Jesus is Praying For You
Hebrews 7:1-28
1. The picture of Jesus as priest
Hebrews 7:1-2, (NIV)
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, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace."
Genesis 14:11-20, (NIV)
The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 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 blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
- He was a king and a priest
Hebrews 7:1, (NIV)
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.
- His priesthood was based on righteousness and peace
Hebrews 7:2, (NIV)
First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace."
- His priesthood was eternal not hereditary
Hebrews 7:3, (NIV)
Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
- His priesthood was greater than Abraham and Levi
Hebrews 7:6-10, (NIV)
This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
2. The prophecy of Jesus as priest
Psalm 110:4, (NIV)
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
Hebrews 7:15-17, (NIV)
And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
3. The preeminence of Jesus as priest
Hebrews 7:23-25, (NIV)
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.
- Jesus is able to save completely
Hebrews 7:25a,
Therefore he is able to save completely
- Jesus always lives to intercede for us
Hebrews 7:25c,
he always lives to intercede for them.
- Jesus saves and intercedes forever, for those who come to God through Him
Hebrews 7:25b,
those who come to God through him,
1st Jesus is able to save completely
Hebrews 7:25a,
Therefore he is able to save completely
Justification is the act of God whereby He forgives the unsaved person’s sin and assigns to them the righteousness of Christ when through faith they believe.
Sanctification is the work of God in the life of the believer that produces a practical and progressive holiness; where our mind is renewed and our actions increasingly reflect Jesus Christ.
Glorification is God’s final removal of sin from the believer and provision of an eternal resurrected body; designed to enjoy eternal exposure to the glory of God and to fulfill God’s eternal plan for them.
Philippians 1:6, (NIV)
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
2nd Jesus always lives to intercede for us
Hebrews 7:25c,
he always lives to intercede for them.
- Self accusations
1 John 2:1, (NLT)
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
1 John 3:19-22,
This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
1 John 3:20b
God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything!
- Satan's accusations
Revelation 12:9-10, (NIV)
The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
Job 1:6-9,
One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. "Where have you come from?" the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on." Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil." Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God.
Hebrews 7:26,
[Jesus] is holy, blameless and pure, set apart from sinners.
Romans 8:33a, (ESV)
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
Romans 8:33, (ESV)
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Romans 8:34a, (ESV)
Who is to condemn?
Romans 8:34, (ESV)
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Luke 22:31-32, (NIV)
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
1st Jesus is able to save completely
Hebrews 7:25a,
Therefore he is able to save completely
2nd Jesus always lives to intercede for us
Hebrews 7:25c,
he always lives to intercede for them.
3rd Jesus saves and intercedes forever, for those who come to
Hebrews 7:25b,
those who come to God through him,
