Hebrews 6:19-20 “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, (20) where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
In this section we want to discuss the biblical truth that New Covenant saints have become eternal priests according to the order of Melchizedek. A number of things have changed between the New and the Old Covenants, and one of the changes is in the priesthood. The Old Covenant priesthood was an earthly priesthood ordained by God to offer physical sacrifices i.e. bulls and goats, etc. That priesthood was known as the Levitical priesthood because only the sons of Levi qualified to serve as priests. God appointed Aaron as High Priest of that priesthood and only his direct descendants were allowed to serve in that capacity. Because death prevented the High Priest from continuing, that priesthood was obviously temporal in nature. Nevertheless, since the destruction of the Jewish temple in the year seventy AD that priesthood has been suspended until the temple is rebuilt in the city of Jerusalem. And so when God introduced the New Covenant He changed the priesthood. The New Covenant priesthood is a heavenly priesthood ordained by God to offer spiritual sacrifices. God has ordained that priesthood as an eternal priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek, and as we can see from the above quoted passage of scripture, God has appointed the Lord Jesus as High Priest of that order.
Revelation 1:5-6 “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, (6) and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
We have seen that only the sons of Levi qualified to serve as priests under the Old Covenant. However, in the passage of scripture quoted above the Holy Spirit reveals to us that the Lord Jesus has made all of His saints to be priests of God. And so we see that just as the Lord Jesus has become our High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, so it is that His saints have also become priests according to the order of Melchizedek. And just as the previous passage of scripture stated that Jesus had become High Priest forever, so it is that His saints have also become priests forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
1 Peter 2:5 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
In this section we want to discuss the spiritual sacrifices that the New Covenant priests are called to offer before God. As we have already mentioned, the priests under the old covenant were appointed by God to offer physical sacrifices such as lambs, bulls and grain, etc. Although the new covenant priests are also appointed by God to offer sacrifices, nevertheless as the apostle Peter teaches us in the above quoted passage of scripture, the sacrifices of the new covenant priests are not physical but rather spiritual in nature.
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
The question is then asked, what are the spiritual sacrifices the new covenant priests are required to offer? The New Testament gives us a number of examples of the types of spiritual sacrifices that God requires from the new covenant priests. For example, in the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Paul instructs the saints to present their bodies to God as living sacrifices. The Old Testament saints were never instructed by God to present their bodies to Him as living sacrifices. The reason for that was because their bodies were not the temple of God as ours are, for the Holy Spirit did not reside in their bodies as He does in ours. So what does Paul mean when he says that we are to present our bodies to God as acceptable living sacrifices? Under the old covenant the priests could not present a blemished sacrifice to the Lord, because that sacrifice would not be accepted by Him. And so we see that new covenant saints are to ensure that in order for their bodies to be accepted by God as living sacrifices, they must not be blemished in any way. For example they must not be blemished by the sin of sexual immorality. And so we see that keeping one’s body holy would be considered a spiritual sacrifice.
Hebrews 13:16 “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the Holy Spirit gives us another example of a spiritual sacrifice; by teaching us that when we do good and share with others, that we are in fact offering sacrifices to God, and with such sacrifices our Father is well pleased. And so we see that even though the saints may be sharing with others, things which are physical, nevertheless that act is considered to be a spiritual sacrifice being offered to the Lord.
Acts 13:2-3 “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (3) Then, having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the Holy Spirit reveals to us that when the saints fast and pray that they are in fact ministering to the Lord. The role of a priest is precisely that, i.e. to minister to the Lord. And so we see that another type of spiritual sacrifice that the New Testament saints offer before God are the sacrifices of prayer and fasting. In fact, as far as our priestly role in the earth is concerned, prayer is by far the most important type of sacrifice that we are called to offer before God.
Hebrews 8:3-5 “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. (4) For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; (5) who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the Holy Spirit teaches us that priests are appointed by God to offer both gifts and sacrifices. In other words offering gifts and sacrifices is their primary function. And so we can see why it is so important for new covenant saints to understand their role as priests. This passage goes on to say that the priests under the old covenant served the copy and shadow of the heavenly things. So what does that statement mean? When we read the Old Testament we see that the priests were required to offer five different types of sacrifices before God. The first was called the burnt offering (Leviticus 1:3). The second was called the grain offering (Leviticus 2:1). The third was called the peace offering (Leviticus 3:1). The fourth was called the sin offering (Leviticus 4:3). And the fifth was called the trespass offering (Leviticus 7:1). Each offering had its own set of rules that had to be followed in order for that offering to be accepted by God. And so we see that the shadow of the sacrifices offered by the priests under the old covenant, point to the different types of prayer that the priests under the new covenant are called to offer before God.
Ephesians 6:18 “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”
In the passage of scripture quoted above the apostle Paul teaches us to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit. Clearly, when Paul tells us to pray with all prayer, He is implying that there are different types of prayer. And so we see that Paul’s comment reinforces the point that just as there were different physical sacrifices that were offered under the Old Covenant, so there are different spiritual sacrifices (prayers) that are offered under the New Covenant.
1 Timothy 2:1 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.”
In the passage of scripture quoted above the apostle Paul confirms the truth to us regarding the different types of prayer, for in this passage Paul mentions three different types of prayer i.e. the prayer of supplication, the prayer of intercession and the prayer of thanksgiving. And so just as with the different types of sacrifices that the Old Testament priests were required to offer before God, each type of prayer is appropriate only when offered in its correct place. For example, one would not use the prayer of thanksgiving when interceding for a brother in the Lord that may be in a backslidden state. Obviously the appropriate prayer to use in that instance would be the prayer of intercession. And so we see that just as there are different types of prayer mentioned in scripture, so there are also different rules that govern each type of prayer. For example, quite often fasting is linked to the prayer of intercession as the saint humbles themselves before the Lord on behalf of the person they are praying for. However, it would be inappropriate for the saint to afflict themselves with fasting before the Lord when they want to offer up the prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for His goodness.
James 5:16 “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle James teaches us that the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. So what does that statement mean? It simply means that in order for our prayers to be effectual they must not only be fervent, but they must also be offered to God in the correct manner. For prayers offered to God in the incorrect manner will prove to be ineffective, i.e. they will go unanswered because those sacrifices will not be accepted by Him.
Michael E.B. Maher
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