Bill Britton Hebrews the book of better things

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• Chapter 8

  In chapter 7 we had an unveiling of the Melchisedec priesthood. Our Lord Jesus (and His sons) were called to be priests after the order of Melchisedec. He is our high priest, all will agree. And the Bible tells us plainly that He has made us kings and priests, a kingdom of priests unto God and His Father. It is certainly not the Levitical order to which we are called. Rather it is this Melchisedec order, as we are conformed to the image of Christ.

  Now as we come to chapter 8, the first thing we hear is: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum". This is the key to this chapter, which sums up the following things:

  1. We have a high priest, seated in the heavenlies.

  2. He is a minister of the true tabernacle, pitched by God.

  3. Moses' tabernacle was made after the pattern of heavenly realities. He saw this pattern while he was on Mt. Sinai.

  4. Christ has a more excellent ministry than that of the law.

  5. Christ is the mediator of a better covenant, established on better promises.

  6. The old covenant had faults, waxes old, and vanishes away.

  7. The new covenant is written into the hearts and minds of God's people.

  "On the Right Hand of the Throne"

  The right hand is the hand of ministry, the hand of power and authority. The throne speaks of the place of dominion and rulership. Verse 1 is telling us that our high priest, Jesus, is now set in the place of absolute authority, that He might minister to His people. "All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). Let me remind you that chapter 6 told us that Jesus was a forerunner for us, as He entered into that glorious place.

  Christ is the minister of the true sanctuary. Moses pitched a natural tabernacle, with vessels of gold, silver, wood and brass. But here we are told that there is a tabernacle which man did not pitch. Moses had nothing to do with the construction of this tabernacle. The Lord pitched this tabernacle. It is the house of the Lord, and the vessels in this house are not made of natural wood and gold. "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (2 Timothy 2:20-21).

  The priests that served in the Levitical order worked on an earthly plane, and they could affect a man's earthly life, but they could never give him eternal life. God has a priesthood that serves in that heavenly realm. Only though Jesus Christ can there be forgiveness of sin, and the impartation of eternal life. The earthly priests only serve as a shadow and example of the reality that is found in Christ. What they do in offering up the blood of bulls and goats, as well as the fulfilling of the feast days and other laws, only represent the work of the true priesthood in Christ.

  "Shewed to Thee in the Mount"

  Verse 5 quotes from Exodus 25:40 where God admonished Moses to be sure and build the tabernacle exactly according to the pattern for the tabernacle, as He was the pattern for the body of Christ. Every bit of the construction of the tabernacle, every piece of furniture, and every utensil, had it's counterpart in the heavenlies.

  Everything that takes place in the body of Christ in the purposes of God, has it's origin in Jesus our Lord. He is the pattern. Born of a virgin; religious and political leaders attempt to kill him in infancy; called out of Egypt; raised in obscurity; preceded and introduced by a prophetic ministry; comes to full maturity and enters the waters of Jordan; defeats Satan and puts him under His feet; and then enters a glorious life-giving deliverance and teaching ministry. Can you see how that every phase of His life is reflected in the birth, growth, and ministry of the sons of God? If it happens to us, then it first happened to Him.

  Conformed to His image. This is the promise. Made according to the pattern. So there must be a people in the earth just like Jesus. He is the pattern Son. This is what the great harvest is all about, and this is why He has not yet put in the sickle. It has not yet come to full maturity.

  "A More Excellent Ministry"

  "Now hath He obtained." Verse 6 makes it plain that Jesus did not come into the world at Bethlehem with that better ministry. It was something He attained to, something He apprehended. We read in Revelation 5:5, "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, HATH PREVAILED to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." And Jesus said. "I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne". (Revelation 3:21). There was a goal set before Him when He came into the world, and He overcame. He pressed forward until He won the prize. Hebrews 6:20 tells us that Jesus, the forerunner, has entered into that within the veil and has been made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.

  We see Jesus, in His childhood, His boyhood, His young manhood, and finally standing face to face with Satan in the wilderness temptation. facing every temptation common to man. Yet without sin. He overcame. It was not an easy way for Him. But it was the way to glory! He pressed toward the mark. "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps". (1 Peter 2:21).

  As we follow Him, we find there is a prize to be won, a goal to reach. We know that eternal life is the gift of God, a gift of His love. It cannot be earned or won. But in Philippians 3:12-14 we see Paul pressing in to attain a prize. "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The word "mark" here means a goal. To win a prize. Jesus has won it. He hath prevailed.

  Paul recognized that we were to follow in His steps, and also attain. At the close of his earthly journey, he told Timothy: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown." (2 Timothy 4:7). He exhorted the church at Corinth: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." (1 Corinthians 9:24). Is all this running, and pressing, necessary in order to make heaven? Of course not. You cannot earn or win your way into heaven. We are saved by grace. There is a more excellent ministry to obtain, a high calling to gain.

  "Upon Better Promises"

  "He is the mediator of a better covenant". God made a covenant with Israel under the law. There were promises of blessings and prosperity and victory over their enemies. But they could not keep their part of the covenant. They failed miserably to keep the law. So the covenant was of no value. It was based upon the frailty of Adam's human nature. And the Law exposed it's weakness. So there had to be a second covenant.

  This new covenant was not based upon our ability to keep the law. Not on what we could accomplish in our flesh. It was based upon the love of God operating through Jesus Christ toward us. His blood shed on Calvary, and His resurrection power. And on this foundation it could not fail. And now He not only fulfilled this covenant with the Father, but He became the "mediator" of this new and better covenant to us. In other words, he is able to give to us that which He apprehended by overcoming. "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32).

  This covenant has been established. Upon better promises. What are those promises? Not just prosperity and dominion on the earthly plane. Not just rain on our natural crops. But an eternal life, ruling and reigning with Christ. Coming into His nature and His likeness. A promise of bearing His image. "As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly". (1 Corinthians 15:49).

