Book 50

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 2 * PART 3 * BOOK 50

Hebrews 7:20 – 8:10

 

We just trust that you can sit down and study your Scriptures with us. And as the Bereans of old in the Book of Acts searched the Scriptures daily, they did this to show that the Word of God was true. And that’s all we ask. We don’t try to force people to agree with us. I always have a cliche that I’ve used for many, many years. ‘Convince a man against his will and he’s unconvinced still.’ So, we just trust that the Holy Spirit will do the work.

Alright, I think we’re ready to get back into Hebrews chapter 7 and we’re still on this priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchisedec. Remembering, I’ve got to keep repeating it, that we’re dealing primarily with Jewish people who were still having a hard time separating themselves from any part of Judaism. And that’s understandable. You know, it’s no different for people today, especially if they’ve been in a cult and they’ve been brainwashed for a lifetime. And then to see these truths and all of that that they’ve been taught was contrary to Scripture. So it’s not easy to just turn their backs on what they’ve been taught for years.

And so, this is exactly the mentality of these Jews. They’d been steeped in Judaism, the Old Testament, and then to have to accept the fact that all that has been fulfilled, it’s got to be laid aside; it wasn’t easy. So always keep that in mind, but at the same time remember, as Paul writes in Romans, that all these things were written for our learning. So I trust we are, even as we study Hebrews, learning a lot of the things that pertain even to us today. Alright, so let’s just jump in at verse 25 where we finished the last half-hour, but use it as a flow.

Hebrews 7:25

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. (in other words, by believing that finished work of the Cross) seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Now I didn’t really get time to comment on that last part of the verse. But it’s just simply to tell us that God will never stop being all that we need. Even when we get to that eternal state when there’s no longer the necessity for interceding for us as we struggle through this life. Yet, the confidence that we have is that this relationship with our great high priest will never end. It is forever and ever and ever.

Now then, we can go into verse 26.

Hebrews 7:26

“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;”

Now if you’ll just analyze that for a moment, could any of that apply to a priest of Levi? No. No human can measure up to this. This was something that only Christ Himself could fulfill. And that’s the kind of a high priest we have. He is harmless, undefiled, totally separated from sinners. He didn’t have that old sin nature that we’re born with. He was always God. And of course, “…made higher than the heavens.” Now then, verse 27.

Hebrews 7:27a

“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests,…”

See how this is constantly showing us that he’s talking to Jews. And they knew the role of the priesthood in Judaism. The ordinary priest who went in the daily ministrations of the sanctuary from the altar out there at the gate and then stopped at the laver of cleansing. And then into the little front room of the sanctuary wherein there was the table of showbread that had to be changed every day. And the candleholder that had to be trimmed and filled with oil every day. The altar of incense, that had to be kept burning with incense. And that was their routine day in and day out from the human element. And, of course, when they died someone else would have to take their place. Alright, but every day they would have to go through the ritual of this maintaining the temple worship.

Hebrews 7:27b

“…to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, (because they too were sinners, even though they were priests.) and then for the people’s.(the Nation of Israel. But Christ didn’t have to do this) for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”

Now I’ve always stressed when I teach Hebrews, look for the number of times where it tells us that Christ did these things “once.” Once for all, as the old hymn put it. So “for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” And we’re going to see in another chapter where the blood of animals, bulls and goats couldn’t do it but His singular sacrifice finished everything. Verse 28.

Hebrews 7:28a

“For the law (the Mosaic Law) maketh men high priests who have infirmity; (they’re human. They’re going to sin, they’re going to fail and one day they’re going to die and they’re out of the priesthood.) but the word of the oath, which was since the law,…” In other words, His priesthood kicked in after the work of the Cross, not before. And I mentioned in the last program, that it’s on this side of the Cross that our salvation is consummated because He had to die. He had to be buried. And He had to arise in resurrection power in order for our salvation to be possible.

Now, a lot of folks have a hard time understanding that I maintain that the Four Gospels cannot have our Gospel of Grace in them because Christ hadn’t died yet. I think some try to come back with “Well, they must have known that He was going to.” Oh did they? Turn back with me to Luke 18 and let the Scripture speak for itself, and this isn’t the only place, this is just one of the easier ones to remember.

So if you’re ever appealing to some lost person on some of these things and they come back and say “Oh well, they must have known that He was going to die. They knew that He was going to rise from the dead.” No they didn’t. They had no idea. Now granted the Old Testament did; now after the fact, see we can go back into the Old Testament and we can see that it was evident that Christ would die and be resurrected, but His followers didn’t know that. Alright you got it? Luke 18 verse 31. This is toward the end of His earthly ministry. They’ve been with Him now three years and they are on their way back up to Jerusalem for the final days.

Luke 18:31

“Then he took unto him the twelve, and he said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished.”

Jesus said all these prophecies will be fulfilled and we know they were. And now to see that He knew exactly what was coming, He tells them:

Luke 18:32

“For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, (the Romans) and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on. 33. And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.”

Now look at verse 34. Those of you who have been in my classes, you know these verses but a lot of people out there don’t know this. Look what the Scripture says,

Luke 18:34

“And they (the Twelve who’d been with Him now for three years) understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”

Well, you know, I always ask the question. Who hid it? God did. It wasn’t for them to know. Because can you imagine what these twelve men would have done even in these intervening days between this and the crucifixion if they would have known? It would have just upset the whole apple cart. But they didn’t know. Remember the events of the crucifixion and how that they ran for their lives. They scattered as I’ve said before, like a flock of quail. But it wasn’t until AFTER the resurrection that Peter got bold as bold can be, because now with the power of resurrection, confirming, regardless of what those Romans could do to him, he had resurrection power. He had resurrection life. He had nothing to fear.

But they did not know. And all you have to do is just search your memory. My when they put those Roman guards around the tomb, did the eleven and did Mary and Martha, some of those, just camp out a little further away and wait? No, they weren’t around. They had no idea He was going to be raised from the dead.

And remember, in John chapter 20, when Mary Magdalene comes to anoint the body as was the custom, did she have any idea He would be raised from the dead? Well, of course not. It just took them all by surprise even though the Old Testament was adamant that He would be raised from the dead. So always remember these things and that it wasn’t until after the death, burial and resurrection that this amazing Gospel of Grace was able to be promoted.

And even then, for the first several years after and Peter and the others are proclaiming to Israel, they don’t attach salvation to this death, burial and resurrection. All they can understand is that the King can still be what He promised to be because He’s not dead, He’s alive. But, it isn’t until the Apostle Paul comes that he now has the revelation that this has become The Gospel for the salvation for the whole human race.(I Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 10:9-10) Not just for Israel, not just for the Gentiles but for everyone and through all of that then, we come up with this high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Alright, now verse 28 again of Hebrews chapter 7.

Hebrews 7:28

“For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; (they’re going to die) but the word of the oath, which was since the law, (on this side of the Cross) maketh the Son,(Who we’ve been emanating all the way through Hebrews.) who is consecrated (or has finished everything) forevermore.”

Nothing more now needs to be done. Everything that God required to satisfy the sins of mankind is accomplished. Now, I’m sure very few of us (and I certainly don’t even claim to) understand the workings of the mind of God with regard to the shed Blood and the forgiveness. We understand the workings of it but the very mind of God behind it, why, why did He have to have a blood sacrifice? Oh, I’ve got an idea, but to be able to just sit down and to lay it out so that almost anybody can understand. No, I can’t do that.

But there are a lot of things. In fact, we were just talking about the Triune God – what we call the Trinity. There again the word Trinity isn’t in your Bible, but the whole concept of a Triune God is and listen, there’s no way you can understand that except by faith. We just can’t fathom it. How can three personalities be in three different places and yet operate as one? I can’t understand it but I can believe it. I know it because the Book says it.

In fact, I was just telling somebody at break time, that the more I look at this, the more I understand that, had God not been a Triune God, none of this would have worked. Have you ever thought of that? It wouldn’t have worked. Because you see, while Christ was dead on the Cross, if He was the only person of the Godhead, then God would have been what? Dead. Who would have called Him from the tomb if He was the only One? Nobody.

But you see, we have a Triune God. And while Christ was dead and in the tomb, we still had God the Father and God the Spirit with all the power necessary to raise Him from the dead. Well, the same way when Christ went back to glory. Who came down? The Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit as a third Person of the Trinity, my, we’d be destitute of a lot of these things. And so, we have to have everything just exactly the way God laid it out but it’s hard to understand unless we can take it by faith. The Bible says it. The Bible teaches it.And we rest on it, even though we can’t understand it.

Alright now the same way, the Son now had been set at the right hand of the Majesty on High and we pick that up now in chapter 8 verse 1.

