A Priest after the Order of Melchizedek

Thoughts on Davidic Kingship

This week we’ll continue in our review of Reaching the Full Stature of the Messiah and consider the office of the High Priest.  Those who reach the full stature of the Messiah are not only Davidic Kings but they are also High Priests under the Melchizedek Priesthood. Because Yeshua was not of Levite descendency He was not eligible for the Levitical Priesthood.  Moreover, the Levitical Priesthood did not include the higher laws associated with the Law of the Father nor did it recognize Yeshua’s atonement for sin. In this review, we'll look at an overview of the priesthood, restate the father's role as a priest to his family and the role of the high priest.

​

---

The Process of Perfection
Our Process of Perfection looks like this:

                                                                     Individual Salvation
                                                                             Born Again
​            ​                                           (Redemption / Sanctification)
     Born of the Blood / Born of the Water > Keeps the Commandments > Born of God/Spirit

                                                                       Married Exaltation
                                                                    Going Onto Perfection
                       Becoming Perfect > Reaches the Full Stature of Messiah > Sees God the Son

Priesthood Introduction
The concept of the priesthood is perplexing because the scriptures don’t come right out and explain its functions in a well structured format when we get to the New Testament.  But the scriptures are clear that priesthood is still an important aspect of the Gospel and is to be held generally among Believers - 1 Peter 2:9.  Moreover, we can mirror this scripture in 1 Peter back to Exodus 19:6. So there is a direct correlation of the Melchizedek priesthood in the New Testament with the pre-golden calf Melchizedek Priesthood in Israel,  which we can see came before the implementation of the Levitical Priesthood.


Pedigree and Oath
When we look at priesthood in the Bible, two methods appear that indicate the process of acquiring priesthood.  The Levitical Priesthood comes across pretty obvious that those who qualify for the priesthood need to be male descendants of Levi. 

The second priesthood we see in the scriptures is the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is obtained by the taking of an oath - Hebrews 7:21.  This is the priesthood that existed before the Levitical Priesthood and which was held by all of the righteous men we see in Genesis and with Moses.  It seems to me that some perceive that certain men have a “calling” to pass this priesthood onto others and you have to go to that specific person to get priesthood.  But when we look at this process critically, what we see are men that have knowledge and not some special calling.  This knowledge involves having a comprehensive understanding of the Gospel and who knows the elements of the priesthood oath.  So when we see that Moses received the Melchizedek Priesthood from his father-in-law, Jethro of Midian, it is not because Jethro somehow had a “special calling” but because he had knowledge - Exodus 3:1.  Those who profess to have some kind of exclusivity to the priesthood are mistaken.

When Yeshua appeared on the scene, Yeshua obtained the Melchizedek priesthood and then restored the Melchizedek priesthood to the general membership.   And how did he do that, by searching the scriptures, receiving personal revelation and knowledge.  So those who profess to be followers of Yeshua will hold Melchizedek Priesthood. Moreover, the priesthood is available to anyone who is diligent enough to search the scriptures, receive revelation and obtains knowledge of the priesthood.


Priesthood Offices
In the Levitical priesthood, we see essentially three offices - non-priestly teachers/counselors who are experts in the law, priests that administer the sacrificial system and the high priest. Additionally, in ancient Israel, there was a system of captains/judges without priesthood who were the civil leaders.  In the Melchizedek priesthood - the priesthood of king-priests -  we see civil and  ecclesiastical functions consolidated. When we integrate the concept of kingship with the priesthood this is what our summary looks like.​

The Basic Elements of the Priesthood
Both priesthoods have the same basic elements, which are evident in the Levitical Priesthood and form the basis for the priesthood oath.

1. A standard of personal righteousness. We see this when the Levites refuse to defile themselves during the Golden Calf incident in the book of Exodus.
2. A charge to teach the law.  Under the Levitical Priesthood, the priesthood office for non-kohanim Levites were to be experts in law and thus were to be the teachers/counselors of the law.
3. The kohanim Levites (priests), were the mediators between God and the people.  They were accountable and answerable for the transgression of the people.  The high priest mediated between God and the collective nation of Israel.
4. The fourth element was to administer the ordinances of salvation.  Those ordinances in Israel were to administer the sacrificial system and place the Name of God on the people. The high priest was to prepare the nation of Israel as a whole to enter God’s presence at the Feasts of Sukkot.

.
Priests in the Melchizedek Priesthood
The elements listed above form the basis of the Oath of the Priesthood.  Fathers who enter the priesthood commit to the following affirmations:

                                                      1.  To strive to keep himself pure;
                                  2.  To teach his family the Law of the Son, which includes: 
                                                       The Process of being Born Again
                                                               The Abrahamic Covenant
                                                                The Threshold Covenant
                                                               The Priesthood Covenant
                                                                      The Sinai Covenant.
         3.  To stand accountable and answerable for the transgression of his family until they are 
                     Fully Born Again, are transformed by the Spirit and overcome personal sin.
       4. To administer the memorials and ordinances of redemption and sanctification: Memorial                            to the Lord's Sacrifice, baptism and placing the Name of God on his family,


High Priests in the Melchizedek Priesthood
The High Priests who are over groups or communities affirm in an Oath to:

                                                       1. To strive to become Perfected.
                            2. To see that the ways of peace are taught in his community.
          3. To stand accountable and answerable for the transgressions of the community. 
   4. To administer the ordinances that prepare the community to enter into the Presence of
                                                     God the Son - Jehovah/Yeshua.​

Striving to Become Perfected
Those who are High Priests strive to be Perfected, which we saw included overcoming all categories of sin including the dysfunctions of inherited sin - iniquity.  We also saw that becoming perfected include receiving a fullness of knowledge and cultivating the seven attributes of Jehovah/Yeshua.


Teaches the Ways of Peace
Whereas those who are Davidic Kings establish the ways of peace, the High Priest teaches the ways to peace in his community:

                                1. Teaches the principles for creating and maintaining order.
                    2. Sees that the Laws of the Son and the ways of peace are taught in his community.
3. Teaches the Truth, which includes God's plan for the redemption, sanctification and exaltation
​                                                                        of humanity.
                      4. Teaches the principles for building social harmony in his community.


A Zion Community
​High Priests are accountable and answerable for the transgressions of the community until the community as a whole establishes peace and becomes a Zion community having Pure Hearts and Clean Hands.


Ordinances to Enter the Son’s Presence
In ancient Israel, the High Priest was responsible for reconciling himself and all Israel with God on Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement so that they could enter into God's presence as a national community at Sukkot/Tabernacles, which can represent the Millennial Age.  Under the Gospel of Yeshua, the Day of Atonement assumes a different emphasis in preparation to enter into the Presence of God the Son. Here we review the processes and requirements that brought the community to the point of becoming a Zion community. That review includes:

                  1. The remembrance/memorial of Yeshua’s Redemption from Universal Sin.
    2. The Process of Being Born Again and overcoming Personal Sin - the Baptism of Water, 
Baptism of the Spirit, Baptism of Fire,  and Being Born of God and the Associated Covenants
​                                     - Abrahamic, Threshold, Priesthood and Sinai.
                                  3. Cultivating the ways of peace in the community.

---

"A Zion Community Receiving the Presence of God"

   "The greatest temporal and spiritual blessings which always come from faithfulness 
                and concerted effort, never attended individual exertion or enterprise." 

---