MELCHISEDEC

Hebrews 7:1-11

The name Melchisedec means “King of Righteousness,” and he was the king of Jerusalem which translates as “Peace.”  We know nothing about his parentage, but he lived in the time of Abraham who paid a tithe to him from the spoils after he rescued his nephew.  He is called “high priest” before the priesthood was reserved for the tribe of Levi. He was a type of Christ who was also not a Levite, but his priesthood is far superior to that of Levitical priests as we shall see. His name is sometimes spelled with a “z” in place of the “s” I have used as that is the spelling of my King James Bible.   

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

(Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:6, Mark 5:7)

A TITHE

A tithe is one tenth of the total income before any deductions. Abraham gave a tenth of all that was taken in the battle. God defines that portion as his, says, “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in  in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”  Malachi 3:9,10  God is the same, yesterday, today, and for ever. We don’t owe it to Him. It is His, and he has, if anything, lent it to us as a test. Here, He tells us to test him.  Our first check of the month, should be to him. I personally make it a habit to write the tithe and the offering checks, then the one for the month’s rent, followed by other accounts as they arrive. I have never found that there is not enough to pay them all so that I “owe no man anything.” I also never have to worry about rising interest rates on my credit card that way. There is no interest.

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

(Hebrews 7:6,  Matthew 4:3, Hebrews 7:1, Hebrews 7:28)

HIS PRIESTHOOD WAS UNIQUELY SUPERIOR

When it began, the priesthood was limited to Levites, and among them the high priest. Like a royal birth, one had to qualify, then be ordained and set aside. In our lifetime, most of us have seen and understand how the Catholic church chooses a new pope. For them, of course, he must be first a priest, and the cardinals choose one from that limited field. I only use that illustration because we are more familiar with it having witnessed it unfold on television in great detail recently, than we are with the customs of Judaism.

Melchisedec was a priest, a type of Jesus Christ, who serves in a similar way for Christians. He carries our petitions to God; thus we pray in Jesus name. “No man cometh unto the Father but by me,” I  really believe that today, only Christians have the right to approach the Lord, and they through Jesus Christ. Prayer is a precious heritage, let us treat it reverently. The Jewish High Priests had to make sacrifices for their own sins and be ritually cleansed, before they could enter the Holy of Holies, and even then he could do so only once a year. Sinless, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, and the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place, became one. The veil was torn down between them by God. All Christians can now approach God as often as they wish.   

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Acts 2:29, Acts 7:8, Genesis 14:20)

5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

(Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:26, 2 Chronicles 31:4)

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

(Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 6:20)

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

CHRIST IS SUPERIOR AS ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

The Levitical priesthood was passed from father to son and consequently there were many priests who lived far from from Godly lives. This is clear in that it was the priests, led by the High Priests, who paid Judas to betray Jesus, and laid slanderous charges, hiring false witnesses, that they might be rid of Jesus.

In stark contrast, Jesus gave his life on the cross of Calvary that we might have life, He will never die again. Our high priest after the order of Melchisadec, is alive and will be for ever.

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

(Hebrews 9:6, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 7:17)

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HIGH PRIEST FOR ETERNITY

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto

God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 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.

28 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.

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

10th  Sunday  -  Ezekiel 16,    Hebrews 9:15-28,    Psalm 122

11th  Monday  -  Ezekiel 17, 18,    Hebrews 10:1-18,    Psalm 123

12th  Tuesday  - Ezekiel 19, 20,     Hebrews 10:19-39,    Proverbs 27:11-20

13th  Wednesday  - Ezekiel 21, 22,    Hebrews 11:1-22,    Psalm 124

14th  Thursday  -  Ezekiel 23,    Hebrews 11:23-40,    Psalm 125

15th  Friday  -  Ezekiel 24, 25, 26,    Hebrews 12:1-11,    Psalm 126

16th  Saturday  -  Ezekiel  27, 28,   Hebrews 12:12-29,   Proverbs 27:21-27

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MEMORY VERSE

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all of them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”  -  Hebrews 5:9-10

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When John found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided that he needed a wife to enjoy it with him so one evening he went to a singles bar where he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her natural beauty took his breath away. “I may look like an ordinary man,” he told her as he walked up to her, “but in just a few days, my father is going to die, and I will inherit his twenty million dollars.”

Impressed, she went home with him that evening and three weeks later she became his stepmother.

GOD'S WITNESS IS CERTAIN

1 John 5:1-11

1 whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Every time I turn on my computer to look at the email, in case one our daughters has written, I must also wade my way through piles, sometimes a hundred or more, of pure junk. They have one thing in common, most of them are filled with lies. “Lotteries” of many sources none of which I entered, and then there are numerous scams supposedly written by well known persons. I have had personal letters from the Secretary of State, the head of the UN, the presidents of numerous banks, the FBI, the Interpol, Scotland Yard. Email is not where you go to learn truths. Probably all of those have been scams.