Hebrews 8:1

“Now (on this side of the Cross) of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: (don’t you like that? I’m going to recap, Paul says. Now this is the sum of the matter. We still use the statement today. This is the sum of the matter) We have (not hope to have, we have) such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”

Now I always emphasize to people that Christ is not on a throne tonight. That’s why we don’t address him as King. He’s not a King on the throne. That’s still future, when He returns. But He’s at the Father’s right hand. Again, I always like to emphasize, don’t picture Him sitting on a little chair and God the Father’s up here on some big throne. That’s not what we’re to do, but positionally in the heavenlies, we have God the Son, a Priest after the order of Melchisedec placed at the right hand of the Majesty on High.

Now maybe Daniel chapter 7 will help a little bit in that. Again, this just points out that all Scripture dovetails together. None of it stands off by itself. But in Daniel chapter 7 we have a little different view and yet it’s all the same thing. You see, that’s the beauty of Scripture, we get all these different viewpoints, pointing up the same thing. Let’s drop in at verse 9. I’m just doing this to show that Scripture fits with Scripture. And Hebrews has just told us again, that He’s at the right hand of the Majesty.

Daniel 7:9

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, (that is all earthly thrones) and the Ancient of Days did sit, (now that’s a little different title, isn’t it? Which of course, is a reference to God the Father) whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne (that is His place of authority) was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire “

There again, that’s just beyond our human understanding. Now verse 10, just to give us a little glimpse of this throne room of heaven.

Daniel 7:10

“A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: (now look at this next statement) thousand thousands (that’s millions. Millions) ministered unto him, (millions of what? Angels. The Angelic hosts.) and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”

And then of course, we leap to the end of the ages, when the White Throne Judgement is set and the books are opened, but that’s beside the point for us today. Now jump over to verse 13.

Daniel 7:13-14

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold. one like the Son of man (see here it is, way back here in the Old Testament. Here we have the Son) came with the clouds of heaven, (now whether those clouds are angelic hosts as I think, that’s probably debatable but) came to the Ancient of Days, (the same one he spoke of in verse 9) and they brought him near before him. 14. And there was given him (the Son) dominion and glory, and a kingdom, (this of course, is leading up to His millennial reign) that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and a kingdom which shall not be destroyed.”

Well, that’s not the point we’re making. What I want you to see, is this relationship between God the Father on the throne at this time and God the Son as He comes before Him.

Alright now back to Hebrews chapter 8, you’ve got this same picture of how this high Priest after the order of Melchisedec is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Where’s Heaven? Well when you find out, you tell me. We don’t know, but it’s out there someplace, and it’s real. It’s visible, it’s physical, and one day, we’re going to be there and I think we’re getting closer all the time. Now verse 2 of Hebrews chapter 8.

Hebrews 8:2

“A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”

Now I’m going to take a two-fold approach to that. As a “minister of the sanctuary” it could possibly take the point that God the Son is at the very core of the Body of Christ. He is the Core of the true dwelling place of God, which is you and I as believers. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Now maybe somebody out there in television has never heard any of this before, maybe we’d better go back, and look at it in I Corinthians chapter 3. You know, I always have to keep remembering, I’ve told Iris more than once as I teach these programs that I have a big hang up. I feel if I’ve taught it once everybody knows it, but on the other hand I have to realize that we have new listeners coming in every time. And a lot of our listeners have only heard it once, and that’s not enough. So bear with me and we’ll repeat some of these basic fundamentals of the faith over and over.

I Corinthians 3:16

“Know you not that ye (now remember, Paul always writes to believers) are the temple (see, the dwelling place) of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.”

See that’s what makes us what we are. Come over to chapter 6 in the same book, and it’s repeated in verse 19.

I Corinthians 6:19-20

“What? (Paul writes) know ye not that your body (this physical body of flesh and bone) is the temple (or the dwelling place) of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own. (why?) 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Well, now I have never gotten on the soapbox and jumped at people for their bad habits. But, when a believer continues to practice a bad habit, what is going to be the end result physically? Well he’s going to lose his health. He’s going to lose his health probably faster than the unbeliever because we are defiling something that is no longer ours. It now belongs to God. So you believers out there that think you can smoke and enjoy it, you go ahead. But I had one lady call one time and she said, “Les I just can’t quit these stupid cigarettes. Does that mean that I’ll go to Hell?” And I said, “No. It just means you’re going to get to Heaven quicker than you would have otherwise.”

But see, this is exactly what we have to realize – that we are to treat this body special. We’re to take care of it, and nurture it. And Paul says in Ephesians, “we’re to love it because this is what God has given us. It’s His dwelling place.”

Alright, now you can come back to Hebrews chapter 8. So He’s a minister of the sanctuary first and foremost, this temple, in which He is dwelling in the Person of the Holy Spirit. But so far as the Jew was concerned he’s still got the Temple on his mind, hasn’t he? And the Temple of course, was divided with the front part, the sanctuary, which if I remember correctly was 30 feet by about 15. And in the back behind the veil was 15 feet by 15 and that’s what the Jew understood. But this man, this high priest (Melchisedec) is a minister of the “true tabernacle,” not the Temple there in Jerusalem.

Now again, as I was looking at all this the last few evenings. You’ve got to remember the Temple is still operating in Jerusalem when this is being written. See, too many of us have got the idea that the Temple is long gone and it doesn’t play a role. Yeah, it still was operating when Paul was writing his letters. And of course, it was destroyed within a matter of two or three years after his death. But as Paul writes, the Temple is still going, as I say, full speed ahead. They were sacrificing animals by the thousands.

And so the Jew had the Temple on his mind when anything was brought up “religiously” as they would call it. And so here again Paul is addressing that. That this high Priest is not of that Temple operating up there on the Mount but of the “true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.”

What’s he talking about? Well, come all the way back to Exodus chapter 25 and again I think this is a concept that very few professing believers, unless they become students, understand. This is the chapter where the Lord is going to give Moses instructions for building that first little tabernacle out in the wilderness, that little tent which, of course, became later the Temple. Alright in Exodus chapter 25 and he gives all the materials that they’re going to need in the first eight verses. Now look at verse 9.

Exodus 25:9

“According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”

What’s a pattern? It’s the original! Manufacturers have what they call ‘prototypes.’ What is it? Well, it’s just a similar version of what they’re going to have at the end. But here’s what God is telling Moses? “You’re going to make a tabernacle patterned after an original not pitched with hands.” The Book of Hebrews tells us it’s in heaven. And so there is a likeness of the Temple format ‘in the heavens’ not made by men but created by God Himself. And it was into that Temple that Christ went in as our high priest.

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 2 * PART 2 * BOOK 50

Saved To The Uttermost – Part 2

Hebrews 7:20 – 8:10

 

Alright, let’s get right back to where we left off in our last lesson, and that was in Hebrews chapter 7 and we’ll go on now to verse 25. And I just told the girls sitting in the front row, we probably won’t even get past verse 25 in this half-hour because this is a loaded verse, as you will see.

Hebrews 7:25a

“Wherefore…”

Now remember whenever Paul uses that word wherefore, what does it do? Sends you back to what he’s just got through saying and he’s just been telling us that this man, the Man Christ Jesus, God the Son Who had finished the work of salvation in His death, burial and resurrection. This Man, in verse 24, has an unchangeable priesthood. He’s immutable. He never changes. Just because He took on flesh, suffered and died doesn’t mean that He never stopped being the Eternal Sovereign Creator God of the universe.

Hebrews 7:25

“Wherefore he (this Son) is able also to save them to the uttermost (in other words completely, not just partially) that come unto God by him,…”

Not some other way. John’s Gospel tells us that if they try to come in some other way, they are what? They are a thief and a robber, and so there is only this one way.

Now we’re living in a time where that doesn’t go down easy. I’ll probably get kicked off television someday for standing on this premise, that it’s an exclusive Gospel that saves us. It is not just one of many. The scripture is adamant that there is no other name given among men, whereby we must be saved. And the scripture is also adamant that this is the only way that God will accept mankind and so here we have it. Because of Who this Man Christ Jesus was with a priesthood after the order of Melchisedec. Because of Who He is, “He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him or through Him, and the reason being:

Hebrews 7:25b

“…seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

He ever liveth for all eternity, from past to future. Consequently He can make intercession or be the constant comfort for them who have placed their faith in His death, burial, and resurrection for salvation.

Now I’m going to take the time, because I get so many phone calls, over and over, asking “Well, how do I experience this salvation that you’re talking about?” I always feel as though I make it plain, but evidently I’m not making it plain enough for a lot of people. And so again we’re going to stop for a few moments and just show how to enter in to this great salvation that is completed at the moment that we’re saved by believing. We’re not just partially saved, but we have to do it God’s way. Not some denomination’s idea. Not my idea, but God’s way. And the best way is to just go back and search the scriptures.

Alright let’s go back again to where we were in the last program, in Romans chapter 3. And this is a point that someone reminded me of just the other day. They said, “Les, do you realize that most people do not understand that they’re lost from the day of their birth?” Well, I always thought that was a given. “No,” he said, “Most people don’t realize that. They think that they’re pretty good and that until they really start living an awful life that then they can recognize they’re sinners.” But, that’s not the way the Book puts it.

