Who Is—Was Melchisedec? #2

Fred R. Coulter—April 16, 2011

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[Transcript begins at 3:22 of the audio]

Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services. What I'm going to do today, we're going to continue on with Melchisedec and the New Covenant. The reason we're going to do so is because tomorrow night is the Passover and the Passover is the New Covenant night. This is very important for us to understand, because the calling to eternal life is not a joining of a religion or a club so you can be a better person. You can do a lot of things to be a better person, through discipline and work and having what the world calls 'principles.' But the calling to eternal life is entirely different.

When we look at the sequence of events in the Old Testament concerning the first Passover with Israel, and when you look at the sequence of events in Exodus, the Passover for Israel was not a covenant night. They had to make their journey all the way to Mount Sinai, receive the Ten Commandments, receive the statutes and judgments, have it all written in the Book of the Law, then it was read to the people and then they said, 'Yes, we will do it.' Moses then had the offerings, the sprinkling of the blood on the people and on the Ten Commandments and the Book of the Law. That took place sometime after Pentecost.

However, the promise of leaving began with the Passover night. When we come to the New Testament, it was on the Passover night that the New Covenant was established and that goes clear back to Gen. 15 and Abraham and the sacrifices there and what God did and promised at that time.

Then we come to the book of Hebrews. Now, the book of Hebrews really is the preparation for the Jews that the whole temple system was going to be destroyed. One of the disputes with the Pharisees is that Jesus said that there is one here greater than the temple—He was referring to Himself—and that He desired mercy and not sacrifice.

For everyone who is in the rigors of a 'religion'—especially like Judaism [request book: Judaism: A Revelation of Moses or a Religion of Men?]—or Catholicism or any other religion that has a lot of laws and commandments to do. The New Covenant is completely different and it is not for anyone who is not baptized and that's not to put people down. The New Covenant is based upon

• the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
• His death
• His resurrection
• the promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
• promises given to the New Testament Church

There's a whole lot more to it and the requirements to be part of the New Covenant are a whole lot more stringent and having much more symbolism than anything that you find in the Old Covenant.

Let's back come here to Hebrews 2 and let's look at how Paul is preparing them for a whole new way of worship, an entirely new priesthood. Now this was written just right after the death of the brother of Jesus, James the apostle. At that time, they began to see that Jerusalem was going to be destroyed and the temple system was going to be absolutely worthless.

Hebrews 2:17: "For this reason..." We're talking about the priesthood. We're talking about Melchisedec. And we saw last time that had to be the one Who became Jesus Christ. And we saw that for Melchisedec there was no father, mother, no genealogy; He is the King of Righteousness, the King of Peace—all of those attributes given to Him. God had to do His part. That's why Christ came and was born of the virgin Mary. That's why we're made in the image of God. And we also know that was planned from the foundation of the world. We also know that God does things on time, His way.

It's talking about Christ and the One Who became Melchisedec, v 17: "For this reason, it was obligatory for Him to be made like His brethren in everything... [Completely human. Even having human nature, but never activated because He never sinned; though He was tempted in all points like we are.] ...that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God... [not in things pertaining to the temple] ...in order to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

Now, propitiation is a word which means continuous source of mercy, forgiveness of sin. It also has a relationship to the mercy seat that was over the Ark of the Covenant, which was a type of the things from heaven.

"...to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered, having been tempted in like manner, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (vs 17-18). So here Paul now is beginning to prepare them for the elimination of the Aaronic and Levitical priesthood—the temple, the sacrifices, the whole thing.

Now then he makes a comparison, Hebrews 3:1: "Because of this, Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling..." It's interesting.

Let's come back to Acts 16, because the calling must be answered and also God is the One Who is drawing. But there is a spiritual thing that happens when you yield to God and do the things that God wants you to do. You have a desire for God. This becomes a very important thing. The Father has to draw us (John 6:44). That's the calling. We have to respond. Then we also have to know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

Now let's see this in action in Acts 16:13: "Then on the day of the weeks... [probably indicating with very little doubt that this was Pentecost, since they were traveling and away] ...we went outside the city by a river, where it was customary for prayer to be made; and after sitting down, we spoke to the women who were gathered together there. And a certain woman who worshiped God was listening; she was named Lydia and was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira; whose heart the Lord opened to received the things spoken by Paul…. [That's a key statement. That also becomes the key fundamental thing for the New Testament and the calling to eternal life.] ...whose heart the Lord opened to receive the things spoken by Paul. And after she and her household were baptized..." (vs 13-15).

She was baptized; that's what has to happen. You have to first, when God begins dealing with you, respond to Him; He'll respond to you, you respond to Him, He responds to you. You grow in that responding to God and God gives more understanding by sending His Spirit to be with you. There may be a lot of people who have the Spirit of God with them, if they're trying to keep the commandments of God and doing what is right and using the name of Jesus. But that does not mean that there is salvation involved in it, because you have to be part of the New Covenant. So this is what he's leading up to.

Now, he makes this comparison; we will see this comparison all the way through. Hebrews 3:1: "Because of this, Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of the faith we profess—Jesus Christ, Who was faithful to Him Who appointed Him, even Moses was in all His house" (vs 1-2). Don't we have the prophecy in Deut. 18:15? That 'I will raise up a prophet like unto you.'

Notice, v 3: "For He has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, even as He Who built the house has so much more honor than the house itself…. [But, of course, the house itself can't do anything—can it? The house itself does not have life. But the architect of the house, being Christ, can make many houses—correct?] …For every house is built by someone, but He Who built all things is God" (vs 3-4). So then he tells us we need to consider that.

Hebrews 4 talks about the Word of God, because this is important to understand. Jesus did not do away with the laws and commandments of God. We've gone over that how many times? But nevertheless some people still never get the point. All of the ritual laws at the temple were all ritual. Now we have as an appendices in The Holy Bible In Its Original Order: A Comparison Between the Old and New Covenant, so you can go through and study that. Now everything required under the covenant with Israel now God has provided the spiritual substance of it.

Hebrews 4:12: "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword..." That's why

• no one can get away from the judgments of God
• no one can get away from the penalty of sin
• no one can get away from the fact that all human endeavors end,
• if they do good, in death
• if they don't, suffering, misery, up and down and sin until they die—some younger, some older.

"...piercing even to the dividing asunder of both soul and spirit, and of both the joints and the marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart" (v 12).

That's why when you read the Bible, something happens that does not happen when you read another book. That's why when you read the Word of God, the words are spirit and are life. And if you're seeking God, they are going to have meaning. It is not a band-aid to make your conscience feel good, if your conscience condemns you because you have sinned. You need to repent.

"And there is not a created thing that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account" (v 13). And remember, there's a day of accounting coming—right? Remember the parable of the talents (Matt. 25) and, the parable of the pounds (Luke 19). We're all going to have to give an account for what we do —correct? Yes!

Now notice, he wants us to understand that this is not an overwhelmingly burdensome thing and something that is, even though we are to fear God and do what is right, we are not to be fearful. But rather this whole relationship that God has with us is based upon God loving us and we loving God. But nevertheless, God means business.

Verse 14: "Having therefore a great High Priest, Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession of our faith. For we do not have a high priest who cannot empathize with our weaknesses, but one Who was tempted in all things according to the likeness of our own temptations; yet He was without sin. Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace..." (vs 14-16).

The whole operation of the New Covenant is called grace, the grace in which we stand, because God wants mercy and not sacrifice. God wants to develop His love and His character in you because He wants you to be born again, through the resurrection, when Christ returns. So the whole vastness of the plan of God, then, is so much greater than a temple in Jerusalem and animal sacrifices and the physical priesthood.

"...we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (v 16). Then he explains how Jesus suffered. Let's see what it was that He had to go through.

Hebrews 5:6: "Even as He also says in another place, 'You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec.'…. [And this is what we're talking about all the way through the book of Hebrews.] (notice what He had to go through): …Who, in the days of His flesh, offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because He feared God. Although He was a Son, yet He learned obedience from the things that He suffered… [Christ had to be perfectly obedient at all times.] …And having been perfected..." (vs 6-9).

Now think about that. Is God perfect? Yes, God is perfect! But if He never experienced all the things that human beings experience, is He really perfect in the sense of being a faithful and merciful High Priest? No! What would happen? It would be just like many human beings! When people do things that are wrong, others look at it and say, 'Well, they deserve that. I'm not even going to listen to them.'

