11/16/2018
Do you follow after men, or Jesus Christ? Do you put your faith in the hands of those who appear pious and tell you about what Jesus said, or in Jesus who said these things Himself, lived this way, and has given us these commandments? Do you place your relationship in the hands of men who die, and depend, as we do, on Jesus to lift them again from the dead, or in Christ himself who laid His own life down and picked it back up again? He who lives forever at the right hand of God.
“And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”
Hebrews 7:20-22, 28 ESV
When we walk with Jesus, we have but one high priest. All of the rest are good men, who, if called, are called for the purpose of instruction and preaching the gospel of Jesus, but they are not priests in the Old Covenant sense, but rather apostles, who are meant to serve us as teachers. How many has God sworn to make priests? None but Jesus.
“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.”
Hebrews 7:26 ESV
I have watched churches rise up in faith as they followed a man’s teaching of Jesus, and faith in God, but then either fall when this man’s life came to a close, or be destroyed when he is tempted and led astray; loses his way in faith, comes to believe he is more perfect than he is, or begins to pursue his own will and understanding. How often do we let men become as if they were Christ before us, when Jesus tells us specifically that He alone is our salvation?
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."”
John 14:6-7 ESV
It is tempting to lean on men, on our own understanding, and to follow what we can see rather than have faith in what we cannot. How much more convincing can he be who speaks to our face, even when the truth comes to us plainly from Jesus... the one who speaks to our heart; our spirit? How is it that we can say that Jesus is without sin, and our Lord, and then follow a sinful man and convince ourselves that he is pure?
“as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."”
Romans 3:10-12 ESV
So we read these verses and yet install men to sit on the thrones of our faith. We look to teachers, and do them no favors by convincing them that they are more than the mere men that they are... knowing full well that there is only one high priest and that He alone is without sin...
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15 ESV
How many souls do those who are installed by man as high priests take down with them into the abyss when they fall? How many who are seeking faithful lives find themselves surprised and destroyed when the truth is realized... when the man they have seated becomes flesh and jumps out at them, and devours them?
“Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—”
Philippians 3:2-3 ESV
Place your faith in Jesus Christ, because He alone can lead you before God, and He alone can serve as your High Priest. Beware of placing a man, even those called to teach you, equally on the altar, or throne, with Jesus. Listen to the Apostle Paul as he writes to the Philippians...
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
Are you ready to seek out your salvation? Are you ready to look to Jesus alone as your High Priest? Are you ready to resist illusion for the truth that is Jesus?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who leads me to redemption, and bathes me in your grace. Thank you for making Him to be sin, so that I might become righteous by the blood of His sacrifice. Help me Holy Father to look to those you have called to serve as my teachers and pastors as men just like me, and never let me lift them up as I would Jesus because this is untrue, and brings temptation into their lives. Help them resist their sinful natures, and serve you in full understanding that they are indeed sinful men who need the sacrifice of your Son, and your help and grace in their lives. Show me how to honor those you have chosen without making them to be more before me than your servants. We are all your children as we come to you in faith, and as we abide in Jesus and He in us. Help us to support one another as we travel this road of faith together, and not become a stumbling block in each other’s path. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, and the Father of Jesus... my High Priest, my savior, and He who took on sin that I might come before you pure and righteous. Praised be your name always Holy Father!
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
Rich Forbes