Grace - Jesus Is Faithful to God

" …He [Jesus] had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people…Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, … Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are…."  Hebrews 2:17; 3:1-6

Hi Everyone,

I find that the writer of Hebrews is a forerunner of the very thing that I am attempting to do:  I want people to see and believe that Jesus is our supply and only need for both life and godliness.  In Christ, we are pleasing to our Father by faith.  His life in us is the source for both everything we need and that which we should do.

Let's not kid ourselves, it must have been—at the very least—very difficult for Hebrew believers to experience a total change in their faith system.  It was hard for them to accept that the entire priesthood and law covenant system had been fulfilled in Christ.  What were they being asked to give up?  The priesthood—their daily representatives before God; and their law covenant system—the method by which they knew right and wrong and what they needed to do and not do to be pleasing to God.

The eradication (better:  fulfillment) of the levitical priesthood and mosaic law covenant ultimately meant that they could finally REST.

But I want to simply point out the message of the verses above.  For most of us, we have always heard that Jesus is faithful to us.  That is true and good, but there is something even more fantastic! See the above verses:  Jesus is faithful to our God and Father! 

Oliver Greene says that "Christ is the substance and the content of our confession."  I wonder what would happen if our prayers reflected this belief:  "Jesus, in everything that my Father has appointed you to do and be on my behalf, you have been and will always be perfectly faithful."

Just as the Hebrews had to rest from the priestly system, the law covenant, the blood of animals, and the earthly tabernacles, so must we also rest from the striving from within and without to perfect ourselves before God.  We must look at Jesus and see ourselves in Him.  If we do this, then we will see our every need fulfilled in Him.  We will no longer strive to combat sinful habits, but we will know that the life of Christ in us brings more satisfaction than anything else.

May you come to understand the importance of Jesus' eternal faithfulness on your behalf.  And just in case you still think it's humble and holy to see yourself as a sinful worm whose actions are negated by a glorious high priest, let me declare that Jesus is not just your high priest, He is also your life.  Your sinful nature was crucified with Christ, and now Christ has also given you His life and a new nature.  You are in union with Christ (Romans 6:5 - symphytos:  born together with, of joint origin; connate, congenital, innate, implanted by birth or nature; grown together, united with; kindred—symphytos is related to the phrase "Siamese twin").  What sinful habit can withstand that?  None.  Change your mind about what you've believed to the contrary (or as Jesus would say, "Repent!").  Now that's good stuff.

Grace=Peace,

Jeremy