Remember what happened when Hannah (the mother of Samuel) came and she was crying because she didn't have any children,. And Eli the priest was there. He told her, 'Woman, stop your drunkenness, get out of here.' And she said, 'No, I've bitterness of spirit because I don't have children.' At least Eli had a little mercy on her and said, 'God grant you your prayer.' But at first he didn't. So we need that kind of high priest.

Verse 9: "And having been perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him… [Building your house on the rock, 'hear these words of Mine and does them' (Matt. 7). That's obedience.] …after He had been designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec" (vs 9-10). Now then, he said there are a lot of hard things that we're going to have to say to you about Melchisedec, so we want you to understand what it is here.

Let's come over here to Hebrews 7 and let's pick it up where we left off last time and let's see this priesthood of Melchisedec. We already covered the things concerning Who He was, and so forth, and how that even Levi paid tithes while he was still in the loins of his father Abraham.

Hebrews 7:11: "Therefore, if perfection was indeed possible through the Levitical priesthood—for the law that the people had received was based on it—what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not to be named after the order of Aaron?" So if you're going to have things perfected, then it must be on a spiritual level.

You look back and what was it said of Job? He was blameless! He went through the trial because he was righteous, but he did not understand the significance of attributing all of the righteousness to God, rather than to himself. So now there has to be a change in the priesthood and this is what Paul is coming to.

Verse 12: "For since the priesthood has changed... [Already, from the time of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.] ...it is obligatory that a change of the law also take place." Now a lot of people read that and say, 'That's how the law was done away.' No, it was a change

• from in the letter of the law to the spirit of the law
• from sacrifice to mercy
• from the promise of a long physical life to eternal life
• from the promise of riches and wealth on the earth if you obey Him, to riches and wealth forever in the spiritual Kingdom of God

You need a spiritual High Priest to handle all of that. What happened was the law was not removed. The law from changed from physical to spiritual. Likewise, there has to be tithes and offerings—we won't get into that, but we could—what is necessary to carry on the work of the ministry, and the ministry is under the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. But His Priesthood is so great that everyone that has the Holy Spirit of God can have direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ.

Verse 13: "Because the One of Whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one was appointed to serve at the altar. For it is quite evident that our Lord has descended from Judah... [Let's understand, He didn't say our Lord was a Jew. This is a legal definition here. A Jew was one who followed Judaism. He didn't follow that; He descended from Judah] ...of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood. And it is even more evident because a different Priest arises according to the order of Melchisedec; Who was not invested according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but by the power of indestructible life" (vs 13-16). So when it gets down to tithes and offerings, these go directly to do what God wants done according to Christ, Who is the Head of the Church.

Verse 18: "For there is indeed an annulment... [to completely set aside and make void] ...the earlier commandment delivered to Aaron because of its weakness of unprofitableness, because the law brought nothing to perfection; rather, perfection is brought about by a superior hope... [We're getting into the whole substance and the meaning of the New Covenant.] ...a superior hope, through which we draw near to God" (vs 18-19).

We don't come to a physical city of Jerusalem, to a physical priesthood, to a physical temple, to bring animal sacrifices. No! We have to have our hearts circumcised through baptism, and we have to receive the Holy Spirit so that we can have access to God the Father in heaven above and we wait the hope of the resurrection. Is not the hope of the resurrection a superior hope to dwelling in a land where God says He will bless you? Of course!

Verse 20: "And according to this superior measure, it was not without the swearing of an oath that He was made a Priest. (For those who descend from Aaron are made priests without the swearing of an oath." Just because you are born of the line of Aaron you automatically became a priest; not so with this. This has to be designated from God the Father that Jesus Christ is a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. So notice, he says it again. Go back and look at all the Scriptures where he's talking about the priesthood of Melchisedec.

Verse 21: "But He was made a Priest with the swearing of an oath by Him Who says concerning Him, 'The Lord swore and will not revoke His Word, "You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec."')." And that is quoted from Psa. 110, and how we saw there that both 'the Lord said to my Lord,' both those words in the original were YHVH—not YHVH and Adonai—because in rejecting the New Testament and in rejecting Christ, the scribes made a change in 134 places in the Old Testament where the word YHVH or Jehovah or Yahweh was used, and they substituted the word 'Adonai.' This is so they could retain their monotheistic religion—only one God. There is one God, composed of two. It is the God family, and nowhere does it say the Holy Spirit is God; nowhere, absolutely nowhere!

