Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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veteran said:The name Melchisedec is from the Hebrew, and means 'King of Righteousness'. Some have accepted an old Gnostic teaching that tries to say Melchisedec was some flesh man that existed in Abraham's day, when all along, Melchisedec was our Lord Jesus back in the Old Testament Who met Abraham, and offered him bread and wine, and blessed him.
Hebrews 7 reveals this, but it takes patience.
Heb 7:1-16
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Our Lord Jesus is titled The Prince of Peace, and why is that since He is also our KING? It's to show His reign over all nations, reigning literally in our midst, is still expecting today, for that literal reign on earth is about His return, His second coming to rule with the rod of iron of Revelation.
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Melchisedec had no geneaological descent, nor start or end of days, "but made like unto the Son of God". Does that mean there can be TWO or more Sons of God? That's what the Gnostics would have us believe, even that we each can raise ourselves into the postion as Christs and become a Son of God like our Lord Jesus. Those in Christ are called "sons of God", not a "Son of God", for that Son of God Title ONLY applies to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some will still try and say Melchisedec was some flesh king that no genealogical record was known of, the idea that a record may have existed somewhere, only that no one knew about it. That's not what Paul is saying here. He means this Melchisedec was literally without beginning of days nor "end of life", and that he abides in the priest office "continually". That's another pointer to Everlasting, which can only point to God.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
Paul contrasts the Levitical priesthood to the Priesthood of Melchisedec. The Levite priests took tithes of the people, and they descended from Abraham. But that was much later, even around 430 years when the Levitical priesthood was setup according Old Covenant law.
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
But this Melchisedec wasn't even descended from Abraham, the Old Covenant not offered yet at this point, and yet Melchisedec received tithes of Abraham, and even blessed Abraham.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
Again, contrast the Levitical priesthood, because when Melchisedec received tithes of Abraham, the Levitical priesthood was still in Abraham's loins! It hadn't even been born yet! So how could this Melchisedec bless Abraham, since the law of the Levites blessing the people hasn't even come yet then? The idea is that Melchisedec's Office is pointing to a Higher Priest Office than the later Levitical priesthood, even in that time of Abraham.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Here's the contrast again Paul makes. Levi received tithes, and paid tithes also in the Levitical priest office. Yet Levi, wasn't even born yet when Melchisedec received tithes. So what gives?
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Just as the Promise by Faith was first, before the law was given (for Abraham received the Promise by Faith around 430 years before the law), likewise this Priesthood of Melchisedec is tied with that Promise by Faith. In Gen.14 we even find this Melchisedec offerred Abraham "bread and wine", sacrements of the New Covenant.
So if Salvation (idea of "perfection" there) were by the Levitical priesthood, then why was there a need for another Priest after the order of Melchisidec? That's getting closer to the idea of our Lord Jesus' Ministry in The New Covenant, for He now is our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Likewise, because the Levitical priesthood couldn't save, the need for a change of the law came, which is about the offering of Christ's Blood of The New Covenant.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
HERE'S the pivot point that reveals Who this Melchisedec was that met Abraham.
The phrase, "For he of whom these things are spoken" means ALL the things in the previous verses just covered. Paul is saying, now all these things I've been speaking about pertains to one of another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. Paul then says, "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda". That's the "another tribe" Paul was speaking about, which had no attendance at the altar, for only the Levites and sons of Aaron were commanded to attend to the altar.
It is our Lord Jesus of the tribe of Judah which ALL the previous things concerning Melchisedec is being spoken about. Paul is pointing directly to our Lord Jesus as Melchisedec Who met Abraham.
The Jews especially hate this teaching, because at the end of John 8 our Lord Jesus told them that Abraham saw His day, and was glad. And they questioned our Lord and asked Him if He had seen Abraham, seeing that Jesus was not even in old age yet. Our Lord Jesus told them, "...Before Abraham was, I am". The "I AM" is the sacred Name of God which He gave to Moses. Those Jews then tried to stone our Lord Jesus. But with that, our Lord Jesus showed that Abraham saw Christ's day, and was glad. How did Abraham see Christ's day? That's why Melchisedec Who met Abraham in Gen.14 was actually our Lord Jesus Christ in Old Testament times, before He was born through Mary's womb.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
(KJV)
That word "similitude" is important, because it means in the 'likeness, resemblance, manner' of something. In this case, it's about Christ Jesus as High Priest after the likeness of Melchisedec. So what does that mean, since Christ's Role of High Priest per The New Covenant is being tied to the "similitude of Melchisedec"? It's like I said before, Melchisedec met Abraham when God's Promise by Faith was being given to Abraham, and that Promise by Faith was about the New Covenant that would come. It was given by Promise 430 years before... the Old Covenant was given through Moses. That Promise is what Melchisedec offering Abraham "bread and wine" represents. And Who else but Christ could offer that "bread and wine" of the New Covenant, even though it was only by Promise in Abraham's day?