But there is one place that you and I will always be told the truth. That is the Bible. God’s book is always true, and there is one who offers great rewards. He has said, “I am the way …”  The vital truth is that “Jesus is the Christ,” and that he alone “is born of God.” His credentials are true. God Himself has spoke, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him.”  God’s witness is true!  

(1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:15, John 1:3, John 3:3, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:18, John 8:42)

WE CAN BELIEVE THAT

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

When God speaks, we know it is truth, whether he speaks audibly as he did at Jesus’ baptism, or through the Holy Spirit and the written word. Unlike email, we know the author.

The letter from “The Secretary of State” is probably questionable. There are usually dead give aways. If it is from a government official it will use”gov” in the address. If t is from a bank president, it will not use a free carrier such as yahoo, or gmail. Banks use “secure” email.

(1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:14)

WE CAN KNOW

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

We can know that God loves us, and we can know if another loves him. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  If we love God, Father or Son, we will keep his commandments. We will not question if it is necessary to do this or that. Jesus’ commandments are simple to understand. If Jesus said to do it, it is necessary. And, he has given direct commandments. Trough Peter he told those at Pentecost in Jerusalem, “repent and be baptized.’ There is nothing unclear. We know what “repent” means. It is a direct command. Stop doing this, and do that. Change the kind of life you have been living.

“Be baptized.” This something someone else does to us. It means be washed clean. (Acts 8:38,39) Jesus did not just tell us, but he included through the Spirit an example that is impossible to not understand, both the Greek word used and the illustration.

But, there are other commands. “Do this in remembrance of me,”  “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.” ‘Go ye unto all the world and teach all nations.”

None of them are difficult to understand, we know if we are keeping them.

(John 14:15,  2 John 6, 1 John 2:3,  Matthew 11:30, Matthew 23:4)

OVERCOME THE WORLD

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We are overcoming the world if we are doing them. The way to increase our faith is through the word, and we know if we are reading it.

(John 1:13, John 3:3, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:18, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 4:4)

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The evidence is that we believe Jesus is the Son of God, evident both to ourselves and to those around us.

( John 4:15, 1 John 5:1)

BE BORN AGAIN

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

This is called a new birth, because of the combination of the water, and the blood of the Lord Jesus shed for us. Just as a birth marks the a new life, so this new birth marks a new life, a life for the Lord Jesus.

(John 19:34, Matthew 3:16, John 15:26, John 16:13-15)

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Just as more than one witness are required to establish a truth in court, there are three witnesses of these facts, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Word he has led through the inspiration of the writer.

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthian church, pointed out that the prophecies are fulfilled, even knowledge shall perish. Sometimes, to our embarrassment, but that there is that which when it is to come, at that time, he written word.

(Matthew 18:16)

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

(John 5:34, John 5:37, John 8:18, Matthew 3:17, John 5:32, John 5:37)

THE GREATEST WITNESS OF ALL

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

None of us would call God a liar.

(Romans 8:16, Galatians 4:6, Revelation 12:17, John 3:18, 1 John 1:10)

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

(John 3:36, 1 John 1:2, 1 John 2:25, 1 John 4:9, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:20, John 1:4)

Our eternal salvation can be a known fact, it is up to us!

We don’t hope we are saved, we can KNOW we are saved. Jesus has gone ahead to prepare our real, eternal, home. “I go to prepare a place for you.”

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

3rd Sunday  -  Lamentations 4, 5,     Hebrews 3,    Psalm 119:153-160

4th  Monday  -  Ezekiel 1, 2, 3,     Hebrews 4,    Proverbs 26:21-28

5th Tuesday  -  Ezekiel 4, 5, 6,     Hebrews 5,    Psalm 119:161-168

6th  Wednesday  -  Ezekiel 7, 8,    Hebrews 6,    Psalm 119:169-176

7th  Thursday  -  Ezekiel 9, 10, 11,    Hebrews 7,    Psalm 120

8th  Friday  -  Ezekiel 12, 13,    Hebrews 8,    Proverbs 27:1-10

9th  Saturday  -  Ezekiel 14, 15,    Hebrews 9:1-14    Psalm 121

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MEMORY VERSE

“He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son”  -  1 John 2:22b

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Joy comes not to him who seeks it for himself, but to him who seeks it for other people.

KNOW YOU ARE SAVED !

1 John 4:15-21

King James Version (KJV)

We have all watched television shows in which people go absolutely out of control when they are offered an opportunity to win something like a new car, whereas many of these same people are totally unaffected by a promise from God of something that can not even be measured. Isaiah, speaking for God says, “For behold I create a new heaven and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind, but be glad and rejoice for ever in what I create,” Then in Revelation, he, through John, turns back like a corner of a page, Revelation 21:1-22:6. That peek into what lies ahead is so amazing.

