four images, and this fourth image was like the Son of God. Who told Nebuchadnezzar this? God struck Nebuchadnezzar in his heart, mind, and in his being, that this was the Son of God. In the relationship to Melchisedec of Hebrews Chapter 7, we have the power of an endless life. Fire had no power over their bodies, neither their garments, nor their hair were singed. There was no smell of fire on them. The God of heaven is so great, and Nebuchadnezzar was about to learn some tremendously hard lessons from the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth. Nebuchadnezzar stated to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that they were the servants of the most high God. There is another miracle that man does not see. After the servants of Nebuchadnezzar perished at the entrance of the burning fiery furnace, God preserved Nebuchadnezzar when he also approached the entrance of this burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. This is one of those windows, and this is one of those mysteries that God reveals to us. Nebuchadnezzar could only declare, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God, we cannot expect Nebuchadnezzar to know this truth except by divine revelation that this was the Son of God in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. God gave us this window into this mystery, and this is part of the mystery of godliness. God will never reveal ALL to man, but He reveals enough to make it sufficient for faith and belief in Jesus Christ.
© Copyright 2018, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJