123 – Christ the Priest
CHRIST THE PRIEST
§ 123. Christ, the God-man,1 was and is our High Priest,2 and our only 3 Priest, inasmuch as He in the work of redemption mediated between God and man,4 performing by His active obedience 5 in man’s stead 6 that which God demanded of man and which man did not and could not in his fallen state perform, a complete fulfillment of all the precepts of the Law,5 and suffering in His passive obedience 7 as man’s Substitute 8 that which according to the Law and God’s righteous judgment man must have suffered here and hereafter, torments 9 and ignominy,10 death 11 and damnation,12 thus by His vicarious sacrifice 13 rendering full satisfaction to divine justice,14 making complete atonement and expiation for all the sins 15 of all mankind,16 reconciling the world with God,17 propitiating God in our behalf,18 redeeming all men from the bondage,19 the curse,20 and the penalty 21 of the Law, from sin,22 death,23 and the power of the devil,24 and earning, purchasing, and procuring for all sinners perfect righteousness,25 life,26 and eternal bliss;27 and He still mediates between God and man by appearing for us before God in heaven,28 pleading our cause as our Advocate,29 and securing in God’s judgment the full acquittal of all who believe in Him.30
1. Christ, the God-man,
II Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.
I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews 5:8 Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.
I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.
2. was and is our High Priest,
Hebrews 5:6 As He saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:24, 26 But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (26) For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.
Psalm 110:4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
3. and our only
Cf. § 124.
4. Priest, inasmuch as He in the work of redemption mediated between God and man,
I Timothy 2:5–6 There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Hebrews 9:14, 15 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, 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.
5. performing by His active obedience…that which God demanded of man and which man did not and could not in his fallen state perform, a complete fulfillment of all the precepts of the Law,
Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do Thy will, O God.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Luke 2:51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.
Romans 5:19 So by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.
Galatians 4:4,5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
John 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.
John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do.
6. in man’s stead
Romans 5:19 So by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.
Galatians 4:4–5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
See also texts sub 5.
7. and suffering in His passive obedience
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do.
8. as man’s Substitute
Isaiah 53:4–7 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.
I Timothy 2:6 Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
II Corinthians 5:21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
9. that which according to the Law and God’s righteous judgment man must have suffered here and hereafter, torments
Luke 18:33 And they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death: and the third day He shall rise again.
Isaiah 53:5–6 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
10. and ignominy,
Luke 18:32 For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on.
Luke 23:35–39 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, and saying, If Thou be the king of the Jews, save Thyself. And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.
Matthew 27:27–30 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.
11. death
Hebrews 2:9 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 should taste death for every man.
Romans 5:6–8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Isaiah 53:12 Because He hath poured out His soul unto death. …
12. and damnation,
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?
13. thus by His vicarious sacrifice
Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Isaiah 53:5–7 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 7:27 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.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared.
14. .rendering full satisfaction to divine justice,
Romans 3:25 Whom god hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
15. making complete atonement and expiation for all the sins
I John 2:2 And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
16. of all mankind,
II Corinthians 5:14–15, 19 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation.
John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
I John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Hebrews 2:9 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 should taste death for every man.
I Timothy 2:6 Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
I Corinthians 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
II Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
17. reconciling the world with God,
II Corinthians 5:18–19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation.
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Ephesians 2:16 And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
18. propitiating God in our behalf,
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
I Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
I John 2:2 And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
19. redeeming all men from the bondage
Galatians 4:5–7 To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
20. the curse,
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
21. and the penalty
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
22. of the Law, from sin,
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I Peter 1:18–19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the First Begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
23. death
Hebrews 2:9, 15 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 should taste death for every man. (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from Mine eyes.
II Corinthians 5:15 And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.
24. and the power of the devil,
Hebrews 2:14–15 That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
25. and earning, purchasing, and procuring for all sinners perfect righteousness,
Romans 5, 19: For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
I Corinthians 1:30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Jeremiah 23:6 In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.
II Corinthians 5:21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
26. life,
I John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
27. and eternal bliss;
John 3:14–16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
28. and He still mediates between God and man by appearing for us before God in heaven,
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
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 to appear in the presence of God for us.
29. pleading our cause as our Advocate,
I John 2:1–2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Hebrews 7:25 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.
John 17:9, 20 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. (20) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their Word.
30. and securing in God’s judgment the full acquittal of all who believe in Him.
Romans 8:33–34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
John 17:15, 24 I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (24) Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.
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