You and I are offered salvation  because God loves us, as he does all mankind, and offers a simple plan to for eternity. Like most of God’s promises, it is on the condition that you fulfill his plan, and not your own. God and sin are totally incompatible, so before anyone can enter into Heaven eternally, he must be freed of sin. That is not something anyone can accomplish by works alone. James tells us in his short book that “Works without faith” are nothing. The same thing is true of faith. “Faith without works” is also to no avail.

Remember how Jesus told the blind to go wash. They had to act upon his instructions. Remember Naaman the high ranking officer who had leprosy. His instructions were that he must go and dip in the Jordan seven times. Naaman went away in anger because God’s prophet did not even come out and speak with him, and he nearly did not obey this simple command, but at his servant’s urging, he went to the Jordan. Even then, it was not until he dipped the seventh time, that he came up clean!

When our Lord told Peter to preach on Pentecost, make note of the exact words of the promise. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38. The exact meaning of the word translated “Baptize” into English, is to dip. Don’t go half way, Naaman was only healed when he dipped himself the seventh time. The blind were healed when they obeyed. Sins are forgiven when we obey, and the Holy Spirit is given to us to keep us clean. If anything turns us away at Heaven’s door, it will be that we are trying to come into His presence with a load of sin. Do we love him enough to obey him?

CONFESS YOUR FAITH

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

(1 John 2:23, Romans 10:9, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:5, 1 John 2:24, 1 John 3:24)

GODLIKE LOVE

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Our problem is that we don’t know what love really is. God loved all men, even those who crucified his only Son! We really have no idea what kind of love that requires, but, that is the kind of love he wants us to show toward others.

(John 6:69, John 9:3, 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:12)

PERFECT LOVE

Our love needs to be purified. It needs to be able to love our persecutor and wish him the best.

Only if we have this sort of love for others can we face the return of Christ Jesus with confidence and eagerness.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

(1 John 2:5, 1 John 4:12, 1 John 2:28, Matthew 10:15, John 17:22, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:16)

GODLIKE LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR

When we can look forward to our death, and the judgement that will follow, then we are ready, and we have no fear.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

(Romans 8:15, 1 John 4:12)

GODLY LOVE BEGETS LOVE

There is no such thing as instant love, no matter what many say. They confuse lust for love and that explains why marriages often do not last very long.

Godlike love starts first with God. He loves us, and as we realize how difficult that must be, the more we return that love for him. It is not a physical thing at all. It is inspired by the Spirit within us.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

(1 John 4:10)

All that the world seeks is realized to be temporary, and not really important. When we seek to share in God’s love for others and hate has no hold on us at all, then we are beginning to understand.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? When we reach this stage and realize that there is still hate within us, then it is we that are at fault.

(1 John 1:6, 1 John 1:8, 1 John 1:10, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 2:9, 1 John 2:11, 1 John 1:6, 1 John 3:17, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 John 4:12)

GOD COMMANDS THAT WE LOVE

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

(Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 5:43, Matthew 22:37, John 13:34, 1 John 3:11)

1 JOHN 5:1-4

Here in the beginning of the next chapter, we find the test question. We can, and we should, test our faith and our love. Do we really believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God? If we do, then act like it. Keep His commandments.

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

(1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:15, John 1:3, John 3:3, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:18, John 8:42)

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

(1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:14)

He made them simple enough that even a young child, one able to believe and repent, can obey them.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

(John 14:15, Matthew 11:30, Matthew 23:4)

This world with all its problems need not overwhelm us. We can overcome it.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

(John 1:13, John 3, 1 John 2:29,1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:18, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 4:4)

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

OCTOBER

27th  Sunday  Ecclesiastes 10, 11, 12,    1 John 4,    Proverbs 26:1-10

28th  Monday  Song of Solomon 1, 2,    1 John 5,    Psalm 119:113-120

29th  Tuesday  Song of Solomon 3, 4,    2 John,    Psalm 119:121-128

30th  Wednesday  Song of Solomon 5, 6,    3 John,    Psalm 119:129-136

31st  Thursday  Song of Solomon 7, 8,    Jude,    Proverbs 26:11-20

NOVEMBER

1st  Friday  Lamentations 1, 2,    Hebrews 1,    Psalm 119:137-144

2nd  Saturday  Lamentations 3,    Hebrews 2,    Psalm 119:145-152    

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MEMORY VERSE

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”  -  1 John 1:10

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IT’S FINISHED!

(Or as nearly finished as an ebook you can read on your monitor and I can edit or add chapters to whenever I desire, is likely to be. I already have two more photos I want to insert, but, they aren’t inserted yet.)

Search for: The Journal of Bob and Phyllis Mills

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SAD BUT TRUE

A distraught senior citizen phoned his doctor’s office, “Is it true,” she wanted to know, “that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?”

“Yes, I am afraid so,” the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before she replied,

“I’m wondering , then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked, ‘NO REFILLS.’”