Verse 22: "By such a greater measure then, Jesus was made the Guarantor of a superior covenant." Because He was God, Who became human, Who gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, but it is not applied to all mankind now. That's why we need to understand

• the New Covenant
• the Holy Days
• God's plan

Then he talks about making comparison with the physical priesthood, v 23: "Now, in the one case there were many priests because they were not able to continue to serve by reason of death; but in the other case, because He is living forever, His priesthood never changes" (vs 23-24). [So you only need one—that's Christ.] …Therefore, He has the power... [and also the authority. What did Jesus say?
'All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me.' (Matt 28:18).] ...Therefore, He has the power throughout all time to save those who come to God through Him because He is ever living to intercede for them" (v 25).

If you carefully read this, this not only eliminates the Aaronic and Levitical priesthood, it eliminates the Catholic priesthood. You do not need a priest who is elevated halfway between the people and God, and he cannot command the flesh and blood of Jesus to come into the host and into the wine. Very simply because Jesus no longer has flesh and blood; that's why the Passover is symbolic.

Verse 26: "For it is fitting that we should have such a High Priest Who is holy, blameless, undefiled, set apart from sinners and made higher than the heavens... [That is a superior priesthood—is it not? Yes!] …Who has no need, as do the other high priests, to offer up sacrifices day-by-day, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people; for this He did once for all time when He offered up Himself" (vs 26-27). Since God lives forever, since God made Himself through the power of God the Father to become a human being and died as the perfect sacrifice, what other sacrifice is necessary? There aren't any!

Verse 28: "For the law makes high priests of men who have weaknesses; but by the word of the swearing of the oath, which supersedes the law... [If God gives an oath and gives this promise that He's going to be a High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec, that supersedes the law of the priesthood.] ...which supersedes the law, the Son, Who has been perfected forever, has been made High Priest."
Then he gets into some very difficult things to understand. As he said, there are some things that are difficult to understand. Now we've come through some of them already in chapter seven. So, let's think about this for a minute. You just take all the Ten Commandments. We're to obey them in the spirit—correct? Now we have a priesthood that is able to give us mercy directly from God the Father. Now we have access to the throne of God through prayer directly. We don't have to go to Jerusalem. We go to Jerusalem above.

Instead of giving tithes and offerings to a priesthood that does that, it goes to the ministry to carry out the work of preaching the Gospel and to take care of the things that are necessary. Now notice what he says here in Hebrews 8. Then he begins to explain in greater detail why the New Covenant, the Melchisedec covenant, is superior. It's not just better; it's superior!

Hebrews 8:1: "Now here is a summary of the things being discussed: We have such a High Priest Who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer both gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it is necessary for this one also to have something that He can offer…. [which was Himself] …Now on the one hand, if He were on earth He would not even be a priest since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law" (vs 1-4).

So this shows this was written before the destruction of the temple, because it was still going on. Then he talks about v 5 that this is a pattern of the things made in heaven.

Verse 6: "But on the other hand, He has obtained a supremely more excellent ministry, as much greater as the superior covenant of which He is also Mediator, which was established upon superior promises."

Now the King James doesn't do it what it should with 'better.' That sounds like a better vacuum cleaner, a better product, but this is; superior; there is no comparison. The only comparison between a spirit being, that we will become. and a human being is we will look nearly the same. But other than that, what is going to be given to us at the resurrection is also going to transform us into that which is superior, like Christ. Now that's what the New Covenant is all about.

So then he said he found fault with them, so he's going to give a New Covenant (v 8). Then Paul talks about the covenant that He made with them in Egypt (v 9). Here is the key. Here is what has to take place and how we are now going to have the laws and commandments written in our hearts and our minds, which is a tremendous thing, brethren, when you understand that.

Verse 10: "'For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days,' says the Lord: 'I will give My laws into their minds, and I will inscribe them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.'" For what purpose?

• To become as God is!
• To be resurrected and become part of the family of God, the sons and daughters of God!

"'And they will no longer teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, "Know the Lord" because all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them'" (v 11). That's something—isn't it?

