Mark Rusinko March 2017
This study concerns itself with the pre-existence of the high priest of the almighty
Melchizedek, who was the logos and became the Son of Man. It seeks to show the purpose of the heavenly office of high priest as the one who purges our conscience in the sanctification of the brethren and the part that we play in the sanctification process.
To begin our discussion, a story is introduced in the book of genesis that concerns itself with the war that Abraham fought with the King of Sodom. It’s over the captivity of his nephew Lot.
Genesis 14:8-16 (NKJV) 8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. 14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
So, Abraham was victorious over the king of Sodom and recovered his nephew Lot and all his goods.
Genesis 14:17-20 (NKJV) 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.
Here we see evidence in verse 18 of a mysterious figure called “Melchizedek” meaning King of Righteousness. He was also called a priest of the “Almighty El”. The supreme being which he served. This being the case, he drew such respect from Abraham that he collected “a tithe of the tithe” of his goods [2 quarts] and gave it as a symbolic gesture to Melchizedek as high priest. Interestingly enough, Abraham also acknowledged the presence of a greater or supreme being called, the most high God or El, as it says in the Hebrew.
This author believes that Melchizedek is the Messiah of the new testament. The description of him in that that he has no beginning nor no end of life and beingmade into the Son of Man fits into the description of the Messiah accurately.
Hebrews 7:3 (NKJV) 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
Some claim that the phrase “no end of life” disqualifies Yahshua because he died. And therefore had “end of life”. However, the phrase says; end of life not end of days. Yahshua`s life never ended. He did experience a loss of consciousness for three days and nights but was resurrected back to eternal life after that period. Secondly, Christ said that he “commended his spirit” to the Father for save keeping just before he died. So, his essence, if you will, remained alive. It did not die or go out of existence at any time. The Father reunited his spirit with his self-existent power at the resurrection. His glory returned to him and he therefore continued as the High priest of the most high god; the Father. This would fulfill the ‘no end of life” contention.
Hebrews goes on to say that Christ was made a priest after the order of Melchizedek. And that it would last forever.
Hebrews 7:21 (NKJV) 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
“The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’”),
When was this proclamation officially made? David records that the one sitting on his right hand would be that priest. This would be the logos or Christ. The “my Lord” in the verse.
Psalm 110:1 (NKJV) 1 The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
Psalms 110:4 (NKJV) 4 The LORD has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest foreverAccording to the order of Melchizedek.”
So, this concept of the high priest was known to David through the book of Genesis which he had access to. We see that the psalm identifies David`s lord [Yahshua or the logos] as being the priest in the manner of Melchizedek. This was many years before Yahshua appeared on the earth as a human. [Approximately one thousand years].
One can say from Ephesians 1:4 that the concept of high priest was established before the foundation of the world. If we were chosen in Yahshua before the foundation of the world we also of necessity would have need of a high priest that also existed before the foundation of the world
Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV) 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
Why was there a need to have a high priest to even exist in the Universe?
A high Priest is one who is a mediator or go-between between two parties for the purpose of reconciling differences between those two parties. In this case, the high priest acts as a mediator of the ‘elyon el” the almighty to reconcile differences with mankind. And is the one sent to resolve the disputes between the Father and mankind. This is the overriding principle of the Father; He delegates to the Son all things that concern itself with the creation of the Universe, the Angelic realm and Mankind. The name logos represents that creative force which brought everything into existence. Among his many titles Melchizedek is the title that is given to his position as a King and priest. He is sent as an emissary to work out the will of the Father to mankind. One can call him an “ambassador” in today`s language. He was the go between or mediator from the beginning.
Hebrews 10:21 (NKJV) 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,
A high priest over the house of God – The house or family of God is the Christian Church, or all true believers in the Lord Jesus. Over this Church, house, or family, Christ is the High Priest – in their behalf he offers his own blood, and their prayers and praises; and as the high priest had the ordering of all things that appertained to the house and worship of God, so has Christ in the government of his Church. This government he never gave into other hands. As none can govern and preserve the world but God, so none can govern and save the Church but the Lord Jesus: He is over the house; He is its President; he instructs, protects, guides, feeds, defends, and saves the flock. Those who have such a President may well have confidence; for with him is the fountain of life, and he has all power in the heavens and in the earth.
