CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST In Hebrews 3:1 we are directed to  “consider the apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. "“ It is in his work and capacity as our High Priest that we are made to understand how we can approach God in prayer.  Here we can see the importance of the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross.  And in this study we can see the exalted position of each Christian as a priest before God.  The proper understanding of these matters can remove from the minds of men so many misconceptions in their religious thinking. In order to appreciate the full meaning of Christ as our High Priest, we need to go back into the Old Testament and there see the nature of God'’ appointed high priests.  These priests were types of Christ in his relation to Christians. The Old Testament priesthood began with the first sacrifice to be offered in the very beginning, after man’s first sin.   Under the first laws of God, every father, or patriarch, offered up sacrifices to God.  Thus, we read of Abel’s acceptable sacrifice.  And Noah and Abraham built their altars and  sacrificed to Jehovah, the true God.  Their descendants after them, even unto the time when Moses received the law from God, on Mount Sinai for the nation of   Israel. Then, God selected Aaron, the brother of Moses, as the first high priest for the nation of Israel.  His sons were appointed to serve him, as also were the descendants of the tribe of Levi in their various places.  But Aaron was the high priest, to serve over all the other priests in the worship of God. God gave the priests the work of offering the sin offerings, the trespass offerings, the wave offerings, and the atonement offerings, etc.  Each sacrifice had its own appointed place and value.  Each day the sacrifices were made for that day, both in the morning and in the evening.  And there were special sacrifices at the coming of the Sabbath, on special feast days, and for special purposes.  All of these were under the direction of the high priest, Aaron, and of the high priests who succeeded him. The high priest’s sacrifices were for his own sins and for the sins of the people.  They were made again and again, some daily, some weekly, and some every year.  The book of Exodus and the book of Leviticus describe these many offerings which God appointed.  And some are given in Numbers. The high priest’s clothing is given in Exodus 28.  We should notice that he bore the names of the tribes of Israel were engraved on the breastplate stones that he wore over his heart.  Thus, the high priest carried the responsibilities of the people of Israel at all times, as pictured both in the breastplate and the ephod, as he went in and out before God.  To this end he was anointed and consecrated at the direction of God. The high priest served as long as he lived.  Upon the death of Aaron, his son Eleazer  was anointed to serve as high priest.  But, they were not permitted to continue by reason of death, and there were many high priests throughout their generations. (Heb. 7:23)  All of them served as the descendants of Levi, and in particular, as those of Aaron, according to the Law which God gave to Moses on  Mount Sinai. But the law of Moses was taken away.  It was fulfilled in Christ. (Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:44)  When Christ died on the cross, the old Mosiac law was nailed to the cross. (Col. 2:14-16)    In its place Christ gave the law of the new covenant, contained in the gospel of Christ.  Hebrews 8:7 reminds us, “If that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.”  But finding fault with the first, God took it away and gave the new covenant in Christ. The priesthood was changed.  With the change of the law came the change of the priesthood.  And, in Hebrews 7:12 we read, “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”  Christ was made “an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” (Heb. 6:20)  He was not of the order of Aaron. (Heb. 7:11)  Christ was of the tribe of Judah, not of Levi. (Heb. 7:14)  So there was a new law and a new priesthood.  Christ was the giver of the new law and he became the new high priest of the new covenant. Christ is high priest continually.  Aaron died.  And Eleazer, his son, died.  And his sons after him died.  And so it was from generation to generation.  With the death of each one there was of necessity a change in the priesthood.  But Christ is eternal.  He continues to live.  “He abideth a priest continually.” (Heb. 7:3)  And Hebrews 7:24,24 says, in speaking of Christ, “but this man, because he continued ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.  Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”   He was the high priest of the early Christians more then 1900 years ago.  He is our high priest as Christians today.   He ever lives to make intercession for us.  He is our mediator.  We need no other.  1 Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and  one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. . .”  Thus, all of the high priests, and orders of priests and of popes among men today, who profess to stand between God and men, are contrary to the teaching of God in the Bible.  Christ is our only high priest.  He is all we need as our mediator, or intercessor, between God and men. Christ offered himself as our sacrifice.  The law of Moses had man sacrifices, and they were made again and again, and could not make men perfect.  But, Christ was perfect and sinless, and he became our sacrifice. Think how much greater and better is our high priest.  Hebrews 7:26-28, says, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher that the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first, for his own sins, and then for the people’s:  for this he did once, when he offered up himself.  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.” Christ is our high priest.  He is our sin offering, instead of the blood of bulls and goats which could not take away sin.   Our Lord was the complete and perfect offering.  We need no other.  “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” (Heb. 9:28)  We are to be sanctified through Christ, “through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb. 10;10) Christ is an understanding high priest.  He took upon himself the form of flesh, and was tempted, and crucified.   Hebrews 2:17 says, “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in all things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of  the people.  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” And in Hebrews 4:15,16 we read, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” In all of our trials and temptations we can know that Christ understands.  He is merciful and faithful.  We may approach the throne of God’s grace in boldness, as the children of God through Christ as our high priest.  And this brings us to the consideration of this next great truth in God’s plan of priesthood. ALL CHRISTIANS ARE PRIESTS.  Christ  is the high priest, at God’s right hand, to make intercession for the children of God.  And all those who have obeyed the gospel of Christ are priests before God.  Revelation 1:5,6 says, “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. . .”  Again in Revelation 5:10 we read, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests.”  And Peter, in writing to Christians said, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people . . .” (1 Peter 2:9)  In 1 Peter 2:5 it says, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." Each child of God is a priest before God.  As a baptized believer, born into God’s family, each Christian can approach God through his high priest, Jesus Christ.  Each Christian as a priest is in equal position with every other priests in the church.  God’s teaching did not place one above another.  Each one has equal access to God through Christ.  There is no need for a separate order of priests, as is no often taught in the theology of our times.  Each one can offer his own worship.  Each one can pray.  Each one can consecrate his own life to God through obedience to the gospel of Christ. This is a truth that needs considerable emphasis!  It should be remembered.  So many would have this point overlooked and thus would create a separate order of priests to  stand between the child of God and the throne of God’s grace.  Such an error is an outgrowth of the darkness of the middle ages when so many corruptions of God’s plan, blended with heathen and idolatrous practices and were adopted by many men.  The proper understanding of God’s word would free men from the tyranny of a corrupt priesthood.  It would restore the independence and the dignity of the individual Christian.  It would make us realize the accessibility of God’s throne on the part of each Christian.  Therefore, we would impress upon your minds this great truth that every Christian is a priest before God.   So may each one of us conduct himself as a part of an holy priesthood, a royal priesthood, as kings and priests before God.  Let us always remember Christ  is our great high priest. Bill Young