You compare that with the whole system that was given to Aaron—all the sacrifices, all of the rituals—and only being able for the high priest alone, no one else could do it. In later years they did this: When the high priest on the Day of Atonement went into the Holy of Holies they also had a rope tied around him, so that if he did something wrong in the Holy of Holies and was struck dead like Nadab and Abihu, then they could pull his body out. But he could only go in there once a year. And in the Holy of Holies, it was completely pitch black. The only way he would have any light would be from the incense that he would bring in there. That would be it. You can read of that in Lev. 16.

Now what do we have? We have God, with His Spirit, connecting with every one of His people directly and we have direct access to God the Father so that we don't even pray to Jesus and say, 'Jesus, You speak to the Father for us.' So that eliminates Mary, too, because she never went to heaven. That doesn't mean we don't pray to Jesus for certain things, because we find that the apostles did, but our prayers are to be directed to God the Father, the Great Sovereign in the universe.

Now you can't have any greater relationship or any greater covenant than that. So He says He'll be merciful, He will forgive their sins, and v 13: "In speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first covenant obsolete. Now that which has become old and obsolete is about to disappear."

(go to the next track)

Just want to cover something in relationship to the discussion we had concerning communion and the Lord's Supper and things like that. There is still the ongoing infiltration of the Roman Catholic Church everywhere they can go. That's why as we were discussing about Church at Home, they can't infiltrate every home—can they? So Church at Home is going to be a very important way for people to worship God and find out about the Truth.

1-Corinthians 10:14: "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." Now we'll just fill in some of the problems with the Churches of God that have come along here as we're going, before we get back to the priesthood of Christ, the order of Melchisedec.

Verse 15: "I speak as to those who are wise; you judge what I say." Notice how he put it out here in such a way that you have to have wisdom to know and understand what needs to be and what the Truth is. That's why we're to grow up in Christ. That's why with the New Covenant, since it is for eternal life, the Word of God and His Spirit with the Word of God gives us multiple layers of understanding continually.

As I've mentioned before, it's like a sphere. If you intersect a sphere, you can intersect it with an infinite number of lines going through it and you grow in knowledge with every one of the cross sections that happen with that sphere. And isn't it interesting? That's the way the mind is programmed, too—isn't it? Though it's not a sphere. Notice what he says here.

Verse 16: "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of Christ?.… [The Latinists who were on the translating committees could not resist, and they put in there 'communion'; but it's fellowship.] ...The bread that we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one body and one bread, because we are all partakers of the bread? Consider Israel according to the flesh. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What then am I saying? That an idol is anything, or that which is sacrificed to an idol is anything?.... [No, it's nothing!] ...But that which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not wish you to have fellowship with demons? (vs 16-20).

So there's the line to be drawn. "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and the table of demons" (v 21). This is a tool that is used by Satan's false apostles and infiltrators into the churches of God and other Christian organizations.

Come to Revelation 2 and let's see what happened to the Church at Pergamos that brought in satanic doctrines. Pergamos and Thyatira are very seriously corrected for what they did in bringing in the wrong understanding concerning the New Covenant Passover. They adopted the rites of Mithras, because the rites of Mithras had bread and wine. That comes straight out of Egypt with the round wafer that has 'IHS' on it or 'HIS,' whichever it is. And that stands for Semiramis, Horus—or Isis, Horus and Osiris, and it's nothing to do. And besides, when they take that wafer, it's not broken. If it's broken the priest won't give it. See how the opposites come out when these doctrines of demons get fully entrenched into—we would say, 'Christian' churches.

Revelation 2:12: "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos, write: These things says He Who has the sharp two-edged sword." Remember, we read that earlier? And what is that sharp two-edged sword? The Word of God! And what does that do to us? That judges us, because we are under the judgment of God now.

"I know your works and where you dwell, where the throne of Satan is; but you are holding fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells" (v 13). That's what happens when you're in the middle of the world, when you look at all of these good pagans, well, they're nice, sincere people. God must be with them as well. Not so! There is a goodness that comes from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The goodness that comes from God is from His Word.

Now notice what happened, v 14: "But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication." That's what the children of Moab did—didn't they? They had a big religious feast out there. Balaam couldn't curse them, so he said, 'Now look, what you do, you have a big get-together out here and invite them over.' Did they like meat? Oh, after eating all that manna, gotta have some meat.

So what happened? You can read the account there in the book of Numbers—'to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication.' What is spiritual fornication?