With this in mind. we see that the Father has chosen to communicate with mankind through his Son. Christ said in the gospels that no man can come to me except the Father draw him. So, this statement shows us that it is the Father who calls the particular individual into his Kingdom. It then is the Son as high priest to bring that individual into a union with the Father and through the process of sanctification make the called-out one into the righteousness of the Father.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The main principle in this process of sanctification is that the blood of Yahshua covers our transgressions and that we are legally sanctified or set apart for the purpose of becoming the Sons and Daughters of the most high.
As a result of the sacrifice of the Messiah we are imputed with the Righteousness of the Father even though we still sin in the flesh. The father accepts us as his children through this imputation through the Son and our sins are not counted against us. However, having the imputation does not grant us the opportunity to practice sin, we must overcome the carnal nature within us. The imputation is conditional, however, and is dependent on the individual remaining faithful. The individual can come out of this imputation if there is a total despising of the sacrifice of the Messiah and a rejection of the Father and Son.
Romans 4:6-8 (NKJV) 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” There is also a reference from Paul on the imputation of righteousness of the gentiles or the “uncircumcision”
Romans 4:11 (NKJV) 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,
To continue, even though, we as the called-out ones have the imputation applied to us, sin still exists in us by the law of sin and death Romans 7:25 This law of sin and death was passed down or inherited from Adam. David says we are conceived in sin. [Psalm 51:5] Paul said that in his body he could not get rid of the proclivity to sin but in his mind he could. He called the power to cleanse the mind the law of spirit of life in Christ. There he found sanctuary and freedom from the law of sin and death in his members.
Romans 7:25 (NKJV) 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8:2 (NKJV) 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
So, we see that Paul is saying that we can be free from sin in our minds while the law of sin and death remains in our bodies. We must fight against that law of sin and death in our members and subdue it through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:12-13 (NKJV) 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Interestingly, in Hebrews it says that the blood of Christ purges our conscience from dead works or works of the flesh listed in Galatians. The focus of this purging or sanctification is the mind. more specially the spirit within the mind —- The spirit in man. The holy spirit is united with the spirit in man at baptism and the purging process begins.
Hebrews 9:14 (NKJV) 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The phrase “purge your conscience” is very significant in that it indicates a thorough exhuming of dead works or works of the flesh from our minds and replacing them with the thoughts of the Father and the Son. This then is one of the primary duties Christ as High Priest performs as he works with the holy spirit to cleanse our spirit. Interestingly, Christ offered up himself without “spot “to God. In the same way Christ will offer the church up to himself as without spot or wrinkle.
Ephesians 5:27 (NKJV) 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
The word “spot” in the Greek is “stain” like unto a garment. “wrinkle” refers to the wrinkle on a man`s face that indicate old age or deformity. And “blemish’ refers to a blemish on an animal for sacrifice which would be unfit as an offering.
The holy spirit is used as a purifying agent
Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV) 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
We see in these verses the method that Christ as Melchizedek uses to help in the process of Sanctification. First, Paul says that the spirit itself clarifies our infirmities. Infirmities is translated “feebleness of mind and body” and “moral frailty. In verse 27 the “he” is Christ and he searches the motives of the heart by the Holy Spirit to intercede for the individual and support that particular need according to the direction of the Father.
He makes intercession for the saints – The word εντυγχανω signifies to apply one’s self to a person in behalf of another; to intercede or negotiate for. Our Lord makes intercession for us, by negotiating and managing, as our friend and agent, all the affairs pertaining to our salvation. And the Spirit of God makes intercession for the saints, not by supplication to God on their behalf, but by directing and qualifying their supplications in a proper manner, by his agency and influence upon their hearts; which, according to the Gospel scheme, is the peculiar work and office of the Holy Spirit. See Taylor.
Since Christ has experienced temptations and the frailties associated with the human condition he is able to “succor” or commiserate with the called-out one. and provide help in time of need.
Sanctification by the individual; part two
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV) 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Thessalonians 4:4 (NKJV) 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
Many feel that the process of Sanctification has only to do with the efforts of the Father and the Son cleansing us but we see in these two verses that there is a responsibility of the individual to participate in the cleansing process of holiness unto the spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:1 is worth an exegesis because the Greek meanings brings out more depth as to the implications of the concept of “cleansing ourselves.”
