S) "26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."
Hebrews 7:26-27 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Hebrews 7
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Hebrews 7
O) The writer has just finished comparing the priesthood of Christ and Melchizedek, and contrasting Christ and the other Levite priests. In the paragraph just before this, he specified that Jesus is a perpetual high priest, specifically because he conquered death and lives forever. So, the resurrection works together with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and together that is the reason no further sacrifices are needed.
A) This passage is another facet of how the new covenant is perfect, and will never need to be replaced. This new covenant is perpetually self-sufficient. In the old covenant, there was a need for a temple, and a need for a priesthood, and a need for sacrifices. If any of those things were taken away, the people could not be made righteous. However, this passage is a great comfort to me, because it reminds me that there is nothing anyone can do to endanger my redemption in Christ. I am made righteous before God because the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross atones for my sins once and for all. His perfect life makes the sacrifice acceptable. His resurrection makes the sacrifice permanent. The most important thing for me, then, is to remember that I cannot earn my righteousness. God provided it completely. My desire to live a righteous life, then, will not be motivated by fear, but by love. If I am keeping this passage in mind, and the concept of this grace, then I will obey because I am grateful, not because I am afraid of hell. This also means I will never tire of striving for perfection, because I am not worried about not making it. I will be able to endure because my thankfulness never wanes.
A) This passage is another facet of how the new covenant is perfect, and will never need to be replaced. This new covenant is perpetually self-sufficient. In the old covenant, there was a need for a temple, and a need for a priesthood, and a need for sacrifices. If any of those things were taken away, the people could not be made righteous. However, this passage is a great comfort to me, because it reminds me that there is nothing anyone can do to endanger my redemption in Christ. I am made righteous before God because the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross atones for my sins once and for all. His perfect life makes the sacrifice acceptable. His resurrection makes the sacrifice permanent. The most important thing for me, then, is to remember that I cannot earn my righteousness. God provided it completely. My desire to live a righteous life, then, will not be motivated by fear, but by love. If I am keeping this passage in mind, and the concept of this grace, then I will obey because I am grateful, not because I am afraid of hell. This also means I will never tire of striving for perfection, because I am not worried about not making it. I will be able to endure because my thankfulness never wanes.
P) Father, thank You for working in me, both to will and to work for Your good pleasure. Thank You for providing everything necessary for my redemption. Thank You for this everlasting grace, established in Christ alone. Please help me stay humble, to remember that it is not up to my will power to obey, but it is according to Your grace, which produces thanksgiving in me. My salvation is not based on my holiness, but on the holiness of Jesus. My eternal life is not based on what I can do, but based on what He already did. Thank You for this promise, based on Your character. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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