From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part two of a series. Read part one.

Today's church needs to get back to its ordained business of proclaiming the precious truth of Christ the high priest - the only hope, the only certainty, for this life and the life to come!

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated 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 erected, and not man. (Hebrews 8:1-2)

Continuing his comments on this great statement, J. Sidlow Baxter writes:

Yes, we need a priest such as Jesus is, to represent us in heaven. Although we are so completely absolved from guilt, and so fully "accepted in the beloved", yet in ourselves, while down here, we are still erring, sinning, feeble, needy creatures, exposed to trials and temptations, liable to stumble, and encompassed by infirmities. How we need the high priestly mediation of our dear heavenly Advocate, whose presence yonder keeps us in all the benefits of the New Covenant, maintains our standing in grace, and releases to us the paraclete ministries of the Holy Spirit. It has been well said, "We could not stand for a moment down here, if He were not living for us up there."

Thank God, "we have such an High Priest"! This is the" sum" of the argument mid-way in this Hebrews epistle. Read the full verse in which our text occurs: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens."

And what perfection of qualification stamps every aspect of His priesthood! There is the all-glorious perfection of His person (1:3; 4:14; 8:1). There is the utter perfection of His character (4:15; 7:26). Then there is perfection of sphere -- no mere earthly sanctuary, but the heavenly (8:2; 9:24). There is also perfection of basis -- an accomplished redemption (9:12, 25-26). So, too, there is the perfection of perpetuity (7:24-25). What perfections are these -- of person, of character, of sphere, of basis, of duration!

These are the passages to which Baxter refers:

Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high... (Hebrews 1:3

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (Hebrews 4:14)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens. (Hebrews 7:24-26)

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12)

Not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another -- He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9:25-26)

Such, then, is our "Great High Priest". Into this heavenly priesthood He entered when He had "offered Himself without spot to God". Our Lord Jesus never was a priest on earth. Whenever He went to the temple, it was as a prophet to teach, not as a priest to sacrifice or burn incense. By human descent He was neither in the tribe of Levi nor in the family of Aaron, but of Judah (7:14; 8:4).

For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. (Hebrews 7:14)

For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law. (Hebrews 8:4)

Baxter continues:

The only priesthood God ever appointed on earth was the Aaronic; therefore, to go back to an earthly priest-class, as the Romanists do, is to retrogress to Old Testament concepts which are now abrogated and superseded. Earthly priesthood is done away in Christ, except in the sense that all believers are priests (I Peter 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10).

The passages he refers to are these:

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." (1 Peter 2:5)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" (1 Peter 2:9)

...and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6)

And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)

Baxter then quotes stanzas from two great hymns -- so little known in the postmodern Evangelical church -- by Isaac Watts...

Jesus, my Great High Priest,
Offered His blood and died;
My guilty conscience needs
No sacrifice beside.
For He whose blood did once atone
Now stands for me before the Throne.

...and Charles Wesley...

To God I'm reconciled,
His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child,
I need no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And "Father, Abba Father", cry!

Today's church needs to get back to the King's business of proclaiming these great and precious truths -- the only hope, the only certainty, for this life and the life to come!

[Adapted from J. Sidlow Baxter, Awake My Heart (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1960 and 1994), page 126.]

Next: We Need No Other Priest

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