THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST

Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

November 20, 2018

In the Book of Hebrews Jesus Christ is said to be our High Priest past, present, and future tense many times. Also the New Covenant is said to be in force today and has been since the cross and will be forever. Notice the tenses of the High Priest and the New Covenant in the following verses in Hebrews.

Hebrews 4:14-15: Seeing then that we have a great high priest, (present tense) that is passed into the heavens, (past and present tense) Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 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.

Hebrews 5:5-6: So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; (past tense)  but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever (present and future tense) after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 6:20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever (past present and future tense) after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 7:22-24: By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. (past tense) And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (present and future tense)

Hebrews 7:25-26: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, (present tense) seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (present and future tense) For such an high priest became us, (past and present tense) who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than 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.

Hebrews 8:1-2: Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, (present tense) who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (present tense) A minister of the sanctuary, (present tense) and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 8:6: But now (present tense) hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, (past and present tense) by how much also he is (present tense) the mediator of a better covenant, (present tense) which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 9:15:  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, (present tense) that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 9:24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now (present tense) to appear in the presence of God for us:

Hebrews 10:9-10: Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (past tense at the cross) By the which will (New Covenant) we are sanctified (present tense) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:11-13: And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. (past and present tense)

Hebrews 10:19-21: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (present tense) By a new and living way, (present tense) which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  And having an high priest over the house of God; (present and future tense)

Hebrews 13:20: Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. (new covenant is everlasting)

Simply put, these verses show us plainly that the New Covenant took force when Jesus died and it is an everlasting covenant and that Jesus Christ is NOW and FOREVER our High Priest.

As the High Priest of the New Covenant he now and will forever make intercession for us at the right hand of God. And as our High Priest he offered the one and only sacrifice that God will accept as atonement for our sins.

If you insist that Christ is not your High Priest or that you do not partake of the blessings of the New Covenant, then you have two major problems.

1. You do not have a mediator to intercede for you at the right hand of God.

2. You do not have a sacrifice for your sins.

The High Priest served both purposes and without a High Priest you have neither. Now are you sure you want to say that Christ is not your High Priest and that you do not partake of the blessings of the New Covenant? Its spiritual suicide to reject them.