Christ's High Priestly Ministry - Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-10

By David Woods

It was only a week or two before the time of this writing that the Michael Jackson case was decided. The exoneration of all charges by the jury must have felt like a slap in the face to the district attorney who even now says he is convinced of the defendant's guilt. This case is just another in a long string of high-profile cases in which I am sure some would feel, depending on one's opinion about the defendant in those cases, that the lawyers either botched the case or did a superb job.

Discussion: How would you feel if you were in court and your lawyer was ineffective and inept?

The Bible teaches us that one day all nations will be brought before God's throne. The righteous and unrighteous will be separated - the former will be rewarded and the latter will be punished eternally (Matthew 25:31-46). If there was ever a time one needed a good lawyer, it will be that day. The record of our lives will be laid open for everyone to see. Furthermore, the Bible seems to indicate that Satan will act as a prosecuting attorney, trying to convince God that we should be charged guilty (not that God really needs help in determining our guilt, but Satan's driving motivation seems to be to populate Hell with as many people as He can).

Discussion: What qualities would you want in a defense lawyer for Judgment Day?

Thankfully, Jesus will act as our defense attorney if we have appropriated His blood to our lives in this life. We can plead His blood and hear those welcome words, "Not Guilty!"

Judgment Day, however, is not the only time that THE Judge's courtroom is in session to hear our case. At least, it need not be the only time. 1 John 2:1 promises us that "… if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." According to Barnes, the word advocate is "is frequently used in the Greek writers to denote an advocate in court."

In the Old Testament this idea of having an advocate before God was the function and role of the priest, especially the high priest. As important and exalted as that role was, unfortunately, human priests proved often to be very human, as evidenced in the ministry of Eli (1 Samuel 2:27-29). Indeed, the whole Old Testament system was inferior to what God desired to provide for mankind. The Law could only be a teacher; God wanted to provide a Savior. Therefore, God sent His only begotten Son into our world.

Big Idea: Jesus is supremely qualified to be our representative before God.

1. He is our assurance of victory over sin, 4:14-16.

Discussion: How does Jesus' victory over sin give us assurance that we can be victorious over sin?

• We are enabled to be victorious through the new birth and infilling of the Holy Spirit.
• We are assured of "plenteous grace" if we do fall and sin.

Do we really believe this? Do we truly believe that we can be victorious over sin? Maybe this is just a reflection of my ministry setting; I minister to several who attended or have attended Alcoholics Anonymous and similar 12-step programs. AA teaches people to call themselves "recovering alcoholics" or "recovering addicts." In other words, one can never shed his/her past identity and become a new person. At the same time, while AA teaches respect in "God", however you may define Him, AA is not synonymous with the Church or the Gospel. So maybe we should expect AA to teach that you may be able to become a new person and shed a past identity.

Yet in the Church also is a disturbing reluctance to claim full deliverance and victory over sin. Instead, Christians will say, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace." But this problem goes beyond the doctrine adhered to by a large percentage of the Church.

I'm afraid that even holiness churches have begun accepting the idea that some habits or addictions can never be broken.

I think accountability groups can be helpful. But I have found that accountability groups can easily become more about support and less about accountability. We do not need support in living in spiritual defeat; we need accountability to make a break with the past!

Colossians 3:5-8a says, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away." (ESV)

Discussion: Why do you think many Christians seem to feel like they cannot be delivered from sinful habits and/or addictions (such as lust/pornography, alcohol addiction, drug addiction, cursing, dishonesty, angry outbursts, selfishness, etc.)?

Discussion: Is it reasonable for us to believe and expect that the Christian can be delivered from all sin? Why or why not?

Discussion: Does our church expect people to be fully delivered from sin? Are the people to whom our church ministers experiencing full deliverance from sin?

2. He is our appointed advocate, 5:1-6.

Discussion: What is a common response to the person who arbitrarily promotes himself above the rest of the group? Why do we respond that way?

Discussion: How does the fact that "Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest" give Him credibility as our High Priest?

3. He is the author of our salvation, 5:7-10.

The word "author" is not referring to a writer. Other translations render the word as "source." Christ is our source of salvation.

Discussion: What are some of the metaphors for Jesus?

• The Lamb of God, John 1:29.
• Living Water, John 4:10, 13.
• The Bread of Life, John 6:35.
• The Light of the Word, John 8:12.
• The Door of the Sheep, John 10:7.
• The Good Shepherd, John 10:11.
• The Resurrection and the Life, John 11:25.
• The Way, Truth, and Life, John 14:6.
• The True Vine, John 15:1.

Discussion: How does Jesus' provision of salvation make Him our supremely qualified representative before God?

Read last two paragraphs of "Doctrinal Discussion" on page 28 and continuing on page 29.

Discussion: What are some ways people have tried to set up representatives before God in place of Christ?

Discussion: How must Christ, the only one who is truly qualified to represent mankind, feel about people who either 1) set themselves up as representatives before God, 2) look to other people or objects as their representative before God?

Discussion: Why would someone look to another person or object as their representative before God - instead of looking to Jesus?