Topical Bible: The Excellency and Glory of Christ: As Priest

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The role of Christ as Priest is a central theme in Christian theology, emphasizing His unique position as the mediator between God and humanity. This priestly function is rooted in the Old Testament priesthood but finds its ultimate fulfillment and perfection in Jesus Christ, who is described as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:17).

Old Testament Foreshadowing

The Old Testament priesthood, established through Aaron and his descendants, served as a foreshadowing of the perfect priesthood of Christ. The priests were responsible for offering sacrifices, interceding for the people, and maintaining the holiness of the tabernacle and later the temple. However, these priests were themselves imperfect and needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins (Hebrews 5:3).

Christ's Perfect Priesthood

In contrast to the Levitical priests, Christ's priesthood is characterized by its perfection and eternality. Hebrews 7:26-27 states, "Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself."

Christ's priesthood is not based on a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but on the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16). This eternal priesthood is in the order of Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who appears in Genesis 14:18-20 and is further expounded upon in Psalm 110:4 and the book of Hebrews. Melchizedek's priesthood is without genealogy, beginning, or end, symbolizing the eternal and unchangeable nature of Christ's priesthood.

Mediator of a New Covenant

As the mediator of a new covenant, Christ's priesthood surpasses the old covenant established through Moses. Hebrews 8:6 declares, "But now, Jesus has received a more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises." This new covenant is characterized by the internalization of God's laws and the complete forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 8:10-12).

The Sacrifice of Christ

Central to Christ's priestly role is His self-sacrifice. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament, Christ offered Himself once for all, securing eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). His sacrifice was both voluntary and sufficient, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law and reconciling humanity to God. Hebrews 10:12-14 affirms, "But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet, because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified."

Intercession and Advocacy

Christ's priestly ministry continues in His role as intercessor and advocate. Seated at the right hand of the Father, He continually intercedes for believers, ensuring their perseverance and sanctification. Romans 8:34 states, "Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." This ongoing intercession underscores the security and assurance believers have in their salvation.

Access to God

Through Christ's priesthood, believers have direct access to God, a privilege that was previously restricted under the old covenant. Hebrews 4:14-16 encourages believers to approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that they have a sympathetic high priest who understands their weaknesses and offers mercy and grace in times of need.

In summary, the excellency and glory of Christ as Priest are manifested in His perfect, eternal, and all-sufficient priesthood. His role as mediator of a new covenant, His once-for-all sacrifice, and His ongoing intercession highlight the profound depth of His priestly ministry, offering believers assurance, access, and a restored relationship with God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Son and the Angels.
... of His position is proportionate to the excellency of the ... Four points of connection
between the glory of Christ and ... The one is that Christ is Priest; the other ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter ii the son and.htm

Christ's Priestly Office
... (1:) The excellency of his ... Oh, trade for Christ's glory: spend and be spent for him. ...
If a poor sinner may not go to Christ as his high priest, believing in his ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/4 christs priestly office.htm

The Joint Heirs and their Divine Portion
... See, brethren, he enters into glory, but not for himself alone, for it is ... fail us;
and perhaps it is well, for then the excellency of the ... Is Christ a priest? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/the joint heirs and their.htm

The Desire of all Nations
... was not so as in respect of gold, or silver, or size, or excellency of architecture ...
It is her glory that Christ is her sole King; it is her glory that he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/the desire of all nations.htm

The Priesthood of Christ
... to this I shall say, that Christ is styled "the brightness of the Father's glory,"
"the express ... God," I shall have expressed its excellency as fully as ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/oration iv the priesthood of.htm

Hymns and Spiritual Songs
... The new creation. Hymn 2:131. The excellency of the Christian religion. Hymn 2:132. ...
Hymn 3:23. Grace and glory by the death of Christ. Hymn 3:24. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/hymns and spiritual songs/

Christ is All
... see it to be compatible with his glory to do. ... they poor, be they unlettered, if Jesus
Christ be formed ... he said, "I brethren, came not with excellency of speech ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/christ is all.htm

Christ.
... Father, simply as considered of the same divine and eternal excellency with him ... the
King of glory shall come in." The King of glory is Jesus Christ, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/vii christ.htm

How Shall the Soul Make Use of Christ, as the Life, which is under ...
... home to the soul, in their reality, excellency, and truth ... the soul cometh to "the
knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ," 2 Corinthians 4 ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxiv how shall the.htm

Humility is the Root of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. . ...
... It is no wonder, then, that these are the first principles that we must learn in
Christ's school, the very ABC ... That is the proper excellency and glory of it ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter v humility is the.htm