The Ultimate Freedom
Genesis 14:18-20
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
You and I need a Priest to connect with God.
Hebrews 7:1-3
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
Why do we need a Priest?
Melchizedek represented Righteousness (We have no righteousness before God)
Melchizedek represented Peace (We are not at peace with God)
Melchizedek was an eternal priesthood (We need to prepare for eternity)
What about the Levitical Priesthood?
Exodus 28:1-2
“Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.
How do we come into God’s presence today?
Hebrews 7:23-28
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 truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Jesus is superior to the Levitical priesthood because...
His priesthood is permanent.
He is able to save completely. He is interceding right now and forever.
The purity and value of his sacrifice invites you into God’s presence, not just for the moment but forever.
Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Draw near to God - The Ultimate Freedom
With sincere heart - Being yourself, hiding nothing, and no pretending.
Full of assurance - I belong to God and have nothing to fear.
You are everything God ever dreamed you would be when Jesus is your priest.
How do we draw near to God?
Cleansed of your guilt and shame by the blood of Jesus.
Sacrificing your body as worship through your priest Jesus.
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