The phrase” cleanse ourselves” means to” purge “or purify. The force of the word means a thorough not superficial action on the part of the believer to put out sinful behavior from our person. David in the psalms uses Hyssop as an analogy to describe the intensity of the desired action.
Psalms 51:7 (NKJV) 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
The purpose in this verse is to relate the word “purging” to the affect drinking Hyssop tea has on the body. It is an internal cleanser for the intestines. It acts as a diuretic and gets rid of unwanted waste from the body.
Hyssop tea;
Hyssop tea has been utilized all through history both like a medicine as well as an internal cleanser. In Biblical times, hyssop was used to create a holy tea. It was believed to have religious qualities that may thoroughly clean holy sanctuaries. Many people drank this particular tea believing it might cleanse their souls from wrongdoing.
Filthiness of the flesh and mind;
Filthiness means “defilement” or “immorality” of the fleshly nature of the body. and mind is translated “nuemos” meaning the spirit of the mind. Referring to the spirit in man which gives him reason or rational. So, we see an instruction from Paul to work towards holiness by more than just a repentance of sin but also a conscious effort to remove and not practice sin from our bodies and minds.
Paul himself was emphatic about working to bring his desires into subjection.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV) 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Paul was also conscious of the fact that he had the Law of sin and death in his body. And that this proclivity towards sin was inherit in his members. He wanted to be able to remove it but had to live with a desire opposite what was in his mind; the law of the spirit of life in Christ. This constant conflict produced an anguish in his soul which he found frustrating but he found comfort in the knowledge of a spiritual body in the resurrection.
Romans 7:22-25 (NKJV) 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Some may conclude that Paul gave up trying to subdue this tendency toward sin in the body since he displays frustration at not being able to remove the inclination to sin. But Paul as we have seen admonishes us to continue to work at cleansing ourselves from sin the best we can without giving up. He pronounces the maxim to the Galatians about this fight in the spirit;
Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
The key word in this verse is “fulfill”. Paul, I believe, is saying that we have this internal struggle with sin in our members as long as we are in the flesh, but we should not submit to those desires but fight them with the power of the Holy Spirit. so as not to fulfill those carnal desires.
Continuing in verse 17
Galatians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
In this verse it seems to be saying that because of these opposing forces in the body we “cannot” do any good works because the lust of the flesh or spirit of the flesh prevents us doing so. This statement would be in direct opposition to the admonitions of the rest of scriptures on living a Godly life.
Taking this verse in context to the rest of the book we see the explanation of this phrase. In verse 15 we see that the Galatians were having some infighting taking place in the church. A carnal attitude was prevalent in the thinking of the brethren.
Galatians 5:15 (NKJV) 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible
But if ye bite – The word used here ( δάκνω daknō), means, properly, to bite, to sting; and here seems to be used in the sense of contending and striving – a metaphor not improbably taken from dogs and wild beasts.
And devour one another – As wild beasts do. The sense is, “if you contend with each other;” and the reference is, probably, to the strife’s which would arise between the two parties in the churches – the Jewish and the Gentile converts.
Take heed that ye be not consumed … – As wild beasts contend sometimes until both are slain. Thus, the idea is, in their contentions they would destroy the spirituality and happiness of each other; their characters would be ruined; and the church be overthrown. The readiest way to destroy the spirituality of a church, and to annihilate the influence of religion, is to excite a spirit of contention.
Going back to verse 16 to 17 we can reinterpret the meaning of the verses
Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Albert Barnes continues
Walk in the Spirit – Get back that Spirit of God which you have grieved and lost; take up that spiritual religion which you have abandoned.
Then in verse 17 we see that the reason they cannot do the things that they should is because they were letting the flesh rule or dominate them. They were not walking in the spirit so the carnal mind was creating conflict among them.
Galatians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Adam Clarke Commentary Galatian 5:17
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit – God still continues to strive with you, notwithstanding your apostasy, showing you whence you have fallen, and exciting you to return to him; but your own obstinacy renders all ineffectual; and through the influence of these different principles, you are kept in a state of self-opposition and self-distraction, so that you cannot do the things that ye would. You are convinced of what is right, and ye wish to do it; but, having abandoned the Gospel and the grace of Christ, the law and its ordinances which ye have chosen in their place afford you no power to conquer your evil propensities. It was on this ground that the apostle exhorted them, Galatians 5:16, to walk in the Spirit, that they might not fulfill the lust of the flesh; as without the grace of God they could do nothing. Who can suppose that he speaks this of adult Christians?
