Lesson 8: Christ, Our Priest

Memory Text Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. Hebrews 8:1-2 (NASB)

Question 1: What do these verses teach us about the heavenly sanctuary? 1. It is the true tabernacle or true sanctuary that the Lord established without the aid of men. 2. Jesus serves as high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. 3. He sits at the right hand of the throne of God the Father almighty. Q2: What is the significance of being at the right hand of God the Father? 1. The right hand is the position of power and authority. 2. At the right hand of God is the highest place of honor in the universe. Q3: How does this text fit together with the traditional Adventist view that Christ did not enter into the Most Holy Place until 1844? 1. When the author of Hebrews wrote this, he says that Jesus Has taken His seat 2. Thats past tense. So there seems to be no question that Jesus, when He ascended, went into the Most Holy place and sat down at the Fathers right hand next to His throne . 3. We will look at other similar verses shortly. 4. My conclusion is that we need to make some adjustments to the traditional view of a twoapartment two-roomed sanctuary in heaven. Jesus Location in Heaven Mark 16:19 Luke 22:69 Rom 8:34 Eph 1:20 Col 3:1 Heb 8:1; 10:12; 12:2 1 Peter 3:22 Rev 3:21

Q1:

Where do the NT writers place Jesus just after His ascension? 1. All of these texts place Jesus at the right hand of the throne of God in the heavenly sanctuary. 2. In fact, Jesus Himself, in Rev 3:21 says that He sat down in His Fathers throne. 3. Since Gods dwelling place in the earthly sanctuary was the Most Holy place, this indicates that Jesus entered the Most Holy place in the heavenly sanctuary at His ascension, not in 1844. 4. In fact, this is one of the key points that Desmond Ford made against the traditional teaching of the Investigative Judgment. 5. If Jesus sat down in Gods throne when He ascended, how can we teach that He did not enter into the Most Holy place until 1844? 6. The problem is that we have made the heavenly sanctuary too much like the earthly sanctuary. 7. I believe that author and Signs editor Marvin Moore has presented an alternative view of the heavenly sanctuary that is quite compelling (The Case for the Investigative Judgment, Ch 29)

8. He argues that there is no veil in the heavenly sanctuary. 9. Therefore, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place are combined into a single room. 10. This allows Jesus to minister for us in the Holy Place while still having full access to the Most Holy Place, since they are really just one room.

High Priest Q1: In the earthly sanctuary, what did the priests do when they ministered in the Holy Place? (Lev 4:1620) 1. They made atonement for the sins of the people and they were forgiven. 2. The ministration of blood in the Holy Place brought forgiveness of sins. 3. Both the sacrifice and the ministration of blood was necessary to bring atonement and forgiveness.

Q2: What is Jesus doing when He ministers for us in the heavenly sanctuary? 1. Jesus sacrifice on the cross made provision for forgiveness of sins and atonement for every human being. 1 John 2:2 (NIV) He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 2. But obviously, the whole world is not going to be saved. 3. Only those who receive Him by faith as Savior and Lord by trusting in His shed blood will be forgiven. 4. Only those who confess and repent and ask for forgiveness will receive it. 5. So Christs work in the heavenly sanctuary is a work of justification for sinners who come to Him in faith. 6. By substitutionary atonement, Jesus intercedes for us with the Father, and pleads His blood for our forgiveness. 7. At Jesus request, the Father lays our sins on Jesus and His righteousness on us. (2 Cor 5:21) 8. There in the heavenly sanctuary we are declared to be justified, not guilty, but instead, righteous. 9. Our sins are transferred to the heavenly sanctuary and we are forgiven. 10. In doing this, He makes atonement for us, removing our sins and bringing us back together with our Father in heaven.
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Priestly Functions Q1: What are some of the words that scripture uses to describe Christs priestly role? (1 John 2:1; Heb 7:25; 1 Tim 2:5) 1. Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator.

Q2: Why do we need an Advocate, a Mediator, an Intercessor? Is the Father angry and intent on condemning us and Jesus has to change His mind? 1. No! The Father loves us as much as Jesus does. 2. There is great joy in heaven over one sinner that repents. 3. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 4. For God so loved the world

5. He sent His only Son to save us, Hes anxious for us to receive Hi m and be saved. 6. Remember the parable of the prodigal son 7. So Jesus does not need to persuade the Father to be reconciled to us; He simply needs to reconcile us to God. 8. In Christs intercession, He intercedes with the justice of God. 9. The justice of God says the wages of sin is death and that someone must die for the sins Jesus presents. 10. Jesus intercedes by pleading His own blood for the sinners sins, and the Father is as happy as Jesus to lay those sins on Christ and forgive them. 11. When God revealed His character to Moses, He told Moses Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished. 12. Sin must be punished. The punishment either falls on Christ or on us. The Father would rather that it falls on Christ. 13. So Christs advocacy, mediation, intercession is not to change Gods attitude toward us, but to formally address the justice of God and make certain the penalty for sin is paid before it is forgiven.