• having another god
• having other doctrines
• having doctrines of demons
• doing the ways of the world and their religions

Verse 15: "Moreover, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.... [an overbearing hierarchy] ...Repent! For if you do not repent, I will come to you quickly, and will make war against them with the sword of My mouth" (vs 15-16). The same judgment that God brought upon Israel for leaving Him and doing the things that they did, He sent the armies of Nebuchadnezzar after them—right? Yes! And He said, 'Nebuchadnezzar, My servant.' We have the same thing here. If we don't hold true to the Word of God, He's going to make war with us. How's He going to make war with us?

• in our individual lives

Many trials and difficulties that come along and we fail them by going further and further into the world, rather than drawing closer and closer to God.

• He will send the enemy to infiltrate

And the reason the enemy will be able to infiltrate is because the ministry and the people are not close enough to God. So, God is going to take it down. He gives lots of chances, lots of mercy, lots of grace. But then there is a crossover point, which Paul wrote about that you cannot eat the table of demons and you cannot partake of their way, which those rituals of Mithras were. And that is what the Catholic mass is today, the Lord's Supper is today, and they cannot do it on the Passover Day, because they will reject that. That's the first thing that was rejected, if you look up in history concerning the Quartodeciman controversy, which we talk about at the beginning of The Christian Passover book.

They do not do it on the Passover Day, because they are eating of the table of demons and not the table of the Lord. The truth is, you must renew the New Covenant every year, which is of the ministry of the High Priesthood of Christ, after the order of Melchisedec. It must be done on the Passover Day. Anything else is not correct. So we come full circle.

One of the best ways to always keep on track with what is right is this: 'In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God. Nothing came into being that He did not create.' Jesus said for the Passover night, remember what He told the disciples? 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'.There is no other way. And He said that on the Passover night.

Let's come back here to the book of Hebrews again and let's come to Hebrews 9. He shows the comparison of the earthly sanctuary and tabernacle and all the utensils and the sacrifices and things that were there.

Hebrews 9:11: "But Christ Himself has become High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by human hands (that is, not of this present physical creation). Not by the blood of goats and calves, but by the means of His own blood, He entered once for all into the Holiest, having by Himself secured everlasting redemption for us" (vs 11-12).

So, when He says, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,' it means there's no other way to do it. And a lot of good ideas that come along do not conform to the Word of God.

There was someone who wrote me and says, 'Not only do we wash the feet of the saints, but we kiss them.' Now that seems innocent enough, but you're adding to it—right? Did Jesus say kiss one another's feet? No, you need to be careful! Here's a key thing to understand concerning the physical sacrifices that God gave to Israel and for the priest to perform where it says, 'And their sins are forgiven if they do this.' But to what were those sins forgiven? In heaven above or to the temple?

Verse 13: "For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are defiled, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh... [Not the spirit. We are to have the purifying of the spirit, with God's Spirit united with the spirit of man that we have.] (notice what it is to do): ...to a far greater degree, the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, shall purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (vs 13-14).

That's why I gave those sermons on The Washing of the Water of the Word. And it also works this way, to purify your conscience. The Holy Spirit in you will cause you to understand when sin begins with thought. And the Holy Spirit can also, through the washing of the water by the Word, remove the trauma and the emotional experience that you go through from some of the sins that you have experienced, some very serious sins. But that takes bringing every thought into captivity to Christ, for the washing of the water by the Word. When you go along and all of a sudden you realize that what you're thinking is sin, that's because God is exposing it to you through your conscience.

Verse 15: "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the New Covenant: in order that through His death, which took place for the release of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant..." Isn't that interesting? For the release! They were forgiven to the temple and now they are released. No eternal life was offered under the Old Covenant except to certain of the kings and prophets.

The sins of the people are now released. It was only to the physical temple. Now they're just going to be on their own and God is going to reach down and call those that He's going to call. The call goes out to many—few answer; few are baptized—they receive the Holy Spirit and that's where we are with the New Covenant.

Verse 15: "...for the release of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant... [What we see here is this: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ accomplished many things, took care of all of those things under the first covenant.] ...those who have been called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." That inheritance includes a part in New Jerusalem. Then we have covered vs 16 and 17 about bringing forth the covenant sacrifice. Christ's covenant sacrifice was His sacrifice. Our covenant sacrifice is baptism.

