The Order of Melchisedec

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-5-2023

Psalm 110; Hebrews 6:19-7:4

 

Introduction:

 

A.  I want to take my text tonight from Psalm 110:4 which reads: “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 

 

B.  We will look at this verse both historically and prophetically tonight.

 

1.  The Patriarchal Priesthood.  Prior to the Law, the first-born male child was to become the high priest of the family.

 

2.  The Aaronic Priesthood.  Under the Law, the High Priest was of the lineage of Aaron, a Levite. Every High Priest was a Levite but not every Levite was a High Priest.

 

3.  The Levitical Priesthood.  Under the Law, God chose the Tribe of Levi to serve in the Tabernacle. 

 

4.  The Individual Priesthood of the Believer.  After the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ—God every born-again believer approaches God through Christ.

 

5.  The Priesthood of Melchizedek (Melchisedec).  The Eternal Priesthood of Christ which was established by Melchizedek in type and continued by Christ in antitype.

 

C.  Historically (the type) and prophetically (the antitype or fulfillment) are both found in Psalm as Melchizedek had live centuries before the Psalms were written, and Christ would not come until many centuries later.

 

Genesis 14:18-20  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  (19)  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:  (20)  And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

 

Hebrews 7:1-3  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;  (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. 

 

1.  His name: Melchizedek.  This name, in verse 4, means King of Righteousness.

 

Proverbs 29:2  When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

 

Isaiah 32:1  Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

 

2 Samuel 23:3  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

 

Jesus Christ is the Righteous King of all.  Acts 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

 

2.  His Office:  King of Salem.

 

a.  Melchisedec was evidently a well know King-Priest as Abraham recognized him immediately. 

 

b.  Salem, according to verse 2, means Peace.  One of the Old Testament words for Jerusalem is Salem. 

 

Psalms 76:1-2  In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.  (2)  In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

 

c.  Christ is our Peace.  Ephesians 2:13-14  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  (14)  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

 

3.  His Appointment: Priest of the most high God.

 

a.  Earthly high priests under the law, except for Aaron—were appointed by men.  Melchisedec, before the Law, shows no such appointment. was appointed by God.

 

Hebrews 5:1-5  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.

 

b.  Christ’s appointment came by God.  Luke 9:35  And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

 

4.  Melchisedec’s Position. 

 

a.  “Who met Abraham … and blessed him.”  Hebrews 7:7  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

 

b.  Christ is blessed above all.  Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

 

Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

5.  His Descent:  “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.”  (Hebrews 7:3)

 

a.  Melchisedec had no recorded genealogy, birth, or death—though he was a man.  Hebrews 7:4  Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

 

b.  As God—Christ had no recorded genealogy, birth, of death.  John 1:1-2  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.

 

1 John 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

 

6.  His Eternality: 

 

a.  The Bible does not say that Melchisedec was eternal, as he was a man.  He had no recorded genealogy: birth of death.

 

b.  The Bible does say that Christ is an eternal High Priest after the Order of Melchisedec. 

 

Hebrews 6:19-20  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (20)  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

 

7.  Melchisedec was a Universal High Priest:

 

a.  Melchisedec was a King-Priest to the Gentiles in Canaan.  He was also a King-Priest to Abraham, the beginning of the Jewish people.

 

b.  Christ is a Universal High Priest.  He died for both Jew and Gentile.  He is both the Saviour of the world and the High Priest of the redeemed of all nations.

 

Revelation 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

The Pastor - Your Gift

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-5-2023

Ephesians 4:18-16

 

Introduction: 

 

I have been preaching on the local church this New Year and want to continue this morning. 

 

My subject matter is such that makes me a little uncomfortable because it sounds like “beating my drum” from the pulpit.  I never want to lift myself up.  I want to lift the Lord up and edify the church.  This said, enough said!

 

A.  When the Lord ascended from Abraham’s Bosom, He gave gifts to the church to be used in carrying on the work in His absence.  Verse 11.

 

1.  These gifts were both passing and permanent as the Old Testament and New Testament met in the days of Christ. 

 

2.  In the transitional period of the early church, before the completion of inspired scripture (1 Corinthians 13:9-12), certain passing or partial gifts were necessary.  When the canon of scripture was complete, the passing or partial gifts were no longer necessary.

 

3.  The apostles and prophets (to foretell, not to forth tell) were passing gifts while the evangelist and pastor-teacher were permanent gifts.

 

B.  Apostles and prophets were gifts to the early church but ceased to exist in the First Century.  Two permanent gifts remain to this day:  the evangelist (missionary) and the pastor-teacher.

 

1.  These gifts were different in nature and yet merging in their work. 

 

2.  The evangelist, or missionary – evangelist means to bear good news.  It also comes from a root word that means to pastor.  The evangelist carries the gospel to places where it has never been heard and then does “the work of the pastor” as he becomes the pastor of the church that he starts.