  God knew before He ever laid the foundation of this world that the first covenant would not work. For Jesus was a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And verse 7 tells us that if the first covenant had been capable of working, there would have been no need for the second covenant. No need for Christ to die on the Cross. But the law could not work, and God knew that. So Jesus came. And God makes it plain that this covenant is not like that first one.

  "Write Them in Their Hearts"

  He is God's great purpose in the earth. This is His promise. He will have a people in this earth who have the laws of God (NOT the law of Moses) written in their minds and in their hearts, so that it becomes natural, or their nature, to do that which pleases God. He had one man on earth like that. His name was Jesus. But He is not to be the last. 'For whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29). If a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies (and He did), it will bring forth a great harvest.

  Think of a world full of people who do not have to be constantly preached at. For it is their nature to please the Father. His laws are written in their minds, and it is inscribed on their hearts to do His will, from the least to the greatest. Impossible, you say? Don't you read it here? Isn't it in the Book? Yes, it is the new covenant. And I don't read anywhere in this chapter that this is effective only when we all get to heaven where we couldn't sin if we wanted to. The implication here in this scripture is that this covenant is made effective and takes place right on this earth.

  And I want to tell you, loud and clear, that this is exactly what shall take place. This is the ministry of this Melchisedec order, Jesus and His sons. He is the mediator, the dispenser, of this new covenant. Your unbelief cannot disannul His purposes. Thank God! Just as Aaron and his sons passed through the veil of the tabernacle, year by year, and placed the blood of the goat on the altar, thus dispensing new life to the people. just so shall that priesthood which passes through the veil of the flesh into the Shekinah glory of God, bring the liberty of Romans 8 to a groaning and dying creation. Right here on this earth there will be a demonstration of the reality and effectiveness of this new covenant working in the hearts of men.

  The apostle is again assuring them of the futility of serving under the law of Moses. The very fact that this new covenant has been put in effect, makes the law of Moses of none effect. The law has decayed, and waxes old. And here he is pleading with them to forsake the temple worship, the offering of the blood of bulls and goats, the burning of incense on the golden altar. Jesus has replaced all of this. Some heard, some did not. But only 6 years later, the Roman general, Titus, captured Jerusalem, destroyed the temple and it's altars. And in 1900 years it has never been rebuilt, and never will. Jesus predicted it's destruction, but He never predicted it's restoration.

  What is to be restored is the living temple of that new covenant. Jesus was a living temple in which that new covenant operated perfectly. But they crucified Him, destroyed that temple from off the earth. He said to the Hews: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up But he spake of the temple of His Body". (John 2:19, 21). "Now ye are the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27). He sent word to Herod: "Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and THE THIRD DAY I shall be PERFECTED." (Luke 13:32).

  Beloved, we are now moving into that third day. It is the hour for the perfection of His body. It is the hour for the demonstration of that new covenant in living vessels. There will be a people who live to please the Father, even as Jesus did. They will go about doing good, and healing all who are oppressed of the devil, as Jesus did. They will cover this earth with the message of the Kingdom. Thus saith the Lord!

  The Pattern Ministry

  Just what kind of ministry will this people have? First of all, it will be a ministry of COMPASSION. Everything Jesus did, He did it because He loved the people. He saw their needs, and had compassion. The word "compassion" is found in the Gospels more than twice as many times as in all the rest of the New Testament combined. It is a word directly relating to the ministry of Jesus. 5 times it tells us that Jesus "was moved with compassion." This word "moved" means to motivate, to cause one to act out of a feeling of compassion. Where it says that Jesus was moved with compassion, the word "move" is a Greek word "splagchnizomai". This word is not used any place else in the Bible except where it speaks of being "moved with compassion". It means to have pity, to feel sympathy, to have the bowels yearn.

  The motivating power of Jesus' life was the great love and compassion He had for the people, and for their needs. Oh, God, give us ministries like that today! And He will! Hallelujah! For this is the mark of that Melchisedec ministry, that "more excellent ministry" that comes forth after the pattern. There are many great and successful ministries that have been motivated by the desire to be successful, by the need for more money, or a hunger for power and fame. But the only true motivation recognized by God as a reason for going into the ministry, is that overwhelming, gripping love and compassion for His Body. That is not to say that a true ministry cannot be successful and prosperous. It should be. But that should not be the motive for ministry.

  "Things that Please the Father"

  Another great motivating force in the life of Jesus was His desire to please the Father. He lived to do the perfect will of God. "And He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him". (John 8:29). So shall it be with that more excellent ministry that comes forth in His likeness. They do not need laws, rules, and regulations. They do not need to be warned of the consequences of disobedience and rebellion. For it is not in them to rebel. It is their nature to please God, it is the driving force in their lives. The law of love, love for God and others, causes them to live and conduct themselves in such a manner that the law cannot touch them. The law of love is written in their hearts, into their minds. It is not a strain for them to be holy, not a struggle to do that which is right. It is their nature, it is the way they think and feel.

  With this kind of motivation, this "more excellent" ministry has no lack of power and authority in the heavenly realm. Disease, death, demons, and even the forces of nature all are subject to them. Look at Jesus. No disease or affliction could remain is His presence. By His word of command, death released the victims. Devils trembled and obeyed. The wind and the waves, the fig tree, the fish, and all nature were merely His servants. Such is the pattern set for us, and such is the ministry unveiled here in Hebrews 5.

  The key word in Hebrews is "better". A better realm, a better nature, a better dominion, a better priesthood, a better ministry. Yes, the new covenant which Jesus brought is far better than the old. And as we go into chapter 9, we find an unveiling of the truths concerning that high calling in God... the Holy of Holies.

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