So, we see that it was within the power of the Galatians to quell the dispute that was between the Jews and the Gentiles and deal with it in a peaceful manner but they did not submit to the influence of the Holy Spirit. And as a result, they let the carnal tendencies flourish and prevent them from resolving their differences.
We also are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This renewing takes place through the power of the holy spirit but also from the believer reading and internalizing the scriptures on a regular basis. This is, once again, our responsibility to study, rightly dividing, the word of truth. Progressing into the “deep” things of the knowledge of the Father and the Son as time goes on.
Ephesians 5:26 (NKJV) 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Conformed means to be “molded” into the shape or desires of this world and transformed comes from the word “metamorphosis” which indicates a process or stages of spiritual understanding and growth. And by our studies we prove or discover the will of the Father in our lives. Displaying his characteristics in our lives to others as we live in the world.
Christ himself said at the Passover that he sanctified the disciples through the word of the Father which is truth.
John 17:19 (NKJV) 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
John 15:3 (NKJV) 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
So, we have come to see in this study that there are two aspects of the sanctification process that we are involved with; The sanctification that come from the Father through Christ as Melchizedec and the sanctification that we are responsible for as possessing our vessels here on earth. We are establishing our “calling” as those “sanctified” or called-out ones by our participation in this process.
Sanctification of the spirit; part three
Made perfect through suffering
Hebrews 5:8-9 Tells us that Christ learned obedience through the things he suffered the testing he went through while here on earth went far beyond what a normal human would have experienced. He experienced being tested in all points as we are but also was tested as being Elohim himself. From the temptation in the wilderness by Satan to the anguish in the Garden of gethsemane and then to the humiliation of the cross or stake he never sinned. He was faithful to the Father and therefore, became our high priest after the order of Melchizedec.
Hebrews 5:8-10 (NKJV) 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”
In our journey to be Sons and daughters of the Father we also must obey and submit to the discipline or correction that comes from the Father in the form of suffering or trials. Yahshua our High priest did not have to be disciplined or corrected because he always did what was pleasing in the eyes of the Father, but he had to go through all the sufferings we as humans go through to be a compassionate high priest. This makes him uniquely qualified to represent us to the Father since he too was a human being while being Elohim.
Hebrews 2:9-10 (NKJV) 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Bringing Many Sons to Glory
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
The amplified has a better translation in verse 10. It identifies “him” as the Father.
Hebrews 2:10 Amplified Bible (AMP) 10For it was fitting for God [that is, an act worthy of His divine nature] that He, for whose sake are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the [a]author and founder of their salvation perfect through suffering [bringing to maturity the human experience necessary for Him to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest].
Since we are the Children of the Father there is correction or a tutelage that comes from the Father to correct our behavior. This is a far cry from those who accept Universal Salvation and say that one does not have to do anything with regard to salvation after accepting Yahshua as our savior. The Father just accepts you the way you are without asking you to change your behavior. Contrary to the messages of today concerning grace, the scriptures show that if you do not accept correction and are resistant to it you are not considered a Son or daughter of the Eternal but are regarded as “bastards”
Hebrews 12:5-8 (NKJV) 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
In verse 6 the word “chastens” is translated “tutorage” or to train a child by mild discipline. The word “scourged” is much stronger and means “to flog” figuratively, this would mean a much sharper disciplinary action on the part of the Father as opposed to chastening. This shows the Father`s involvement in the raising up of Sons and Daughters into the family of the Father or Elohim through the office of the High Priest.
There is a suffering that comes upon us that is not related to our own personal shortcomings which need attention by the Father and Son. This suffering is related to being a witness for the Gospel and suffering persecution for it.
1 Peter 4:12-14 (NKJV) 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
So, it is that since we are glorified with him, we also share in the sufferings that he experienced while here on earth. He said to his disciples, at the Passover; In the world you will experience tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world. James says to “count it all joy” when you fall into various testing’s. The world is generally not pleased at the preaching of the true gospel message. Finding yourself in conflict with the values of the world is a very common occurrence.