The Book tells us that because of Adam every human being born into the human race is a sinner. And we know that God’s grace covers those ‘little ones’ and they’ll be in glory, I’m confident of that. But as soon as a human being gets to an age of understanding right from wrong, he becomes responsible and he is guilty until God declares him innocent.Alright, let’s chase these Scriptures down. And again we have that flipside word, “But.” Even though the Law, up there in verses 19 and 20 was only good for making mankind guilty.

Romans 3:21

“But now…”

You see Paul uses those two words over and over. Ephesians chapter 2 is another one. “But God.” And in chapter 2 verse 13, “But now.” Why? Because all of a sudden on this side of the Cross, on this side of His resurrection power, my it’s a different ballgame! See, that’s why I maintain that Christ couldn’t preach this kind of a Gospel in His earthly ministry, He hadn’t died yet. And the disciples had no idea that He was going to die, even though He knew; they didn’t. But on this side of the Cross, now it’s a proclaimed truth that He has died for the sins of the world.

Romans 3:21

“But now the righteousness of God (not man’s righteousness, but God’s righteousness) without the law is manifested, (is put up in the spotlight. And of course, we’re not going to throw our Old Testament away because all of this that I’m teaching has it’s roots back there in the Old Testament.) being witnessed by the law and the prophets;” That’s the writers of the Old Testament. Verse 22.

Romans 3:22

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith (or the faith in) Jesus Christ. (He is the epitome of our faith system and it goes,) unto all and upon all them that believe (plus what? Nothing! There’s nothing more added!) for there is no difference.”

Well, of course Paul is writing to Jews as well as Gentiles and the fact that Jews had a hard time swallowing was that now in this Age of Grace, there’s no difference. A Jew has to be saved just exactly like we Gentiles. He has to come the same way because of this no difference. Now then verse 23, which I always call the first step of saving faith. This is where every one of us who have been saved now, for however long, this is where we all began. And that is that we had to recognize that according to God’s Word and according to God’s look at who we are, we were sinners.

Romans 3:23

“For all (not just some. Even the best of the human race, even those who are so benevolent and they are so good but their nature is sin oriented and so) have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” I think maybe some other translations put that all have “missed the mark.” We haven’t hit the bull’s eye, we’re missing the mark.

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Stop right there a minute and keep your hand in Romans. Flip all the way over to chapter 5, still in Romans. Now this is what the Book says. This isn’t my idea. This isn’t some denomination’s idea. This is what God’s Word says:

Romans 5:12

“Wherefore, as by one man, (not one woman) sin entered into the world, and death (came along with it) by sin. (and so because of Adam’s disobedience) and so death passed upon(how many?) all men, (not just the worst. ALL men, the whole human race) for all have sinned:” All have sinned, every human being. Black and white, rich or poor, Oriental or Western makes no difference – the whole human race is included in this word “all.” Death has passed upon all. Sin has been declared as a part of all and there’s nothing more that we can add or take away that Adam precipitated all of this curse that we call ‘sin and death.’ Don’t ever forget that. By one man, Adam, sin entered and with it death came as well.

I guess we could look at some more. Let me go ahead and go to I Corinthians chapter 15, and dropping all the way over to verse 45. Remember, I Corinthians 15 is the tremendous resurrection chapter. But here again, we have to show this difference between Adam, who has set the whole human race under the curse and under sin and death; as compared to the second Adam – Christ, Who made provision to bring every human being out of it, as we saw back in Hebrews.

I Corinthians 15:45

“And so it written, The first man, Adam was made (or created) a living soul; the last Adam (which is a reference to Jesus Christ) was a quickening (or a life giving) spirit.” Do you see that? Then drop down to verse 47.

I Corinthians 15:47-49

“The first man Adam is of the earth, (he’s) earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: (Those of us who are of the race of Adam.) and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” That is once we enter in to God’s tremendous saving grace. And without it we are doomed for total separation from God.

Alright now, if you’ll flip back to Romans chapter 3 because we’re going to spend most of this half-hour on that verse that says, “wherefore He is able also to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him.”

Well, the only way we can come to God is as a sinner. We can’t come to God and say, “Now look. I’m just here to bargain; I want to get as good a deal as I can. I’m not all that bad so I might as well get as much as I can.” No. Every human being has to come before God recognizing that he has missed the mark; he’s a sinner, he’s lost. And we’re walking dead people. Dead spiritually.

Alright now then, verse 24, and look what it says immediately. “Being justified freely.” It’s just like back in Genesis 3. Just as soon as man fell as a result of Adam’s sin, God comes right back and sets in motion a plan of redemption, promising the seed of the woman. Well it’s the same way here. Just as soon as Paul declares every human being a sinner, the very next verse he gives us that escape route. Isn’t it glorious? And the fact that most people won’t take it is even worse. But nevertheless, here we have it.

Romans 3:24

“Being justified (declared just as if we’d never sinned) freely (see all these words and how loaded they are? We’re not justified because we’ve earned it. We’re not justified because we really deserve it. No. We’re justified freely) by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

And what’s grace? Unmerited favor. God doesn’t justify us because we have one ounce of deserving. He justifies only because of His grace. And that grace was epitomized; it was brought to the crescendo through the redemption or the process of buying us back that is in Christ Jesus. Now just mull that over for a minute. Through the grace of God, when we recognize that we were sinners, God could come right back immediately and say, “That’s fine, I know you’re lost, but I’ve already bought you back.”

You remember years ago I gave the story of the little boy, who had made a boat. Some of you remember. I bet Sharon does. I should pause right here and tell our whole television audience, Sharon is now doing ‘closed captioning.’ for us which is laborious. So she knows what I’m talking about because she’s probably seen this story in the last several weeks.

But anyway, this little fellow had made a boat. Spent months making this tremendous little boat. And so one day his parents took him out to the seaside. And he started sailing his boat and he was just having a ball with it but, as kids are prone to do, his mind was suddenly changed to something else. And he ran off and left his boat unattended, and when he came back, his little boat was gone. He was just heartbroken.

But, months later, he and his Mom were walking down the street and they went by a pawn shop and in the window of that pawn shop was his little boat. It was still beautiful, and hadn’t been hurt a bit. And he said, “Mama I’ve got to go in here.” So he takes off into the pawn shop and he runs up to the fellow at the counter and he says, “I want my boat.” “Well, what are you talking about, the pawn broker asked?” The boy pointed to the boat in the window. “It’s mine, I made it.” The fellow says, “Sorry buddy, but I’ve got money in that boat. You can have it when you pay the price.”

Well, whatever the price was the little fellow went out and told his Mom, “I’ve got to work.” And so he did. He mowed lawns, he raked leaves, he scooped snow. He did everything he could until he finally had enough money to go back to that pawn shop and he bought his boat. Now are you getting the picture? He made it. He worked for it. He lost it. And now he had to work so he could buy it back. And as he was carrying it out the door, he said to his Mama, with tears running down his cheeks. “Mama, this boat that I made, I’ve bought it back! And now it’s mine!”

You see that’s exactly what God has done. He made us. He created us, but He lost us. Where? When Adam fell. Now when I’m teaching Genesis, you know, I make it very clear that every human being was in Adam and because of Adam’s rebellion we all inherited that sin nature. And that’s why we’re born sinners. And so God lost us, when He lost Adam.

And now He has paid the price of redemption, through that work of the Cross. Like the little boy who had to go and do all the various menial jobs, Christ in turn did it when He went to the Cross. And so He paid the price of redemption. But remember, whenever we present salvation to the human race, it’s always on the basis; yes, it’s all done. The price has been paid. Forgiveness has been declared. Reconciliation has been declared but you cannot appropriate it without coming by faith. It’s not an automatic.

Now you know, there are people that try to teach that everybody will make it sooner or later because of all this. No, no. Because God has demanded that we accept all this by faith – plus nothing. With no works attached. With nothing, except recognizing that yes, I’m a fallen creature. I’m a sinner because I’m a son of Adam. But, I believe in my heart that Christ has done everything in dying for me, and being raised from the dead! So when we do that, then God in grace reaches down and does everything that needs to be done.

I guess I’ve been putting it on the program in the morning lately. All the things that God did the moment we believe. Oh, He Redeemed us, He justified us, He sanctified us, He glorified, and forgave us. He placed us into the Body, and He gave us the indwelling Holy Spirit. He secured us forever, He made us alive, and He translated us. I think I had probably 15 or 20 things that God did the moment we were saved when we believed. It’s done! That’s what Hebrews means, “He saved us to the uttermost.” He didn’t do just part of it and say, “Well, if you measure up, I’ll finish it.” No, He did it all. And that’s the whole idea of salvation.

Alright now then, let’s move on just a little bit further in chapter 3, down to verse 26, I’m going to skip verse 25 because that big word ‘propitiation’ might scare somebody.