 

3.  The pastor-teacher.  Churches today are looking for preachers, not pastors.  A man who is a great orator, good in delivery, who does not interfere with the lives of the people, suave in appearance, and cautious about what he preachers.  A preacher may entertain you but a pastor will be there with you, for you, and help you.

 

a)  Though preaching is a vital part of the work of the pastor, his main work is pastoring (pastor means shepherd) and teaching.  “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” is the work of maturing new believers and stabilizing older ones.

 

b)  To oversee both the people and the affairs of the local church.  He is to be an example to the flock, feed the flock, protect the flock, rule over the flock, and guide the flock.  He is also to evangelize or do “the work of an evangelist”.

 

C.  I want to look at what Paul said about the pastor-teacher’s ministry.  Vs. 12.  The Work of the Pastor-Teacher.

 

1.  For the Perfecting of the Saints.  Helping God’s people to grow in the Lord.  “Be no more children.”

 

2.  For the Work of the Ministry.  To oversee the local church by guiding and protecting, not to become a dictator.

 

3.  For the Edifying of the Body of Christ.  Educate, enlighten, exhort, and enrich.  To build up, not tear down.

 

D.  God set forth in our text how all of this is to be done.  Verses 13-16.

 

1.  It is a continuing work!  “Till” A space of time or to a certain point.  My work will never be done because of the word “all.” 

 

a.  Because people get saved and need to be taught; because new families come in who have never been taught!  Because our small children grow up and need to be taught!  Repeatedly, we cover the same material.  To refresh and re-enforce the teaching of God’s Word to us older folks lest we forget; to ground the incoming and upcoming in the Word of Truth. 

 

b.  Too many good pastors step down while they are still in good health and mind.  When they learn how to pastor a church, they turn it over to someone who is still learning.

 

2.  It is an inclusive work!  “We” As you grow, I grow. 

 

a.  I do not know it all and continue to make mistakes.  I continue to be enlightened as I study to enlighten you.  You do not know it all and continue to make mistakes.  The Bible corrects us.

 

b.  God gave me a church with 8 people because I was not an experienced pastor.  As the church grew, I grew.  We all made our mistakes, but we have survived.  The Bible “thoroughly furnishes” us.

 

3.  It is an equal work!  “All” From the back pew to the front pew, everyone is equally important. 

 

a.  I understand that not all will grow because not all want to grow.  Some are just slower to grow than others.  When raising our children, we speak of “growing pains.”  People have “growing pains” spiritually.

 

b.  Spiritual growth requires effort and obedience.  That is why the work of the pastor-teacher is a continuing work.

 

4.  It is a unifying work!  “Unity” The greatest enemy of the church sits upon its pews. 

 

a. Division, becoming offended or hurt, are normally caused by small petty things of no eternal value.  Petty things become the things that destroy the unity of the local church. 

 

b.  “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” should be our motto, our battle cry.  As we grow, we must remain unified.  Let nothing cause you to leave this church except apostasy and unrebuked sin.

 

5.  It is a faith work!  “Of faith” Churches must learn to be faith based. 

 

a.  I know that this church should be operated with fiscal responsibility, but it must also operate by faith.  We expect our people to live by faith, but the churches often walk by sight.  “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” applies to the local church also. 

 

b.  Learning to trust the Lord with all our heart is an ever learning work.

 

6.  It is relationship-based work!  “Knowledge of the Son of God” Paul said, “That I may know Him.” 

 

a.  The most important part of the work of the church takes place when its members grow closer to Christ Jesus.  Getting to know the One who died for us.

 

b.  I have often said that if we get closer to Christ, the questionable things of life are answered from within.  My work is not to separate God’s people from the world.  That is God’s work.  My work is to exhort you to grow closer to God.

 

7.  It is maturing work!  “Unto a perfect man” We, as older Christians, should carry with our hoary heads an infinite wisdom. 

 

a.  We white-haired Christians have been at this for many years and should be sterling examples to the younger ones.  They should be able to follow us as we follow Christ.

 

b.  Soon, they will be the white-haired Christians because we will be gone and our heritage must become their heritage for it to remain.

 

8.  It is a conforming work!  “The measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”  Not conforming to a set of rules or even to a set of values. 

 

a.  Conforming to the image of the One who loved us, saved us, and owns us.  Not to my measure, not to your measure, but to His measure!

 

b.  Then and only then, the word Christian becomes one of reality instead of just a title to be worn.

 

9.  It is a doctrinal work!  “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” 

 

a.  Doctrine has become a dirty word to most religionists as they say that “doctrine divides, love unifies.”  God said that we are to study, now, and remain doctrinally pure.

