In this study we will focus on several concepts, most particularly the High Priesthood of Jesus.
As we read the following passages of scripture we should focus on:
"our hope", the "oath" and "promise" of God, the fact that we may enter the Holy of Holies in Heaven,
the obsolesence of the law in regard to us, and the power of the new covenant that replaced the law,
as well as the reality of Jesus eternal priesthood, his lordship, his ongoing ministry of intercession for us.

Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jesus went before us, into the holy of holies, on our behalf, he went to make the way for us
so that we could ourselves come into the very holy of holies, the very presence of Almighty God.

I saw so much consciousness of unworthiness in the denomination I grew up in, they believed that
they themselves were unworthy of catching the attention of God, and would not find favor with Him
so they invented rituals and devotion to "saints" who the theory went were able to interceed with God
on their behalf - somehow the "saints" were more worthy, and therefore could catch God's ear.
What a tragedy in the face of the Gospel truth that WE our very selves as we are, may approach
God with confidence because Jesus has made the way and he ever lives to intercede for us.
I see as I observe other denominations that they too weigh their people down with a consciousness of
unworthiness and guilt. Jesus achieved ALL that the Father sent him to do, he has made us righteous.
We can come boldy to God's throne of grace and obtain mercy and grace whenever we have a need.
We need only ask, seek, knock. He chose this for us, paid the price, made the way, who are we to argue?

Hebrews 6:13-20
When God made his promise to Abraham,
since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,
saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Men swear by someone greater than themselves,
and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear
to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is
impossible for God to lie,
we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.
He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

We are partakers of a promise God made to Abraham, one He made with an oath,
God almighty swore an oath to Abraham, and by extension, to us.
He did so in order that we who would inherit the promise would have the greatest hope,
one that would anchor our soul(our mind, emotions, will) to the very holy of holies in heaven.
Our hope of perfection in Christ anchors us throughout our lives.
God who begain a good work in us, will carry it on to completion!(Philippians 1:6)

The priesthood of Jesus is forever. There will be no need of another priest, nor another covenant.
The new covenant and priesthood of Jesus will achieve completely in us all of God's will and purpose.
God's heart's desire and pleasure and delight will come to pass, we will be a bright shining bride
for His son Jesus. We will be true lover's of God, people who's heart is set on Him, who give up living
for ourselves to achieve His will here in the Earth, His kingdom will be manifest in our proximity
even as people who were sick and lame were made whole if just the shadow of Peter fell on them.(Acts 5:15)
Like Jesus, we will speak the words, and do the works of the Father, and nothing of ourselves.(John 8:28)

Hebrews 7:11-12
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood
(for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come
--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.

The goal of our hope, of the high priesthood of Jesus, of the new covenant is our perfection.

Hebrews 7:18-19
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless
(for the law made nothing perfect),
and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

This is why the Law was was done away with, set aside, voided.
Because it is weak and useless for the purpose of God, for God's heart's desire, our perfection.
Instead we are given a better hope, a new covenant, a new high priest, and access to the heavenly holy of holies.
So that we can be made perfect in Christ, mature, not lacking anything.
Whole and fully restored to the role that God gave Adam, as well as the role of the Bride and Body of Christ.

Hebrews 7:20-22
And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath,
but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: `You are a priest forever.' "
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Jesus is the guarantee that the New Covenant is better, in fact he IS the guarantee OF the covenant.
He is the sacrifice that God made to show His commitment to us in an eternal covenant.
God who sent his son to die for you, promised you on oath to make you perfect in Christ.
Not only did the Father raise Jesus from the dead, and Jesus blaze the trail into the Holy of Holies,
but God seated him at His right hand. Exalted him over all things, made Jesus lord over all things.
Jesus is Lord over all things on your behalf, and he is your Lord.

Hebrews 7:23-26
Now there have been many of those priests,
since death prevented them from continuing in office;
but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him,
because he always lives to intercede for them.
Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure,
set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Hebrews 8:1-2
The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,
who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

Our High Priest Jesus is able to completely redeem, completely save, and _to complete_ all who come to God
through him. Such a high priest meets our need, whatever we need its MET in High Priest Jesus.
He never stops interceeding for us, he is seated at the Father's right hand. God hears his prayers!

Say this aloud:
"God sacrificed Jesus to guarantee that He would make me perfect in Christ, I recieve the hope,
and the covenant promise of Almighty God, I will be made perfect in Christ Jesus, Jesus is Lord!
".

This Site Is Copyright (C) 2006 by Dan Sharpe. Unless otherwise marked, all scriptures are taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.