Romans 3:26

“To declare, I say, at this time his (not ours) righteousness; that he (God) might be just, (which means exactly what it says. He’s not cutting corners. He’s not making a deal. He is totally just) and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (I Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 10:9-10)

It’s so simple. Yet I don’t want to oversimplify. When I say, we believe it, I mean we TOTALLY TRUST IN IT. You remember a few weeks ago, we were in Hebrews chapter 6 and I made it so clear that a lot of people make a fly-by at it. They’re enlightened; they have a taste. But it never takes and they go right back into their old lifestyle. But for the believer who totally, totally relies on this finished work of the Cross to save them, then God has guaranteed that we are His forever. As long as He lives!

Alright, now back up a page to Romans chapter 1, and here we have another tremendous salvation verse that I think that we’ve used over and over through the years. Romans 1 verse 16.

Romans 1:16a

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (the Gospel) is the power of God unto salvation (and again) to every one that (what?) believeth;…” Plus? No. To everyone that believeth. Oh my goodness, there are so many of these, especially in Romans, but let’s go on a little further. I’m going to go ahead to I Corinthians chapter 1, and my what a statement! Now this is God’s Word, this isn’t me. Like I said a moment ago this isn’t from some denominational book, this is from the Book. And Paul, writing to a Gentile congregation down in wicked Corinth says:

I Corinthians 1:17a

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:…” The same Gospel of salvation that Romans 1:16 referred to, “how that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried and rose from the dead.” Now finishing the verse.

I Corinthians 1:17

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” In other words, not with smooth silver-tongued oratory. Now here’s the verse I wanted you to see. Verse 18.

I Corinthians 1:18a

“For the preaching of the cross (let that sink in) is to them that perish (the lost world, yes to them it’s) foolishness;…” Today they would probably say, “You mean to tell me that somebody that was on a Roman Cross two-thousand years ago has anything to do with me? I can’t believe that!” Well, then they are perishing. So for those who hear the preaching of the Cross and they perish, it’s foolishness. Now for the flipside.

I Corinthians 1:18b

“…but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

For those of us who have latched on to this great salvation it is the power of God. Years back I made the statement on the program and I haven’t said it lately and so I’m going to repeat it. When God saves a sinner, whether it’s me or you or a Mafia or a well-heeled real nice socialite, makes no difference. It takes more power to save that person out of the clutches of sin and death than to create the universe. Now that may be a play on words, but nevertheless, hopefully it will sink in. That’s why Paul is always emphasizing the power of Christ’s resurrection, when He defeated all the forces of Satan and death and hell and set us free from it. And it took tremendous power, because Satan is powerful.

Now he’s not as powerful as God, but he’s powerful. And he’s not going to let go of anybody without a fight. And I think most of us have experienced it. We’re plagued with doubts and that’s the satanic power see? And so always remember that “the preaching of the Cross is to us who are saved the power of God.” Let’s go down to verse 21, here in chapter 1 of I Corinthians.

I Corinthians 1:21

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom (the philosophers, the intellectuals) knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness (as the world calls it, he was) of preaching to save them that (again, what?) believed.” Plus? Plus? Plus? No! “To them that BELIEVED.” Now verse 22.

I Corinthians 1:22

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom;” Now that’s evident. All the way through their history the Jew had to have a sign in order to understand that God was in it. And so they “required a sign and the Greeks were seeking after wisdom (the philosophy and all that) but, unto those of us who are called it’s Christ the power of God.”

There’s that power again. The same power that caused Him to perform the miracles, but now that’s been imparted unto us by virtue of our faith, and the wisdom of God which beats any intellectual power on earth.

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 2 * PART 1 * BOOK 50

Saved To The Uttermost

Hebrews 7:20 – 8:10

 

It’s so good to see everyone in again for this taping session on a beautiful Spring afternoon. We thank you for prayers, your interest, your financial help and how we thank the Lord for lives that have been touched through our simple teaching of the Word.

Alright, this is a Bible study and we’re going to go right back where we left off in our last program which is Hebrews chapter 7 and we were in verse 19. Jerry’s got 20 on the board but I’m going to jump in at verse 19 a little bit, because I didn’t feel like I had finished it completely. Remember, we’re talking about the priesthood of Melchisedec. And always remember, too, that the Book of Hebrews is written primarily to Hebrews, to Jewish people. Not that we can’t learn from it. There’s a lot in here that is so apropos, even for us in the Age of Grace.

These Hebrew people (like the Jerusalem church – and I don’t think this was written to the Jerusalem church but another one like it) and these other Jewish congregations that were scattered throughout the Roman Empire had embraced Jesus as their Messiah. They had grasped that much, but they were still keeping the Law. They were still hanging on to so many of the tenets of Judaism and that’s so obvious as you saw in the study of Acts that’s been on the daily program. How that Peter had said:

Acts 10:14

“But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.” Why not? Because he was a good law-keeping Jew. And when he got to the house of Cornelius he hedged and he said:

Acts 10:28a

“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation;…”

 

Well, why? That was all part of Judaism. And then when you get on over to Acts chapter 22 and Paul is rehearsing his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul makes the statement:

Acts 22:12

“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there.” Well you see, none of those believers in Jesus as the Messiah, had yet severed themselves from that part of Judaism, which was Law-keeping.

And so, what the whole book of Hebrews is really all about is to convince these Jewish believers now, to move away. Cut the apron strings to Judaism, not to just throw it away as trash, no way. It’s the very foundation of everything that has come on up through even into Paul’s apostleship, but nevertheless, they were to cut the strings to the legalism of Judaism and step into the Gospel of Grace.

Consequently then, we’ve been looking at the priesthood of Melchisedec, who was not a priest of Israel. He was not after the order of Aaron and the tribe of Levi but rather he was a high priest of the Most High God, you remember, which we stressed was the term for God of the whole human race and not just Israel. And so now we come to this whole idea that the Law has to be put behind them – and then step out into Grace. Alright, let’s start in verse 19 then for this afternoon.

Hebrews 7:19a

“For the law (the law of Judaism – the Mosaic law) made nothing perfect,…” In other words, the Law of Moses, as holy and as pure as it was from God’s vantage-point, so far as men were concerned it was weak and it was beggarly, because no man could keep it. And so it was not perfect. It was not the final answer to man’s dilemma.

Hebrews 7:19b

“But, (flipside) the bringing in of a better hope did;…”

Did what? Make something perfect! Isn’t it amazing what language can do? The Law as pure and holy as it was didn’t finish it for the human race. Nobody was saved by keeping the Law, and we’re going to see that in a moment. But, the flipside was now God has introduced something that is perfect and it can’t be improved upon. Now you remember what I said several weeks ago, and I’ve been sharing it over and over wherever I open the Word. Twice in Scripture, God did something so perfect that He couldn’t add to it, He couldn’t embellish it, He couldn’t correct it and so what did He do? He rested.

What’s the whole idea? Well, if something is perfect, what more can you do? And so you just leave it there. The first one remember, was at the end of Creation, the last verse of Genesis 1 says:

Genesis 1:31a

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good….”

There wasn’t a thing that He could improve on those days of creation. You jump into chapter 2 and what did he do? He rested! Nothing more He could do.

Genesis 2:2

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested…”

And then we have the second one when Hebrews tells us that after Christ had purged us from our sin by virtue of his death, burial and resurrection, and when He had purged us from our sin, He did again what? He sat down, denoting a finished work. He could rest.

Alright so this is what we’re coming back to, see? The Law wasn’t perfect. But, the flipside is that now the bringing in of a better hope, that is our Gospel of salvation based on His death, burial and resurrection. It did what? Made it perfect! So that there was nothing more that could be added. And isn’t it sad, oh, mankind has walked it underfoot ever since Paul the Apostle began to introduce it to the Gentile world.

And he writes so pitifully, I think, in II Timothy, “O, Timothy you know that all those in Asia have turned against me.” Why? They didn’t like Paul’s message. They preferred something that demanded works. And I was just reminded again as I was reading last night, a quote from the president of Princeton University. And I used it, I think, when I started the book of Romans, if I’m not mistaken. And I think I can quote it almost verbatim. I called Princeton some time ago and found out when he reigned as president. It was back in 1888. And that of course, gives rise to the truth of his statement. He hasn’t been polluted by the modernism of the last hundred years. But in 1888-1890, this president of Princeton made this statement,“Either Christendom has to rehabilitate the doctrines of Paul or it is on and on and on to apostasy and despair.”

And the gentleman who quoted it in the book I was reading last night went on to say, (and he was writing in about 1910 or 1915) “…isn’t it sad that Christendom chose the former.”They chose to turn against the Apostle Paul and his doctrines and went instead contrary to it. But in this ministry, we’re not going to do that. We’re going to hang with Paul’s apostleship, with his teachings and with his Gospel of the Grace of God. So again, verse 19:

Hebrews 7:19

“For the law (the Mosaic System) made nothing perfect, (it had so much lacking) but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”

Now just to prove the point, let’s go back. I know many of you have been watching Romans being taught now during the weekday programs on television, but come back with me to Romans chapter 3 because we can never repeat some of these things often enough. I have to be constantly reminded by our letters that for most of our audience, they are hearing these things for the first time. And, you just can’t grasp it in just one hearing. It has to be repeated and repeated, so just remember, that we have all kinds of people out there who are hearing it for the first time. Romans chapter 3 verse 19 and this is exactly what Hebrews 7:19 is referring to, that the Law was not perfect. Alright, here’s why.