 

b.  There can be no true brotherly love without true Bible doctrine.  As we are to worship in “spirit and truth,” we are to love in “spirit and truth.”

 

10.  It is a sharing work!  “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”  As we mature, we share our faith to a lost world that lies outside of the local church.

 

11.  It is a selfless work!  “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” When we become the perfect man or woman, we realize that it is not all about us.  The acrostic of the word JOY says it all.

 

J – Jesus first.

 

O – Others second.

 

Y – You last.

I Am the Bread of Life - Part 3

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-1-2023

John 6:30-59

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Verses 53-58.  This passage represents a problem to some today as it did in Jesus’ day.  The first problem comes through the statements made by our Lord concerning eating His flesh and drinking His blood.  The bread and drink used here are metaphors: symbols or comparisons used to convey truth.  You will never rightly divide the Word of Truth until you read every verse within its context.

 

1.  The errors of Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation.

 

a)  Transubstantiation:   Used in the Roman Catholic Church.  Teaching the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ in the Eucharist.  The Eucharist is also called Holy Communion, a phrase that many churches use.

 

b)  Consubstantiation:   Used in Episcopal, Lutheran, and other “reformation denominations”.  Teaching that the substance of the bread and wine co-exists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. 

 

2.  These verses teach the importance of covenant and communion through sacrifice, the finished work of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  (3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

a)  In the Old Testament, we find atonement, God’s people entered into the Lord through a covenant … by sacrifice. 

 

Psalms 50:5  Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

 

Israel placed their faith in the coming of Messiah, the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. Their communion with Christ or the Messiah came through atonement, the sacrifice of the innocent for the guilty.

 

b)  In the New Testament, we find propitiation, God’s people enter into Christ through the finished work of the cross in Propitiation.  Our communion with Christ comes through His sacrifice and is both typified and remembered through the Lord’s Supper.

 

Matthew 26:26-28  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  (27)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  (28)  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (Christ took actual bread and fruit of the vine which was then given to His disciples while His body remained both present and unbroken.  The bread and fruit of the vine were metaphors of what would soon transpire, the cross of Christ.)

 

1 Corinthians 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  (Communion – empathy, unity or closeness.)

 

1 Corinthians 11:23-26  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  (24)  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (25)  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  (26)  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.  (The bread and cup were metaphors for the body and blood of Christ and the Lord’s Supper, or Communion is done in remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ, not actual eating His body and drinking His blood.  When the disciples ate this bread and drank of that cup, Christ did so with them.  He had not died on the cross.)

 

Hebrews 10:10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

B.  The second area of confusion comes through not understanding how we come to the Bread of God, Jesus Christ.  A breeding ground for Reformed Theology or Calvinism.

 

1.  The Reformed Theologian cites these verses.  John 6:37-39  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  (38)  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  (39)  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

 

2.  The Reformed Theologian does not cite this verse.  John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

 

3.  Manna was the type but Christ was the Antitype or fulfillment. 

John 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

 

C.  As the Eucharist is not a problem in our church, I will look at these verses to refute the Reformed Theology, AKA Calvinism.  Now, let us break down some of these verses so as to get the chronological order of how salvation takes place.

 

1.  Verse 29, 32, 35.  Jesus is the Source.  The first step in salvation is knowing who Jesus Christ is.  For the first time, Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the “true bread … the bread of life.  The only true source of eternal life.

 

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

2.  Verse 35-36, 44.  Jesus is the Bread of Selection not Election.  This verse states two responses: one by the unsaved and one by the unsaved:

 

a.  The Saved is Drawn.

 

1)  He chooses Christ by coming to Christ.  Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

 

2)  He chooses Christ by believing on Christ.  John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

b.  The Unsaved is Drawn.

 

1)  He is drawn to Christ.  John 6:34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

 

John 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

 

2)  He rejects Christ.  John 6:36  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

 

John 5:40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

 

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

Matthew 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen. (The called heard but neither came to or believed on Christ.  The chosen came to Christ and believed.  This John, chapter 6, does not reflect election.  It teaches selection or personal choice.)

 

3.  Verse 35.  Jesus is the Bread of Satisfaction.

 

a.  Shall never hunger.  Matthew 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

 

b.  Shall never thirst.  John 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 

4.  Verses 37-40.  Jesus is the Bread of Security. 

 

a.  Secure in approach.  “no wise cast out”  Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

b.  Secure in life.  “I should lose nothing”  Romans 8:38-39  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  (39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

c.  Secure in death.  “raise it up again at the last day”  1 Corinthians 15:52-53  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

 

d.  Secure in eternity.  “have everlasting life”  John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

5.  Verses 41-50.  Jesus is the Bread of Surety.

 

a.  Assurance in the life.  Isaiah 32:17  And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

 

b.  Assurance in death.  2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

c.  Assurance on eternity.  Psalms 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.