Kingdom Disciples

God has spoken His definitive word in His Son. All previous words given by the prophets were preparatory, promissory, and partial . God has spoken His supreme Word in His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah who “ achieved the purification of sins ” through his “ once and for all ” sacrifice for sins. To now return to the Levitical system with its rituals and repeated animal sacrifices would mean disregarding and dishonoring this Supreme Word and Christ’s sacrifice. By doing so, we invite severe punishment.

Jesus is the High Priest of the greater sanctuary “made without hands” foreshadowed by the Ancient Tabernacle . Jesus is the High Priest who serves in the “ True Tabernacle pitched by the Lord and not man ” and foreshadowed by the religious structures and rituals of Ancient Israel.  The Son of God has become our “ priest forever ” who ministers for us “ at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens ” – (Hebrews 8:1-2).

The New Covenant results from the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus and his enduring priesthood, which is based on his resurrection life . The  Letter to the Hebrews  highlights key aspects of Christ’s ministry, especially his Priesthood and  once and for all  Sacrificial Death. The Letter stresses the  non-repeatable nature  of his sacrifice for sin and  the permanence  of his Priestly Office. He has “ achieved the purification of sins ” that no animal sacrifice or priestly predecessor ever could.

Jesus inaugurated the superior New Covenant through his Death and Resurrection, rendering the old covenant obsolete  – Hebrews 8:6-13. The definitive “ Word ” that God has spoken “ in the Son ” surpasses all past revelations made in “ the prophets ,” including Moses, the Great Lawgiver. Only Jesus “ achieved the purification of sins ,” therefore, he “ sat down ” at the right hand of God as our Great High Priest and instituted the long-promised “ New Covenant .”

Foundational to the  Letter to the Hebrews  is the appointment of Jesus as our High Priest, and this was due especially to his obedience “ unto death ” whereby he achieved the “ purification of sins .” In his sufferings, he was “ perfected ,” and in his resurrection, God vindicated his sacrifice by seating him at the “ right hand of the Majesty on High ,” where he now sits enthroned interceding on our behalf. The stress is not on his position as the Royal Son, as true as that is, but on his priestly status and ministry for his people.