Romans 3:19a

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law:…”

Well now, what percentage of the human race even at that time was that applicable for? Well, the tiny Nation of Israel, which was probably just a fraction of a percent of the total. They were the only ones that were under the Law. But on the other hand to settle the Sovereignty of God, the whole world came under the curse of the Law, not just Israel, but the whole world. And that’s what it says next, see?

Romans 3:19a

“We know that what soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law: (that is to the Nation of Israel) that every mouth (going beyond the Nation of Israel to the whole human race) may be stopped,…” What does that mean? Hey, when they come before God they can’t argue. Oh, they’re going to try, I think, but it’s not going to work. The Lord Himself gave us a good example. He said, “in that day” (and He was speaking of the Great White Throne, he said) “in that day they will say, but Lord” (what does that mean? They’re arguing) “but Lord didn’t we do this and didn’t we do that? Didn’t we cast out demons in your name and all that?” (And what’s His answer going to be?) “Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you.” Sad, isn’t it? So sad.

But nevertheless, the Law could do nothing more than what we see in the rest of the verse now that:

Romans 3:19b

“…all the world may become guilty before God.” Notice it doesn’t say, that they may become saved as a lot of people today think yet. That if they just keep the commandments and do the best they can, then God will say “Well, come on in.” No! All the Law could do was condemn.

Now that shocks people that have never heard it before, but the Law has never saved anybody! All the Law can do is show man their sin and the fact that we’ve all broken it. Keeping the Law is not a vehicle of salvation. It is a ministration of death because, as James says, “if you’re guilty of one, you’re guilty of breaking all of them.” Boy, where does that leave all of us? We’re all Law-breakers supreme. Now verse 20.

Romans 3:20

“Therefore by the deeds (or the keeping of the Law) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: (not Jews, nor Gentiles) for by the law is (only one thing, and what is it?) the knowledge of sin.”

The Law condemns. Remember I said already, it was a ministration of death and we’re going to be looking at it in probably chapter 8. But let’s jump ahead and turn to II Corinthians chapter 3 and look at it. I used it in the last taping, I’m sure I did. But, it bears repeating and I’m going to use it like I said, in the next chapter when we speak to the “tables of stone” that were in the Ark of the Covenant. I’ll make some statements on that that will shock people. But here, since I’ve already alluded to it, let’s read it.

II Corinthians 3:6

“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; (or the new covenant) not of the letter, (now whenever Paul uses the letter, he’s referring to the Mosaic Law) but of the spirit: for the letter (the Law, the written law, the Ten, if you want to call it that, they can do nothing but) killeth, but the spirit gives life.”

Now maybe I should stop. I’ve probably made statements over the years that have shocked people and only because they probably don’t understand where I’m coming from. But when I say we’re not under Law, we’re under Grace, the first impression people get is, “Well he’s telling me I can do what ever I want to do.” No, no! The Law, you see, “demanded,” whereas Grace is total freedom, total liberty, but instead of the Law telling us what we can’t do and what we can do, we now have the indwelling Holy Spirit who changes our whole modus operandi so that we don’t want to break the Law. And what a difference!

That’s where Israel failed so miserably all up through her Old Testament history. They were under those demands of the Law but with no power of the Spirit to help them keep it. And so, consequently, what were they doing most of the time? Breaking them. And it almost became despairing because they just couldn’t help it. They didn’t have that indwelling Spirit.So always remember that when I say we’re not under Law, we’re under Grace. I’m not saying we’ve got license – I’m saying now we’ve got something that empowers us to keep God’s Law. Now verse 7 and here it comes.

II Corinthians 3:7a

“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,…” Now listen, what was engraven in stone? The Ten. And what are they? They are a ministration of death. They don’t give life because all they can do is condemn.

II Corinthians 3:7

“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones was glorious, (and it was, it was perfect from God’s vantage point. Now if that was glorious) so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:” It would be done away when this whole new concept of Grace would be brought in. Well, we could just keep going, but I think we’d better make a little headway today. Let’s go back to Hebrews chapter 7 and now we can go into verse 20.

Hebrews 7:20-21

“And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21. (For those priests [that is the priests of Israel, out of the order of Aaron; from the tribe of Levi] were made without an oath; but this [this priesthood of Melchisedec] with an oath by him who said unto him, [which of course, is from God Himself] The Lord sware and will not repent, [or change His mind]. Thou [speaking of this priesthood of Melchisedec of which Christ is the epitome] art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec;)”

And remember that was sworn in an oath from God Himself and nothing could settle it more, that Christ is a priest after the order of Melchisedec by virtue of the oath of God place upon His person. Now verse 22.

Hebrews 7:22

“By so much (that is by God swearing in an oath that Christ would be a priest after the order of Melchisedec) was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.”

And the other word for testament is covenant. Now I’m not going to comment on that word covenant in this verse, because we’re going to be picking it up again a little later in chapter 8 and I will enlarge on it then. But we still have to realize now that we’re coming out of one system and God is bringing in another.

Of course, that is one reason there is so much confusion across Christendom. They will not separate these two entities so that it’s simple and easy to understand. But the Law has to be set aside. It’s done. It was crucified at the Cross. And God has ushered in now this whole new system, or economy, of Grace.

Alright, now we’re going to come back to verse 23 and see the difference between the priests of Israel and this priest, Jesus the Christ, after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 7:23a

“And they (the priests of Israel) truly were many …” Well, that stands to reason. They had regular schedules of all these numbers of priests as to when they would serve in the Temple Worship. And then of course, as the next verse says, or down a little further, they’re going to die. And in their place will come up new young men, always filling the ranks of the priesthood to keep fulfilling all the rituals there at the temple.

Hebrews 7:23

“And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:”

They were human and when the old grim-reaper knocked, they went just the same as anybody else. And so their priesthood would end and a new one would come in. Then verse 24, what’s the first word again? “But…” Now the flipside! We’re not under that system of Israel’s priests that would live and die and be replaced and die. No. We are under a whole new system.

Hebrews 7:24a

“But this man,…”

Remember I pointed out in our last taping that Paul refers to him – in fact we’d better go back and look at it. Let’s read this verse and then we’ll go back.

Hebrews 7:24a

“But this man (this Jesus, the Son, a priest after the order of Melchisedec) because he continueth ever,…” Remember what we said about Melchisedec’s priesthood last program? He was without beginning and without end.

Hebrews 7:3

“Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”

 

He’s from eternity to eternity. And we always make the point, when we’re saved forever, how long is that? For as long as God lasts! Now that’s how long we’re saved. We’ll go on and on as long as God does. Quite a thought isn’t it? That’s what it means to be saved forever. Now finishing verse 24.

Hebrews 7:24

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.” His priesthood will never end, as He will never die! Now let’s come back to Timothy again – this is all review, I know. I haven’t gotten senile yet, I know what I’m doing! But, I want people to see it over and over so that it will not be forgotten, so let’s go to I Timothy chapter 2. We looked at this a program or two back when I made mention of the fact that Melchizedek appeared to Abraham, as a man. Christ is in the Glory interceding for us at the Father’s right hand, as a man, and here we have the Scripture to back it up.

I Timothy 2:3-4a

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4. Who (that is God) will have all men to be saved,…” Now that’s not saying they will be. Only precious few will be but that isn’t God’s fault. He’s made it possible for every human being to spend eternity with Him, but they won’t because they refuse to take it by faith. But God’s whole concept is that He has finished the work of salvation for all.

I Timothy 2:4-5

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (now here’s the verse I want you to lock in) 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, (who?) the man Christ Jesus.” See how plain that is? Now I’m afraid there are a lot of even professing believers who do not comprehend that Christ is in glory ever since His ascension in human form. The disciples saw Him go. He didn’t suddenly change into the invisible. The Scripture is so plain that He maintained His human appearance and He left in such a way that the disciples could see Him go.

And Zechariah foretells the day that He’ll return and again it’s in human form because what does Zechariah say?

Zechariah 14:4a

“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east,…”

Now listen, a spirit, an invisible thing, doesn’t have feet! But He will because He is bodily at the Father’s right hand. And again, now let’s just go back a little further to the Book of Colossians chapter 2.

Colossians 2:8a

“Beware lest any man spoil you…” See there’s that constant warning from the pen of the Apostle, that we’d better keep our eyes on truth and not be led astray with all of this pseudo truth that’s being thrown at us, especially today. But it was already evident in Paul’s day.

