Exchange it or Die

DEVOTION

HEBREWS

EXCHANGE IT OR DIE

Heb 7:11-16

11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come — one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.

NIV

Still the continuing story of law and the changing of the guard is declared here. We can no longer live under the law, the whole law, not a single part of the law, for the scripture also tells us that if we try to live under it and break the tinniest portion of it we are guilty of breaking the whole law, and thus will be condemned to perish. In essence it says that here as well, that the law cannot make us perfect, which is what we will have to be in order to enter into heaven. But, praise to God, Jesus makes us perfect, not that we are without sin, or perfect as a human being, but our sins have been paid for, and under this new covenant we are made perfect. The law gave the people of Israel priests, who died, from the order of Aaron as the priests died so must the law, but Jesus did not come from that line, he came as in the order of Melchizedek, the prince of peace, the King of Heaven, God. Why would we still want to try to live according to any of the old law? Why would we try to resurrect any part of the old law? True, Jesus said that he did con cancel it, but fulfilled it. That is he completed it, so we do not have to. Yes, we cannot go around killing one another, or stealing from each other to a sort host of things we should not do, but not because of the law, but because that displeases God and we simply are not supposed to do it. But if we say that about those outward signs of disobedience, what about the inner ones that no one can see? The law has passed; it is gone, completed in full, by Jesus. So if we are in Christ, we have also completed the law, as far as God is concerned and we in Christ we are perfect. Therefore as his life was indestructible so is ours and we will not perish, but have eternal life. So why would we want a law that gives us death, when we can have Jesus who gives us life? Yet some of us still think we should live according to portions of the law. Either we exchange it for Jesus, or we die.