Thus Melchisedec "King of Salem" was our Lord Jesus BEFORE He came in the flesh to die on the cross.
Wonderful to see 'Melchisedec' being discussed.veteran said:Just as the Promise by Faith was first, before the law was given (for Abraham received the Promise by Faith around 430 years before the law), likewise this Priesthood of Melchisedec is tied with that Promise by Faith. In Gen.14 we even find this Melchisedec offerred Abraham "bread and wine", sacrements of the New Covenant.
So if Salvation (idea of "perfection" there) were by the Levitical priesthood, then why was there a need for another Priest after the order of Melchisidec? That's getting closer to the idea of our Lord Jesus' Ministry in The New Covenant, for He now is our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Likewise, because the Levitical priesthood couldn't save, the need for a change of the law came, which is about the offering of Christ's Blood of The New Covenant...........
"...Before Abraham was, I am". The "I AM" is the sacred Name of God which He gave to Moses....
That word "similitude" is important, because it means in the 'likeness, resemblance, manner' of something. ....And Who else but Christ could offer that "bread and wine" of the New Covenant, even though it was only by Promise in Abraham's day?
Thus Melchisedec "King of Salem" was our Lord Jesus BEFORE He came in the flesh to die on the cross.
It is not the flesh nature of a priestly order that matters, but the sacrifice the priestly order offers. In our case Jesus came in the flesh and offered up Himself as a perfect uncorrupted sacrifice, instead of the insufficient animals etc. that both the Levitical order and Melchisedec order (prior to Christ) were only able to offer.veteran said:If the priesthood of the order of Melchisedec was of the flesh order of man, and not of God from the beginning, then it would mean our Lord Jesus is High Priest after the order of a priesthood of corruption. That's something to think about, because it would mean the order of Melchisedec was no better than the Levitical priesthood which Christ did away with by tearing down the veil of the partition for us.
Sinthesis said:A stumbling block the Jews have is that Jesus was not a Levite, so he could not lawfully be a Jewish priest.
What determines who is HIGH PRIEST..? NOT faith or heredity, and NO ONE, can 'call himself' to the office, but must be CALLED of GOD!Sinthesis said:It is not the flesh nature of a priestly order that matters, but the sacrifice the priestly order offers. In our case Jesus came in the flesh and offered up Himself as a perfect uncorrupted sacrifice, instead of the insufficient animals etc. that both the Levitical order and Melchisedec order (prior to Christ) were only able to offer.
A stumbling block the Jews have is that Jesus was not a Levite, so he could not lawfully be a Jewish priest. The Book of Hebrews explains that though Jesus was not a Levitical priest, He is the High Priest nonetheless of an order both older and superior to that of the Levites in that membership is based on Faith in God rather than heredity.
If heredity determines one's qualification for the priesthood instead of one's Faith, then the potential exists for non-believers to be priests. This naturally resulted in the repeated corruption within the Jewish nation as attested to in Malachi-2 and Ezekiel-44, as well as throughout the New Testament.
Sinthesis said:veteran said:If the priesthood of the order of Melchisedec was of the flesh order of man, and not of God from the beginning, then it would mean our Lord Jesus is High Priest after the order of a priesthood of corruption. That's something to think about, because it would mean the order of Melchisedec was no better than the Levitical priesthood which Christ did away with by tearing down the veil of the partition for us.
It is not the flesh nature of a priestly order that matters, but the sacrifice the priestly order offers. In our case Jesus came in the flesh and offered up Himself as a perfect uncorrupted sacrifice, instead of the insufficient animals etc. that both the Levitical order and Melchisedec order (prior to Christ) were only able to offer.
Ret said:What determines who is HIGH PRIEST..? NOT faith or heredity, and NO ONE, can 'call himself' to the office, but must be CALLED of GOD!Sinthesis said:It is not the flesh nature of a priestly order that matters, but the sacrifice the priestly order offers. In our case Jesus came in the flesh and offered up Himself as a perfect uncorrupted sacrifice, instead of the insufficient animals etc. that both the Levitical order and Melchisedec order (prior to Christ) were only able to offer.
A stumbling block the Jews have is that Jesus was not a Levite, so he could not lawfully be a Jewish priest. The Book of Hebrews explains that though Jesus was not a Levitical priest, He is the High Priest nonetheless of an order both older and superior to that of the Levites in that membership is based on Faith in God rather than heredity.
If heredity determines one's qualification for the priesthood instead of one's Faith, then the potential exists for non-believers to be priests. This naturally resulted in the repeated corruption within the Jewish nation as attested to in Malachi-2 and Ezekiel-44, as well as throughout the New Testament.
- Hebrews 5:1-6
5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. KJV
Benoni said:It is the "Overcomers" who will become the Melchisedec Priesthood. There are two types of people in the Book of Revelation. Those who overcome and those who do not.
fluesusly said:Hi, as you may already noted I am fresh here.
Hope to get any assistance from you if I will have some quesitons.
Thanks in advance and good luck!