Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 16.

Tuesday July 31, 2018

 

Title: Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 16.

 

 

The writer of Hebrews in chapter 7 indicates that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and therefore greater than the Levitical priesthood. Since he is a type of Christ, and that Psa 110 prophesies that the Messiah’s priesthood is in his order, then Jesus is the High Priest, higher than the Levitical priesthood. The greatness continues. The Levites made no one perfect, the Law made no one perfect and so, both of them had to go. However, Christ, who is perfect, spotless, blameless, God, and a willing sacrifice, did make men positionally perfect and therefore acceptable to God. All who believe in Christ are entered into union with Him.

 

And, as we will continue to see in this foundational doctrine, our position in Him is the power and motivation to walk in His image.

 

We have to possess that position and know precisely what it is.

 

Again, the writer of Hebrews indicates that the old order was temporary.

 

HEB 7:15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

 

HEB 7:16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

 

HEB 7:17 For it is witnessed of Him,

"Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

 

He is an eternal High Priest.

 

HEB 7:18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

 

HEB 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

 

The physical requirement of vs. 16 is being born in the line of Aaron. The power of an indestructible life is an inward power whereas the physical requirement, human birthright, is an outward power.

 

“indestructible life,” which is Christ’s impeccability, means that the new system is an inward one and not outward.

 

Every believer has been completely changed inwardly. The stuff inside of you that makes your personality has been changed in a drastic way.

 

Two possibilities come from this: Either I will wait for some sign of this or manifestation before I am convinced of it, or the truth of its reality, a reality stated to us by God Himself, will be accepted and then my life will be viewed through this lens alone.

 

If you change the programming of a computer it will automatically give you a different output. Is this true of the regenerated Christian? To some extent there will be a difference in thinking and conduct, but certainly not an immediate maturity, which is really the normal function of the regenerate. The reason for this is that we are people and not machines. We have a personality made up of our intellect, will, and conscience. We are not composed of ones and zeros passing through circuits. We have to choose. We have to will things and come to understand things on our own.

 

Since these things are divine they must be wrought by God. We need the Holy Spirit within to guide and instruct us, but not without our agreement, and since this is true, if we wait around for some proof that we are made new in Christ, we will be waiting until heaven. We must believe it by faith. You are what God says you are, and if you concur and are convinced, then your whole worldview changes, your whole life changes. 

 

A priest would be born in the right lineage, learn the ritual well and perform it well. This is all outward. Because of this, Israel had plenty of really bad priests (Eli’s sons come to mind). Yet the Mosaic Law was summed up by two commands that dealt with the inward man, to love the Lord and to love your neighbor.

 

Melchizedek was listed in the scripture without record of death (though he died). Jesus resurrected from the dead due to His impeccable human nature, His full obedience to the Father, and His completing the goal of redemption for all mankind (and I’m sure we could list a hundred other reasons), and this makes Him a Priest with an indestructible life, and all the redeemed are priests with indestructible lives.

 

The Law made no one perfect. It could not bring a person to spiritual maturity as the NT saint can and should experience. What the Law could do was to point to someone perfect. As Paul wrote in Galatians, the Law was a tutor that led people to the Messiah.

 

The Law, making no one perfect, pointed to Someone perfect. It was the tutor that led the world to Christ.

 

GAL 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

 

GAL 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.

 

GAL 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

 

GAL 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

 

GAL 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

 

GAL 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

GAL 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

 

HEB 7:18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

 

HEB 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

 

Jesus, as the King/Priest, ushered in a new priesthood in which the sons are clean in conscience, serving Him, powerful and wise; i.e. mature or complete (“better hope” vs. 19).

 

What do we hope for as redeemed ones, set free, in Him, righteous, and justified? What do we hope for as those made powerful and wise by His grace? Hope is not seen. It is anticipated.

 

This brings us to the quote from Psa 110 again, but this time quoting the first line also.

 

Next (vv. 20-25) is the Priesthood of Jesus. It is unchangeable and uninterrupted. 

 

HEB 7:20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

 

HEB 7:21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

"The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind,'Thou art a priest forever'");

 

The Levitical priests became priests without an oath because they were born into it. The Son of God became a priest by an oath. He was willing to become a Man, obey the Father’s will, and offer Himself as the one sacrifice for sin. This is the third part of qualification for the Kinsman Redeemer.

 

HEB 7:22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

 

HEB 7:23 And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing,

 

HEB 7:24 but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

 

HEB 7:25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

 

The word translated “forever” (panteles) is in fact a synonym of teleios. Vine translates it “complete, perfect.” The idea of “forever,” referring to time, is usually a usage of the Greek word aion, which means “age”.

 

A better translation is “save to the utmost,” the Greek meaning of the word “forever” being “to arrive at a final destination with all things complete.”

 

That expanded translation comes from Wuest.