Verse 24: "For Christ has not entered into the holy places made by human hands, which are mere copies of the true; rather, He has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us…. [That is the work of the Priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchisedec. That's why Melchisedec was called Priest of the Most High God.] …Not that he should offer Himself many times, even as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies year-by-year with the blood of others; For then it would have been necessary for Him to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now, once and for all, in the consummation of the ages, He has been manifested for the purpose of removing sin through His sacrifice of Himself" (vs 24-26).

He was the Creator of mankind. And in His judgment, because of the sin of Adam and Eve, He gave us human nature. So in giving that judgment and being Creator, He alone can remove that judgment against us, removing of sin through the sacrifice of Himself.

Verse 27: "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment; So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear the second time without sin unto salvation to those who eagerly awaiting Him" (vs 27-28).

So everything is based upon the return of Jesus Christ. Today virtually very few really believe in the return of Jesus Christ the way the Bible tells us. Let's understand something very important here concerning what we're talking about. After God deals with us and calls us and we answer the call, now then, we grow in grace and knowledge and understanding as led by the Holy Spirit of God. But you must have the proper application of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to you through the operation of baptism, which is your covenant sacrifice to be conjoined to the sacrifice of Christ. It cannot happen any other way.

This becomes the paramount important thing, because you must first have your sins forgiven before you can learn how to live to put sin out of your life. That's why Unleavened Bread comes right after the Passover. Then there are seven weeks to the harvest. God's harvest continues, and every year—is it not true?—the world is likened to a field. Christ was the Wave Sheaf Offering, the First of the firstfruits—right? The harvest continues from day one to the return of Christ and that's pictured by the fifty days leading to Pentecost. You really cannot begin to have a relationship with God until

• first you have your sins forgiven
• then you receive the Spirit of God
• then you walk in the way of God, growing and changing and overcoming

That's pictured by Unleavened Bread and the counting of the seven weeks. And how many churches are there Revelation 2 and 3? Seven! When we get toward Pentecost, I'll be speaking on that. Then what is the harvest on the fiftieth day? That's the completion of the firstfruits harvest! Then we go clear down to Trumpets. Now we're talking about

• the literal return of Christ and the saints
• the setting up of the Kingdom of God on earth
• the binding of Satan the devil
• the beginning of the 1,000-year rule of Christ
• then we have the Last Great Day
• we have the destruction of the wicked
• we have the coming of new heaven and new earth, New Jerusalem

All of that is a progression! But first it begins with the Passover.

Let's come down here to Hebrews 10:4; it talks about the law, only a shadow of good things to come. "Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." That's why there's going to be a third temple. Because the only way the Jews are going to learn that is to build a third temple, start the sacrifices again, and then have the beast come in and stop the sacrifices. That's why God is going to deal with the Jews by raising up the high priest—whoever he will be, at the temple—and the governor of Judea to be the two witnesses. Then they will have learned that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins and they believed that if they can get the sacrifices going again, then that will take away their sins. Not so! Through the two witnesses they will finally recognize Christ.

Verse 5: "For this reason, when He comes into the world, He says, 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You have prepared a body for Me. You did not delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin'" (vs 5-6). What did God delight in? Obey My voice! That's what He said there in Jer. 7. They took the sacrifices that they should have offered to God, they set up all the false gods right in the middle of the temple area, and they were offering sacrifices to these false gods. So God said, 'Look, when you came out of Egypt, I didn't speak to you concerning sacrifices, but obey My voice.' That's what God wants. {See sermon: Covenant Between God the Father and Jesus Christ}

Verse 7: "Then said I, 'Lo, I come (as it is written of Me in the scroll of the book)... [You can't find that book. This quote goes back to Psa. 42 and it's just a quote.] ...In the saying above, He said, "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin (which are offered according to the law) You did not desire nor delight in"'" (vs 7-8).

How could He delight in those when something greater is available? The Holy Spirit and loving God! Isn't it greater for people to love God with His Holy Spirit and God to love them and lead and guide them? Isn't that greater than all the animal sacrifices you could possible think of? Yes, indeed!

Verse 9: "Then He said, 'Lo, I come to do Your will, O God.'..." [Isn't that what Jesus said? Here's the lesson of Job. Jesus said, 'I of My own self can do nothing.' That was not Job's attitude. All righteousness must come from God:

• His way!
• His Spirit!
• His Truth!
  • not with our own ways
  • not with our own ideas
  • not with any pagan additions to it

though those seem nice and fancy and wonderful.

