I was raised Independent Baptist. Like died-in-the-wool, raised from kindergarten, given to me by my parents Baptist. Over the past years I have not left the Baptist faith but have changed some viewpoints since God has literally exploded from my Baptist box in which I placed him. I align myself with Reformed Baptist but attend a non-denominational church and raise my hands in worship. Basically, I call myself a Bapticostal. Yes, I’m weird, but at least my faith is solid.
Hebrews 7:15-16 states, “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.” Feel free to study this guy Melchisedec, or Melchizedek, as he was the recipient of Abraham’s tithes. In Jewish tradition, sins of the people were absolved by the sacrifices made daily by the Levite priests aka commandment from Moses given by God. Once Christ died on the cross, those sacrifices became null and void as he paid the once for all sacrifice for our sins. HALLELUJAH! Hence, he was the priest after the order of Melchisedec and not a Levite.
Verse 27 states it quite clear, “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.” Because the payment on the cross was the final sacrifice, I no longer have to rely on an earthly priest to absolve my sins through an animal sacrifice. Jesus Christ is the Eternal High Priest so only he can absolve my sins, whether committed already or those to be. This cuts out any earthly priest and any earthly form of sin removal. No human can wash away my sins, see I John 1:7.
I thank God that I can go directly to him and ask forgiveness for every sin that I commit. Trust me, I sin daily and the Holy Spirit convicts daily which means confession is daily as well. Though God already knows my heart, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9. May 9th this year is Ascension Day in the Liturgical Christian calendar. It is the fortieth day from the resurrection of Jesus told to us by Doctor Luke in his continuing gospel of Acts of the Apostles to Theophilus in chapter 1 verse 9. Praise the Lord he did ascend to his Father and sit down on his right hand. There as our Eternal Priest he claims our innocence. To him I will one day lay my won crowns down that only he could win through me.
Grace and peace, James
*Scripture from ESV, Crossway Publishing, 2001