Jul 24
14
Baptist Catechism 28
Q. 28. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in His once offering up of Himself, a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. (1 Peter 2:24; Heb. 9:28; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 2:17; 7:25; Rom. 8:34)
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 7:11–28
“Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:11–28, ESV)
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Introduction
As you probably recall, we are in the middle of a section in our catechism wherein we are considering the work that Jesus Christ has done to redeem us from our sin and misery. Our catechism presents the work of Christ to us in a very helpful way, that is, through the lens of the threefold offices of Christ. An office is a work to be performed. And we are learning that Christ has fulfilled the office of prophet, priest, and king. Today, we are considering Christ’s priestly work.
Consider four things about Christ the Redeemer and his priestly work (these observations will sound familiar):
First, Jesus Christ was not the first priest of God.
In the days of Abraham, there was a priest of God named Melchizedek. You may read of him in Genesis 14:l17ff. He’s a bit of a mysterious figure, but he is very important. We will return to him shortly. And in the days of Moses, Aaron was consecrated to fulfill the office of priest in Israel. From that day forward, it was the descendants of Aaron and Levi who were to hold the office of priest.
What work did these priests do? They ministered at the tabernacle, and later, the temple. They were to keep the temple pure. They were to offer sacrifices and prayers to God on behalf of the people. The priests were intermediaries and intercessors. The people of Israel were to approach God through the priesthood, at the temple, and through the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant.
The second thing I would like you to consider is that long ago it was promised that a great priest would arise, not in the line of Aaron or Levi, but according to the order of Melchizedek.
The writer of the book Hebrews makes much of this in Hebrews chapters five through seven. In that long passage, he quotes Psalm 110:4. This Psalm was written by King David about 1,000 years before Christ was born. This Psalm is about the promised Messiah. And one of the things it revealed was that the Messiah would be a priest. Psalm 110:4 says, “The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek’” (Psalm 110:4, ESV).
Two things about this verse are shocking.
One, it revealed that the Messiah would be a priest, not in the line of Aaron or Levi, but in the order of Melchizedek, that mysterious figure mentioned in Genesis 14. The reason for this is that the Messiah would not be called to function as a priest according to the order of the Old Mosaic Covenant (see Exodus 19-Deuteronomy). As priest, he would not offer up animal sacrifices or incense at the temple. He would not be concerned with ceremonial washing or the holy days of the Old Covenant. No, as a priest, the Messiah would serve under a different Covenant — the New Covenant — and according to a different order. Melchizedek lived long before Moses. Melchizedek predated the Old Mosaic Covenant. Melchizedek ministered in the world in a time when only the Covenant of Grace was present in the world, and then only in the form of a promise. For this reason, Christ is said to be a priest, not in the line of Moses, Aaron, or Levi, but Melchizedek. Just as Melchizedek served the Covenant of Grace, so to Christ would serve the Covenant of Grace. In the days of Melchizedek the Covenant of Grace was promised. In the days of Christ, it was fulfilled. As it pertains to the priestly office, Jesus Christ has more in common with Melchizedek than Moses, Aaron, and Levi.
Two, Psalm 110:4 says that Messiah will be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. This is shocking because the priests who descended from Aaron would serve for a time but their service would always come to an end because they would die. All of the priests of the Old Covenant order were eventually removed from office by death. But the Messiah, Psalm 110:4 revealed, would serve as a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. As I have said, Psalm 110 was written by King David about 1,000 years before Jesus the Messiah was born. From that time until the arrival of the Messiah, God’s people lived with a sense of anticipation wondering when this great priest would arrive, who he would be, what work he would do, and how he could possibly serve forever, in fulfillment of this ancient prophecy (see 1 Peter 1:10-11).
A lot more could be said about how the priestly work of Christ was anticipated under the Old Covenant. In brief, though the Messiah would be a priest, not in the order of Aaron or Levi, but in the order of Melchizedek, the priesthood of Aaron and Levi and their ministry at the tabernacle and temple under the Old Covenant did foreshadow the priesthood of Christ in many ways. The continual offering up of the blood of bulls and goats, the perpetual need for cleansing, and the cycle of priests being ordained to the office and then being removed by death, anticipated the arrival of the one who would actually atone for and cleanse from sin, who would mediate forever and ever so as to bring us into the presence of God. The book of Hebrews has a lot to say about these things, especially chapters seven through ten.
This leads to our third consideration concerning Christ’s priestly office. Though Jesus Christ was not the first priest, he is by far the greatest priest, and he is also the last.
The priests of the Old Covenant offered up the blood of bulls and goats. This animal blood could not actually atone for human sin and make one right with God (see Hebrews 10:1-4). These sacrifices did point forward to the sacrifice that Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, has offered up. And what sacrifice did Jesus offer up? He offered up his own life as a substitute for sinners. He shed his own blood for the remission of sins. Christ said, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28, ESV).
The priests of old were able to cleanse the body and make one ceremonially pure according to the conditions of the Old Covenant, but they could not cleanse the conscience. It is Christ who cleanses the conscience, for Christ actually removes the guilt of sin. This is why the writer to the Hebrews says, “and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:21–23, ESV).
The priests of old, though they were able to intercede from on earth on behalf of God’s people, were not able to reconcile people to God, for they themselves were sinners in need of cleansing. And though they fulfilled an important ministry for a time, their ministries were always cut short by death. But Christ, our great High Priest, is able to bring us to God, and he intercedes for his people continuously, for he lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death for his people, was buried, and on the third day, and was raised to life eternal and incorruptible. He ascended to the right hand of the Father where he makes continual intercession for his people. None of the priests of old ascended. They served God and his people on earth. But Christ ascended into the heavenly holy of holies.
This is what Hebrews 10:12-14 speaks about, saying, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:11–14, ESV).
I could say a lot more. The priests of old were good and even great, but Christ is much greater. Christ was raised from the dead. He has ascended. His blood actually cleanses from sin. He has the power to reconcile us to God.
The fourth and final thing I would like you to consider about Christ’s priestly work is that in this office, Christ the Redeemer meets our needs.
Because of sin, we need to be cleansed. We need to be made right with God. We cannot ascend to heaven on our own. Someone needs to take us there. Jesus Christ is the one. His blood cleanses (see 1 John 1:7). He gives his righteousness to all who turn from their sins to trust in him (see Isaiah 61:10). He reconciles us to the Father (see Romans 5:11). He intercedes for us continually (see Hebrews 7:25).