Colossians 2:8-9

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ, 9. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Not in spirit-form. Not invisible. My, when He took off from the Mount of Olives, He left bodily. How bodily was He when He has fish cooking on the fire up there in Galilee and the disciples had caught nothing all night? He asked the question “Do you have any food?” And they said, “No.” But what did He have cooking? Fish and bread. And then Luke tells us plain as day, not just the disciples ate, but Who? Jesus ate. How? Don’t expect me to tell you how He digested it! But I know He ate.

And yet, in that same body He went into Glory. In that same body He’s coming again. He’s going to stand on the Mount of Olives as we see in Zechariah. He’s going to rule and reign bodily, not some invisible enigma. But the man Christ Jesus Who is the Mediator between man and God, the Man Christ Jesus Who sat down at the Father’s right hand having finished the work of redemption. It was perfect! There wasn’t one more thing that He could do!

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 1 * PART 4 * BOOK 50

Hebrews 6:11 – 7:19 – Part 2

 

Alright, I guess we can just go right back to where we left off in the last lesson, and that’s in Hebrews chapter 7 verse 11.

Hebrews 7:11

“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, [in other words, if the Law and Judaism were all that there was to be gained] (for under it the people received the law,) [well if that’s the case] what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?” In other words, the Aaronic priesthood began in Exodus. Remember Aaron was the brother of Moses and was the first priest of Israel. And that priesthood carried all the way through to the time of Christ and even though the veil was rent in twain when Christ died on the Cross, the Jewish people sewed it back up, at least according to legend. And they continued on with their Temple worship until Titus destroyed it in 70 AD.

But, we as believers understand that when Christ finished the work of the Cross, He also finished the demands of the Law, because He was the fulfillment of the Law. And when we enter into this salvation by grace, we are no longer under the demands of the Mosaic system. But now, our high priest is not of the line of Aaron, but the one of Melchisedec who, as I’ve said in an earlier program, I feel was Christ Himself. Now verse 12.

Hebrews 7:12

“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” You couldn’t just change part of it; it had to all go. And the whole idea of Hebrews is that the Jewish people had to realize that the Mosaic system had now become moot. It was no longer necessary to practice Temple worship and sacrifices and tithing and all those things that were demanded by the Law because we now are under a priesthood that was not out of Aaron or Levi, but from the priesthood of Melchisedec (Christ).

Hebrews 7:13

“For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.” Now that should shake people up! This priest didn’t even come from the Levitical priestly tribe. This priest came from the kingly tribe of Judah. And Judah, of course, was the tribe that was always leading the tribes when they moved, and it was out of Judah that the second king, David, came. Saul the first king, was from the line of Benjamin, but Judah was the designated tribe to produce the kings of Israel. So, it’s out of this kingly tribe that this priest Melchisedec comes, which is Jesus Christ. Verse 13 again.

Hebrews 7:13

“For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.”

A few weeks ago, I took you back to the Old Testament where the Israelite Korah, who thought that Moses and Aaron were just a little bit too big for their own britches said, “After all, why can’t I present a sacrifice at the altar?” Of course, Moses got highly exercised, and he said, “Alright, we’ll put you to the test. If you think you have a right to exercise the role of a priest, we’ll do such and such.” Remember we read all the verses. And God was so angry that the earth opened up and the families of Korah went down into the pit. Well, what did it show us? Just that no one dared enter into the priesthood except the line of Levi.

Now we saw another one with King Saul in our last taping. Oh, what was Saul’s big downfall? He too, exercised the right of a priest and offered a sacrifice. And Samuel told him, “Saul how can you be so foolish? You don’t do that.” And we know what happened to Saul. Well, here it is again. No man, unless they were from the lineage of Levi, could possibly exercise the role of a priest. It was forbidden. Verse 14.

Hebrews 7:14-15

“For it is evident that our Lord (Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son as we see Him epitomized here in Hebrews) sprang out of Judah: of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15. And it is even far more evident: for that after the similitude (or the likeness) of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest.” A totally different priest, not of the Aaronic, not of the tribe Levi but out of the tribe of Judah. Now verse 16.

Hebrews 7:16a

“Who is made,…” Here again I feel Melchisedec was a theophany of Christ in the Old Testament. He’s only mentioned in Psalms but now here we have him exemplified as “our high priest” because of what He accomplished at the Cross.

Hebrews 7:16a

“Who is made, not after the law of a carnal (or a fleshly) commandment,…” That goes back to what we said in the last hour, that the Law was beggarly and fleshly. That’s hard for people to comprehend, because they thought the Law was spiritual, it was perfect. It was from God’s point of view.

But, from man’s point of view there was no power given to keep it. So what did it become? Fleshly, carnal and it was something that man could not deal with. In fact, Corinthians tells us the same thing, that the Law was a minister of death. The Law was a minister of death? Yes. Because it had no power to help people keep the Law. Let me show you a reference in Romans chapter 3.

While coming to Romans, that gave me time enough to find the verse in Corinthians also. Now these are verses that most people do not understand. They don’t even know they’re in their Bible. And I’ve given an example before, I’ll never forget one time I was teaching it and had young pastor in the midst. When I read this verse, I could just about see his mouth drop open. He’d never seen it before, I know he hadn’t, but here it is.

Romans 3:19

“Now we know that what things soever the law (the Ten Commandments) saith, it saith to them who are under the law: (that is Israel) that every mouth (the whole world now not just Israel) may be stopped and all the world (not just Israel. The law condemned the whole world. What does the rest of the verse say? They) become guilty before God.”

People are not saved under the Law. They don’t become righteous, but rather they’re guilty. Now see, most people don’t believe that. I’m amazed when people will tell me, when they’ve had an enlightenment and they’ve seen these things and they go back and show it to their church people and their church people will read it and then you know what they say? “But I don’t believe it.” Now isn’t that sad? They better believe it, because it’s the Word of God and they better believe it or they’re in trouble. Alright, so this they don’t like. “That the Law just simply makes man guilty.” Now look at the next verse.

Romans 3:20

“Therefore by the deeds (or the keeping of the Law) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: (why?) for by the law is the knowledge of (not life but what?) sin.” That’s all the Law can do is show man their sin. Not a word in Scripture ever gives the Law credit for bringing people to salvation. Never! All the Law can do is convince us that we’re sinners, which of course, we have to do before we can be saved. But see, that’s the Law. And that’s why it was imperfect. It filled the gap between Moses and Christ, yes. It kept the Nation of Israel in a relationship with Jehovah, yes. But so far as really being the answer to mankind’s dilemma, no. It was weak, and it was beggarly. Now I told you I found the one in Corinthians over in chapter 3.

II Corinthians 3:3

“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, (in other words, their daily life was to be like the Word of God in print) written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God; (as the Spirit energizes you and I in our daily life) not in tables of stone, (such as Moses brought down from the mountain, you know) but in fleshly tables of the heart.” In other words, the Word of God should just simply be seen in our daily lives. Now verses 4 and 5.

II Corinthians 3:4-6

“And such trust we have through Christ to God-ward: 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (here’s the verse that shook them up.) 6. Who also (God) hath made us able ministers of the new testament; (this on this side of the Cross) not of the letter, (which is a reference in Scripture of the Law)but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Let me qualify. Israel understood right from wrong by virtue of what the Law said. They understood it was wrong to murder because the Law said “Thou shalt not murder.” And all through the Ten Commandments you have really the whole sphere of human behavior. Everything you can imagine is covered in those Ten Commandments.

So there was no doubt as to what God called right and what He called wrong. When we say that we’re not under the Law it isn’t that we are now free to steal or murder. Remember we’ve got something better than the written Law. And what is it? The indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit will never tell a believer to go and steal. The Holy Spirit will never tell a believer to gossip. It’s against His personality.

And so, what we lay down when we say we’re not under the Law, we pick up through the energizing power of the indwelling Spirit. That’s why I say that when we’re under grace, it’s not license. Under grace, the Spirit comes in and becomes then the driving force and the keeping power for the believer. Now looking at verse 6 again:

II Corinthians 3:6-7a

“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter (The Commandments) but of the spirit (now here it comes) for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,…” Well goodness, what’s that talking about? The Ten Commandments. They were a ministration of death. People can’t understand that, but I hope you do. It was because all the Law could do was condemn. It couldn’t give anybody life. It was a ministration of death, because you see, Paul says so clearly then in Romans 6:23:

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is (what?) death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Now coming back to II Corinthians 3:7, let’s finish verse 7.

II Corinthians 3:7

“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones was glorious, (it was from God’s point. It was perfect) so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory has to be done away:” What does that mean? The Law has to go. There comes a point in human history where the Law is going to have to be set aside. And when was that? When Christ finished the work of the Cross. Now let me show you another verse that says the same thing. Turn to Colossians chapter 2. This is a verse that we’ve used often over the years.

Colossians 2:14a

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was (what? For us or against us?) against us,” Because it was impossible in the flesh to keep them all. Now I’m not going to say this dogmatically but I think I’ve mentioned often enough on the program, that by the time of our New Testament, and the time of Christ, the Law had been degenerated, watered down – from Ten commandments to how many? Six hundred and thirteen. Six hundred thirteen rules and regulations made up the Mosaic Law at the time of Christ. Well, could any man keep them? No.