Q3: What does Jesus intercession accomplish for us? (Heb 7:25) 1. His intercession enables Him to safe to the uttermost all those who come to God by Him. 2. Note that it is not just His death upon the cross that saves us: He must intercede for our forgiveness in the heavenly sanctuary. 3. He now lives forever to do that.

One Mediator Q1: How many mediators are there between us and the Father? (1 Tim 2:5) 1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV)
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For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

Q2: When Roman Catholics pray the rosary, who are they asking to intercede for them? 1. This is a prayer to Mary. They end it with pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 2. So many Roman Catholics turn to Mary and the saints to find additional mediators. 3. They actually refer to Mary as Mediatrix, which is a female mediator. 4. Note this entry from Wikipedia: The title "Mediatrix" is used in Roman Catholic Mariology to refer to the intercessory role of the Virgin Mary as a mediator in the salvific redemption by her son Jesus Christ, and that he bestows graces through her. 6. And from an official RC source: "Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. ... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix" ( Lumen gentium, 62). 7. The RC view seems to be that we need more than just Jesus to plead for mercy from the Father. 8. No! The Father does not need to be persuaded to be merciful! 9. Jesus is the only mediator because it is only His blood that can bring forgiveness.

One Sacrifice Q1: Read Heb 7:27 How does the writer of Hebrews contrast the old covenant sacrifices with the new covenant sacrifice? 1. day after day vs. once for all. 2. sacrifice for himself and others vs. sacrifice of himself for others

Q2: How does the Roman Catholic mass distort the sanctuary truth that Christ died once for all? 1. The mass takes the once for all sacrifice of Christ and makes it a day after day sacrifice. 2. They believe in transubstantiation, the teaching that the bread and wine actually become the blood and body of Christ. 3. They believe there is power in the mass to forgive their sins.

Q3: What is the purpose of the mass in Roman Catholic theology? [See next slide] Council of Trent The sacred and holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not a Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving only, or a mere commemoration of the Sacrifice performed on the cross, but also truly a propitiatory Sacrifice, by which God is appeased and rendered propitious to us. Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests, 258-259 Q1: Why is going to mass essential for a good Catholic? 1. They believe the Mass appeases God and makes Him merciful to them. 2. Propitiatory Sacrifice means atoning sacrifice. They believe the Mass removes their sins. 3. They believe that the mass is the means by which the sacrifice of Christ becomes effective for them. 4. The priest becomes like Christ; the bread and wine become His body and blood.

Mercy and Grace Q1: What can we obtain through the ministry of our High Priest in heaven? (Heb 4:15-16) 1. The two blessings mentions here in verse 16 are mercy and grace to help in time of need. 2. Justice is getting what we deserve. 3. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. 4. Grace is getting what we dont deserve. 5. Our High Priest takes the justice and gives us the mercy and grace. 6. He takes our sins and takes the punishment for them (thats mercy) 7. In their place He gives us forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life (thats grace). 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NASB) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
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Q2: With what attitude should we approach the throne of grace to obtain these blessings? We can come with confidence (NASB) or boldly (KJV) The throne of grace is Gods throne in heaven. We can only approach that throne in prayer. This is a call to pray with confidence knowing that Jesus is there to intercede for us.

Q3: How do you feel knowing that Jesus is there for you 24/7? Heb 9:24 says that Jesus is there for us: Hebrews 9:24 (NKJV) For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; Jesus is there for us. I feel so unworthy of such love as He has for me. He is there for me 24/7. How often do I think of Him?
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Summary When Jesus ascended, He sat down at the right hand of the Fathers throne, a position of honor and power. From John the Revelators description of the temple in heaven, and from other considerations, it seems likely that there is no veil separating the sanctuary in heaven into a Holy and Most Holy place. Jesus therefore, has full access to the Father as He ministers for us there. As our High Priest, Jesus is our Advocate, our Mediator, our intercessor. He pleads His blood for the sins of those who come unto God by faith in Him. The Father is anxious to forgive and save. His justice is satisfied by laying our sins on Jesus and imputing His righteousness to us. Christs death on Calvary made provision for the forgiveness of all. Christs ministry in the heavenly sanctuary applies that provision to individuals who come by faith to forgive and save them. Knowing that Jesus is now in the presence of God for us, will you accept His invitation to come boldly in prayer to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need?