In the final verse of Hebrews chapter six Jesus is called the “forerunner” of God’s Very Elect saints, meaning that Jesus Christ is with God the Father in the northern heavens where He (Jesus) sits, AS A MAN, on His throne serving as the mediator between the true saints and their Father (1 Tim. 2:5). Let that sink in: Jesus IS, at this moment, A MAN, sitting on His throne at the right hand of God. What does this tell us about His Very Elect who will join Him on that throne as He promises in Revelation 3:21? Read First John 3:2 where we are told that the true saint will, following his/her resurrection and rebirth, be EXACTLY LIKE JESUS–a MAN OR WOMAN having a spirit body and living in the presence of Almighty God. In Romans 8:17 the Lord states without exception that His true saints will SHARE CHRIST’S INHERITANCE. His inheritance includes their rebirth–born again, meaning a bodily change from physical to spiritual. Read Born Again. Key word–Born. God’s Very Elect are destined to be exactly as He is now both bodily and spiritually and will forever be. They will be HUMAN GODS, exactly like THE MAN Jesus is now. Read Jesus of Nazareth: God, Man or God-man? and God’s Very Elect: Future Caretakers of the Universe. Key words–God-man and Caretakers respectively.

In Hebrews 6:19-7:3 we are told by the Apostle Paul that Melchisedec was in fact the God called “the Word” (Jn. 1:1-4,14) Who had come to earth as a man Who, during the time of Abraham, was the King of Salem (peace). Jerusalem means “city of peace.” Melchisedec had no human parents, no human descendants and neither beginning nor ending of life. Who does this describe? Melchisedek was “made like unto” Jesus of Nazareth who, as a MAN (1 Tim. 2:5) was made a priest FOREVER. In Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 God’s true saints are called His PRIESTS. Because they will be like Him, they will also live forever. The Scriptures identify both the resurrected Christ and those who will join Him upon His return by the same term: firstfruits. These are Christ’s servants–His obedient saints–who will rise to meet Him in the air upon His return to earth, then will return to earth with Him where they will assist Him in creating the Kingdom of God in what is today called the Holy (Promised) Land. Read The Kingdom of God. Key word–Kingdom.

In Hebrews 7:4-10 Paul says that Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, adding that the Israelites paid tithes to their priests who were the offspring of Levi, the son of Jacob, whom God renamed “Israel,” meaning “power with God.” All males born in the tribe of Levi became priests upon reaching a certain age. Aaron, God’s first priest, was a Levite. In the Promised Land, each tribe of Israel was given a specific area of land where that tribe would remain. However, the Levites were not assigned to a specific location. They lived among the other tribes and served as their priests. Though they had received no land; they received something much more valuable–a ministry.

Beginning in verse 11 we find the Father, through Paul (it is believed), telling us that the priesthood that Jesus brought on the scene was superior to the priesthood of Aaron and those Levites who followed him. In language that is admittedly difficult to understand, we are told how the priesthood of Jesus was superior to that of His predecessors. We will examine, in general terms, exactly why Christ’s priesthood was better than that of Aaron.

Verses 11-14–because Christ’s priesthood was unchangeable and eternal. Aarons was not. The change in priesthood necessitated a change in the law which governed who would be declared God’s priest. Jesus, being of the tribe of Judah and now God’s high priest, a change in the priesthood law was necessary. The new and eternal high priest would come out of the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi. Moses had not mentioned this change.

Verses 15-17–because the new and eternal high priest would arise as one in the order of Melchisedek who had previously been the Word–the God of the Old Testament–Who had come to earth in human form where he had served as the King of Salem (Jerusalem). Therefore, when Jesus came as the carpenter from Nazareth, this was His second time to live on earth in human form. Unlike all high priests who had come before Him whose tenure was temporary, Jesus was crowned God’s high priest FOREVER.

Verses 18,19–because the original line of high priests were defective, being mere men as were those over whom they ruled, the new high priest was perfect in every way, MADE PERFECT, not by divine decree, but by a sinless life. Because of this, His death enabled God seekers to go directly to God’s throne of grace where Jesus now serves as mediator between God and man. We need neither a priest nor Mary to contact the father in Jesus’s name.

Verses 20,21–because prior priests had not been assigned their station with a Godly oath, as was Jesus, who was the One about Whom it is written: “The Lord sword and will not repent, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek.'”

Verse 22-24–because Jesus was made a surety (guarantee) of a better testament in that, unlike His predecessors, Jesus would not die, therefore guaranteeing that the covenant of God, of which He (Jesus) was high priest, would continue forever.

Verses 25-28–because Jesus is able to save men, which His predecessors were not able to do. As a man, Jesus “BECAME (AS) US” by coming to earth as a human being and having no advantage over us. Having been as all other men, He BECAME holy and SEPARATE FROM SINNERS. He remained spiritually separate from sinners by walking in holiness, which is what He requires of His true saints during this life (1 Jn. 2:6; 3:6). Salvation seekers do not see the necessity for following in His spiritual footsteps. For this reason He will say to those who have worshiped Him, called Him their Lord and have done many wonderful works in His name while disobeying Him, “I NEVER KNEW YOU, depart from Me you who practice “iniquity”–Lawlessness (Lk. 6:46/ Mat. 15:9; 7:23). Jesus was MADE “higher than the heavens” by His strict obedience to the Father. Therefore, He does not need to repeatedly repent of sin as did the high priests who had gone before Him. He also need not offer up prayers for the sins of His Very Elect saints who overcome Satan as did He (Rev. 3:21) and therefore do not need repeated forgiveness of sins. Note in First John 2:1 that the apostle says “IF” (not when) a child of God sins, he has an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Read First John chapter 3. Hebrews 7:28 reminds us that the ancient law concerning the priesthood made priests out of men who sinned and died like everyone else. Not so with Christ Who, being sinless, remains a priest forever. L.J.