And this is my own view. I’m not saying that this is what the Scripture says. But I think that this handwriting of ordinances that was against the Jewish people were those 613 rules and regulations.

Colossians 2:14b

“…which were contrary to us, and (look what Christ did) he took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” What does the Cross do? Puts it to death. And so when you look at the Law, whether you want to look at the Ten Commandments or whether you want to look at all 613 that the Rabbis had put together, I don’t care. It was all nailed to His Cross. Why? Because when He finished the death, burial and resurrection, He satisfied all the demands of those commandments on the human race. And now we’ve been set free and we’re under grace.

Now let’s come back to Hebrews. So under this whole new economy, where we’re not under the Law, we’re under grace. We also have a new high priest. Not of the priesthood of Aaron and Levi, but one who was of the priests of “the most high God.” You’re going to hear that in your sleep tonight? “The most high God” who was the God of everybody, not just Israel. And so this high priest is going to represent every tongue and tribe and nation. Now let’s move on into verse 15, or just reread it.

Hebrews 7:15-16

“And it is far more evident; for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest. 16. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal (or a fleshly) commandment, but after the power of (what kind of a life?) an endless life.” He’s eternal. He comes out of eternity past and He’ll go on into eternity future. Without end, and without beginning.

Hebrews 7:17a

“For he testifieth, (coming out of Psalms now 110) Thou art a priest for ever…” That’s never going to end. Now goodness sakes, I don’t have to tell you. How long did the priesthood last of the priests of Israel? Until they died! That ended it. Death ends everything, and it’s the same way with the priesthood. When the priest died, his priesthood went with him. It ended. But you see, with this priest it will never end. He ever liveth and intercedes for us. Alright, verse 18.

Hebrews 7:18

“For there is verily a disannulling (or a canceling out) of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.”

Are you getting the point? Oh, the Law had its purpose. It was perfect from God’s vantage point, but it was weak and fleshly so far as men were concerned and so it fades off. It failed miserably. My, if you doubt that, have you read your Old Testament lately? Just go back and read Judges. Go back and read the prophets. How much effect did the Law have on the behavior of the Israelites? Well it didn’t have much. Because most of them were the pits. Now that may fly in the face of some of my Jewish listeners and I know I’ve got quite a few. But all you have to do is read the account and the most visible one or the most understandable one is when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal up there on Mt. Carmel. And after he had run from the threats of Jezebel, you remember, he goes all the way down to the Negev and sits down under a juniper tree and poor Elijah said, “Lord take my life. because I’m the only one left, they’ve all followed Baal.”

Now listen, who was the promoter of Baal worship at that time in Israel? What woman? Jezebel. So what does that tell you? They were living in rank immorality, and Elijah thought he was the only one that wasn’t. That tells you enough, but God, was merciful enough to say, “Now Elijah, you’re not quite the only one left that is true to me. I’ve still got seven thousand.”

Now seven thousand out of an average population of seven million over Israel’s history, I’ve said this over and over. What percentage is that? One tenth of one percent, that had remained true to Jehovah. The rest had all followed in the worship of Baal. I know Jewish people will probably try to tell me, well, they’re still all going to be saved because they were under the covenant promises, but I don’t think so.

But that just goes to show you that the Law, the Mosaic system, didn’t work. But now come up to Christ’s earthly ministry. How many of the Jews at Christ’s time were true exemplary believers? Very few. Oh they were religious. They kept Temple worship. They kept the feast days. But very few were true believers. So the Law of Moses just didn’t affect the nation that much. Well, then of course, we come into our own day and it hasn’t changed has it? Even the Gospel of Grace has not made that much difference in the world’s behavior.Verse 19.

Hebrews 7:19

“(just like we read in Romans a moment ago) For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better (there’s that word again) hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” What in the world is he talking about? This whole system now of the grace of God which goes out to the whole human race. The Gospel by which the Age of Grace believers are saved, “that Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried and that He rose again from the dead the third day,” as we see in I Corinthians 15:1-4. That isn’t limited to any one group of people. And that is the better system that has now been introduced, not just to Israel, but to the whole world under that high priesthood of Melchisedec the priest of “the most high God.”

You and I have got the greatest message the world has ever known. That no one is left out. Anyone who can simply recognize their need in salvation and believes it, can enter in to life eternal and enjoy all the blessings of this priest, Melchisedec, because He is now the priest of “the most high God” interceding for us.

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 1 * PART 3 * BOOK 50

Hebrews 6:11 – 7:19

 

Well, Iris just reminded me that we’re in Book 50 if anyone wants to order any material from today’s lesson. I tell all my Oklahoma classes, I wouldn’t last a day without her, and I truly mean that. I just wouldn’t last without her, because she keeps everything pretty much straightened out.

Okay, back to Hebrews chapter 7 and we’re going to continue on in our study of this Melchisedec, a high priest of “the most high God.” Now I always have to emphasize; God is God. We don’t have two or three different God’s in Scripture. We have One God! But Scripture does associate Him with different names. Especially back in Genesis. You’ve got El Shaddai, El Elyon, and you’ve got Elohim and you’ve got Jehovah and those are all various names of the same God. Of course, Jesus Christ, born in Nazareth, was the appearance in the flesh of that same God. So, when we come to Melchisedec I have to feel we’re speaking of the same God. Jesus Christ in a theophany, as a priest of The Most High God.

I know I ruffle a few feathers once in a while, that but I guess that’s the beauty of being independent. I’ll never forget one time I had filled the pulpit for a church in our area and on the way out, one of the ladies asked why I wasn’t a pastor in their denomination. And without even thinking, I said, “I couldn’t stand the peer pressure.”

Well, I mean that. I have to hold myself responsible only to the Lord of glory and that I do not take lightly. Whenever I open the Scripture I realize that this is an awesome responsibility. But I do feel that Melchisedec was Jesus Christ in a theophany. In other words, back in Genesis 18, my goodness, who in the world sat down and at the fatted calf under the oak tree with Abraham? Well, it was the Lord. We know it was because Scripture said it was. And other times the Lord appeared in human form and then went up. And so I see no reason to take anything away from the fact that Melchisedec was simply Christ again, in an earthly manifestation. Because after all, Jerusalem in 2000 BC wasn’t some metropolis that needed a king. His title of king was a future thing more than a present. And so I have to feel, especially in view of verse 3 of this chapter 7, it could be no one but the Lord.

After all the Lord of glory is everything. He’s God the Father, He’s God the Son, He’s God the Spirit and you can’t take anything away from Him. And then, Colossians tells us that Jesus Christ was the Godhead in bodily form. Well, I don’t know how you can take anything away from that. So now as you come into verse 3, this Melchisedec, the king of peace was:

Hebrews 7:3a

“Without father, without mother, without descent, (or without a genealogy) having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; (now if that isn’t a description of God I don’t know what is! And nothing else would fit, at least in my book.) but made like unto the Son of God;”

Well, in human form for a little while. And we know like I pointed out in the last program, you don’t even hear the name Melchisedec for another thousand years. So He must have left that opportunity of presenting Abraham with the bread and wine and then just simply went back into the invisible Godhead as He did in Genesis 18, and at the burning bush and various other places. Alright, the last part of verse 3.

Hebrews 7:3b

“…abideth a priest (not a year at a time. Not for 50 or 60 years. But how long?) continually.”

It never ends. He’s eternal in the heavens. And so His priesthood is that which never ends. Now in verse 4. Paul, and remember who he’s talking to, is talking to Jews who had embraced Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah but they were still practicing the Law. The were not ready to break from the legalism and step into grace. At least that’s the way I have to look at this whole scenario. So now he’s using all these Old Testament things to convince these Jews that he wasn’t some renegade coming from out of left field. He was simply bringing them from one period of time and an area of instruction into another. We’ve covered that when we went into chapter 6 verse 1. What did he say? “Now leave the principles of the first words of Christ?” Paul didn’t say, to abandon them, but to move on.

I gave you plenty of illustrations of what I thought that meant. You just simply don’t abandon what’s behind but you build on it and it’s a progressive revelation. Alright, so now verse 4 where Paul says:

Hebrews 7:4a

“Now consider (just stop and think for a little bit) how great this man was,…” You know what word throws a curve at everybody? “Man” M-A-N. Well, let me show you something. Come back to I Timothy chapter 2 and verse 5.

I Timothy 2:5

“For there is one God, (I’ve already stressed that) and one mediator between God and men, the (what?) man (the man!) Christ Jesus;”

Now that doesn’t take away His Deity. Because all the way through from His birth on through His ministry and on through His revelations to the Apostle Paul, we’re always stressing that He was totally God but on the other hand He was human.

And so, as His mediatorship comes in, it’s the “man Christ Jesus.” And after all, we have to realize – now let me back up – I always have a hard time the night before these tapings trying to determine how much I can cover per half-hour for four half-hours. Now that’s not easy. Well, I’ve just about given up. I’m just going to let the Spirit lead. Come on back to Acts.