Verse 9: "Then He said, 'Lo, I come to do Your will, O God.' He takes away the first covenant in order that He may establish the second covenant. By Whose will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (vs 9-10). And then that's compared to the high priest who keeps making the same sacrifices everyday. When you get down to it, offering those same sacrifices everyday was really like working in a glorified meat market. We look at it that way, offering the same thing.

Verse 12: "But He, after offering one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time, He is waiting until His enemies are placed as a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has obtained eternal perfection for those who are sanctified…. [That is the perfection is not instantaneous in everything is done, but the perfection comes as you grow and change and overcome.] …And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after He had previously said, '"This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days," says the Lord: "I will give My laws into their hearts, and I will inscribe them in their minds; and their sins and lawlessness I will not remember ever again"'" (vs 12-17). Isn't it interesting, what is missing in this quote, compared to Heb. 8? The house of Israel and the house of Judah! So this applies to all Gentiles as well.

Verse 18: "Now where remission of these is, it is no longer necessary to offer sacrifices for sin.... [the animal sacrifices] ...Therefore, brethren... [This is what it is to do for us. Here is the conclusion. We start at chapter two and we go all the way through to this point and here is the conclusion of it and the basic substance of the Christian Passover and our relationship with God.] ...Therefore, brethren, having confidence to enter into the true holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us through the veil (that is, His flesh), And having a great High Priest over the house of God, Let us approach God with a true heart... [This is what it is to result in.] ...a true heart, with a full conviction of faith, our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience, and our bodies having been washed with pure water. Let us hold fast without wavering to the hope that we profess, for He Who promised is faithful" (vs 18-23).

That sums up exactly the whole meaning of the New Covenant Passover, which then we know

• foot-washing first
• then the breaking of the bread and the eating of the bread
• then the drinking of the wine
• the reading of the words of the New Covenant

That's why we send out everyone the Christian Passover Ceremony booklet that has

• what to do
• how to do it
• who should it
• when to do it
• also it has all the words of the New Covenant

—and the majority of them are found in John 14-17, which then starts out, 'You believe in God, believe also in Me,' and ends up with 'That they may all be one as You, Father, are in Me and I in You. That they may be one in Us.' The whole plan of God, everything you will experience as a Christian, is listed out there in John 14-16. The main point of it is:

• the love of God
• the love of Christ
• our love for each other
• Christ's love for us
• our love of the Father
• the Father's love for us
• the power of the Holy Spirit given to us

All of that is contained right there in the New Covenant Passover ceremony.
So I hope that what we've been going through here helps us have a greater understanding of the why we take the Passover, the meaning of the Passover I know after the Last Great Day at the Feast of Tabernacles, we thought, oh, man, Passover's really late this year. It's going to take a long time till we get there. Well, here we are.

I know this won't get to you in time, but you can have it and you can store it away for a future date, but it will help you appreciate and know and understand more about the sacrifice of Christ.

Scriptural References:

• Hebrews 2:17-18
• Hebrews 3:1
• Acts 16:13-15
• Hebrews 3:1-5
• Hebrews 4:12-16
• Hebrews 5:6-10
• Hebrews 7:11-16, 18-28
• Hebrews 8:1-4, 6, 10-11, 13
• 1-Corinthians 10:14-21
• Revelation 2:12-16
• Hebrews 9:11-15, 24-28
• Hebrews 10:4-10, 12-23

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Genesis 15
• John 6:44; 14:6
• Deuteronomy 18:15
• Matthew 25
• Luke 19
• Matthew 7
• Psalm 110
• Matthew 28:18
• Hebrews 8:5, 8-9
• Leviticus 16
• Hebrews 9:16-17
• Revelation 3
• Jeremiah 7
• Psalm 42
• John 14-17

Also referenced:

Books:

• Judaism: A Revelation of Moses or a Religion of Men? by Philip Neal
• The Christian Passover by Fred R. Coulter

Booklet: Christian Passover Ceremony

Sermons: The Covenant Between God the Father
and Jesus Christ
           
Commentary: Appendix I (The Holy Bible in Its Original
Order by Fred R. Coulter): A Comparison Between the Old and New Covenants

FRC:lp
Transcribed: 4-27-11
Formatted: bo—4-28-11