Alright, so here is something that I hadn’t even thought of last night. But, when it speaks of the “man Christ Jesus” as being our mediator. Come back with me to Acts chapter 1 because this is fundamental, this is elementary. And I’m not going to take your mind away from the priesthood of Melchisedec but I want you to see how that Christ is the logical explanation for this particular revelation of a priesthood.

Acts 1:3

“To whom also he (Jesus, coming out of His resurrection) showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them (that is the disciples, the eleven not counting Judas, of course.) forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

Alright now come on over to verse 9 still in Acts chapter 1. Remember the eleven saw Him, and Paul rehearses it in I Corinthians 15, the resurrection chapter. “That first He was seen of the eleven. And then of over five hundred at one time and then he says last of all He was seen of me also.” Now we’re not talking about an invisible spirit. We’re talking about a human appearance. Now Acts 1:9. And remember Christ is in His resurrected body with the nail-pierced hands.

Acts 1:9

“And when he had spoken these things, while they (the eleven) beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”

Now how do you picture the ascension? Just a puff of cloud going up? Some invisible spirit going up? Why, no. He went up bodily. I just mentioned a verse in Colossians that will help. So let’s find it in chapter 2, and let’s drop down to verse 8.

Colossians 2:8

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Now that’s why I had to use this verse. So that you see Who we’re talking about. That we are supposed to stay true to Christ! Now the next verse.

Colossians 2:9

“For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead (how?) bodily.”

Bodily. In human form. That same body that came out of the tomb, where he showed Thomas the nail-prints and where on the Sea of Galilee ,what did He do? Fixed breakfast. Remember I told you in the last taping, that must have been the best tasting fish that any human ever tasted. Because He fixed it and no wonder He asked Peter, “do you love me more than these?” That probably was a tough question because that must have been delicious food if the Lord fixed it. But, was He in some invisible spirit form when He did that? No. They saw him standing there on the shore.

And so this is what we have to establish. That Christ is His resurrected body was just as visible as He was in His earthly ministry. Alright, so as He is now our intercessor, and He’s the mediator. But He’s also the high priest of “the most high God.”

Never forget that. I’m going to drum that, like I said last time, I’m going to let you hear it in your sleep. “The most high God.” That’s who He is the high priest of. Then verse 5 of Hebrews chapter 7.

Hebrews 7:5a

“So verily they that are of the sons of Levi, (out of whom the priesthood came, remember, who ministered at the Temple) who received the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the (what?) Law,…”

Another verse comes to mind that I never thought of last night. But, I’m going to take you back to it. Flip back to Romans chapter 6, and here it’s as plain as day that tithing, the ten percent, was part of the Law. Remember I want you to see what Romans chapter 6 says about the Law, and let’s drop in at verse 14. I mean this is plain English.

Romans 6:14

“For sin (or the old Adam) shall not have dominion over you: (in other words, we’ve been set free from his control by virtue of our salvation. Now here it is) for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Plain enough? We’re not under any law. Now that doesn’t give us license. You’ve heard me say that a few hundred times. But we’re not under any stipulated law that says, “thou shalt and thou shalt not” command. We are not under the Law but we’re under grace. I better follow that up with what that means – come back with me now to II Corinthians chapter 9. I better do this or I’ll be on the hot seat for a few weeks. Now this is what takes the place of the Law of tithing. The Law of tithing was set aside, along with all the Law, when Christ finished the work of the Cross and put us under Grace. Oh most people don’t know this, because they have not been taught it. But in this next Scripture is where we are at in the Body of Christ, the true Church today!

II Corinthians 9:6-7

“But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.””

What controls the heart of the believer? The Holy Spirit! So as the Spirit gives us directions, we give. Whether it’s 2% or 100%. The Spirit is going to direct us. Alright, and so he says,“As every man purposeth in his heart, so let him give.” Now if the Spirit is going to move us to give, are you going to give grudgingly? Well, of course not. You’re going to give cheerfully.

Now let’s come back again to Hebrews chapter 7. So Abraham of course, gave the tenth of all that he had gotten through the battle with the kings of Chedorlaomer, but he gave a tenth to the high priest, Melchisedec. Now reading verse 5 again.

Hebrews 7:5

“And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, (in other words, out of the Nation of Israel. Not from any Gentiles) though they were come out of the loins of Abraham:” Naturally, because Abraham was the father of all these tribes of Israel.

Hebrew 7:6

“But he whose decent (or genealogy) is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises.”

Well, what promises? Out of you is going to come a nation of people. To you and your people I’m going to give this area of land. Those were the promises to Abraham. Do you see that?

Hebrews 7;7

“And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.” What does that tell you? Isn’t that what the whole theme of Hebrews has been? That was good, but this is better.Over and over. Even in the first six chapters, yes, the angels are something else. But who’s better than the angels? Christ. The Law was good but what’s better? Grace. And all the way through, we’ve seen the comparison from that which was good to that which is now so much better.

So again, he says, there’s no contradiction here. That, that which is less, that which was now put behind is blessed because of this which is so much better. Now verse 8.

Hebrews 7:8

“And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.” He’s alive ever more. Never to have to lay down His priesthood because of death as we’ll see later in this same chapter. Now verse 9.

Hebrews 7:9

“And as I may so say, Levi (the priestly tribe, remember) also, who receiveth tithes, (now this is tough) paid tithes in Abraham.” What does he mean by that? How could Levi pay tithes in, what would that be? His grandfather? Well, you see, it was just by virtue of the promises that out of Abraham would come these twelve tribes of Israel. And everything that followed went back to the promises made to Abraham.

That’s why Paul alludes to Abraham so often when it comes to faith. That we can have faith like the man of faith, Abraham. And Abraham was not saved under Law. He was saved before the Law was given. And he became a believer by faith and faith alone. Even circumcision hadn’t entered in yet. Abraham believed God, Romans says, and it – his believing – was accounted unto him for righteousness.

Then after he became a man of faith, yes, then circumcision followed. Then the Nation of Israel appeared, and then came the Law. But Abraham was never under any of the ramifications of the Law. Alright verse 10 tells us what I just told you. Why did Levi pay tithes?

Hebrews 7:10-11

“He was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11. If therefore perfection (or moving on to a maturity. If that) were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law.) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?”

Now let’s see if we can break this down. What’s he saying? If the legal system of the Mosaic Law, the Levitical priesthood, the Temple worship, the sacrifices, the tithing, all the things that were part and parcel of the Law; had that been perfect would there have been a need for anything else? Well, of course not. If you’ve got something perfect you leave it alone. Isn’t that what we say today. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Sure.

But, the Levitical system wasn’t perfect. Oh, it was anything but. It was perfect from God’s side, naturally. God can’t make anything that isn’t perfect. But see, the Law in its operation depended on the flesh. Now let me show you. Come back to Galatians chapter 4, verses 8 and 9. Remember why we chased some of these verses down. We’re showing now that the Mosaic system or Judaism (as probably we know it better), was not perfect. It was anything but. And, consequently, it had to be left behind and go to that which is better. Here Paul writes to the Gentiles up there in Galatia who were being subjected to legalism.

Galatians 4:8-9a

“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, (in other words, when they were still in their paganism) ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (they were worshipping idols.)9. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God,…” In other words, they had become believers. They had become joint heirs with Christ. They’d become members of the Body. Now then he says:

Galatians 4:9b

“…how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements whereunto you desire again to be in bondage.” What’s he talking about? What’s the weak and beggarly? The Law. Now if you think through all this, why was the Law beggarly? Well, it demanded things that the human race couldn’t keep and it had no power to give them victory over their temptations.

You know, when I taught Romans, I just stressed over and over, all the Law could do was condemn, condemn, condemn. You’re sinners. You’re lawbreakers, and the Law couldn’t give them any power to overcome it, so, consequently, it was beggarly. Another good one is still in Galatians. Turn the page to chapter 5 verse 1.

Galatians 5:1

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty (the freedom) wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

What’s the yoke of bondage? The Law. Now who likes to live under a yoke of bondage? I don’t. But you see, this is exactly what the Law did to Israel and this is why they have such a hard time keeping it. I could take you back to Acts where Peter admits the same thing. He said, “even our fathers couldn’t keep it, because it was a yoke.” Peter used the same word. And so the Law you see, was nothing but demands that the human race could not comprehend. They couldn’t keep it and so we have to tell ourselves; we’re not under Law, we’re under grace.

Well, I guess our time is gone but we’ll come back and pick the next program up again in Hebrews chapter 7 – but always remember that the Law, the Temple worship for its time, it was good. It had all the ramifications that brought us up to the coming of the Messiah. But now as a belief system with this over here on this side of the Cross that is so much better, why not leave it in the dust where it belongs? But you see most of Christendom is still doing the same thing. Most of Christendom is still bringing certain ramifications of the Law into our present day Age of Grace!