The Source of Eternal Salvation

Hebrews 4:14-5:10

 

Confidence

The passage we study in this lesson is transitional, ushering in an extended discussion of Christ as our Great High Priest. The first paragraph of this transition (4:14-16) continues and transforms his previous argument. He has been cautioning us. How shall we escape without the great salvation of Christ (2:3)? We must take care to hold on to our faith (4:1) so that no one will file to receive the promised rest (4:11) because nothing is hidden from God (4:13).

Now he answers that caution with confidence. It is the ever-present judgment of God that provides us access to the throne of grace. The psalmist understood this connection (Psalm 139:1-6). The presence of God is inescapable, and this is at once our cause for fear and comfort.

For His Own Sins

The author must craft his comparison with care. If he shows us Jesus as our perfect high priest, he must address the imperfect high priest with which his audience was familiar. In the first century, the high priest was the authority behind the persecution of Jewish Christians (Acts 9:1-2). Though these men were not perfect, they were used by God (John 11:49-53). Because of their imperfection, the high priests were required to offer sacrifice not only for the sins of the people, but for their own sins, as well.

Because he was human, Jesus can understand our infirmity and our temptations, just as any former high priest. Unlike ourselves and those priests, Jesus remained perfect: he had no sin. He is therefore not only our perfect high priest, but is himself the perfect sacrifice. He is the Lamb of God (John 1:28-29).

He Must Be Called by God

But how could Jesus become high priest? The priesthood had long been established through the line of Aaron (Exodus 40:12-15). By the time of Jesus, there were so many members of this priesthood that they were collected into divisions and the divisions rotated their service. Even within those divisions, the active priests were chosen by lot (Luke 1:5-9). The descendants of Aaron were many, but Jesus was not among them.

The author’s response to this is to state that the priesthood was established by God, and it was the authority of God, not the blood of men, that ordained the priest (5:4-6). To reinforce this claim, he refers through Psalms (Psalm 110:4) to the ancient priest Melchizedek. We know nothing about this enigmatic character beyond his brief encounter with Abram. However, we know from that encounter that he was a priest of God before the line of Aaron was ordained. The author will make use of this mysterious character to remind us that power and authority are from God, not from our understanding of God.

The Source of Eternal Salvation

From the mystery of Melchizedek, the author continues to reinforce the mystery of the humanity of Christ. Simply by saying “during the days of Jesus’ life on earth” (5:7-10) the author reminds us that Jesus’ human form was a temporary condition for one who was with God and returned to God. But at the same times, he shows how complete was Jesus’ manifestation as he speaks of Jesus’ crying to the one who could save him from death.

There is no limit to the number of lessons that could be learned from the agony of Jesus in the garden, and perhaps many could be taken from this passage. But the important idea, according to the author Hebrews, is the reverent submission of Jesus (Luke 22:40-44).

The author reminds us of the idea that Jesus was made perfect through suffering (2:10) and this established him as the source of our eternal salvation. Was it necessary that Jesus should suffer? This may be a matter for serious debate. Beyond debate is the necessity of obedience. Jesus’ prayer was heard because of his reverent submission. He was made perfect through perfect obedience.

In evangelical Christianity we hold the the power of faith. We have the great promise from John’s Gospel that all who believe will be saved (John 3:16). Then what does it mean to believe? The author of Hebrews tells us that it is necessary to obey. And indeed, in the Gospel of John the ideas of faith, obedience, and love are shown to be one in the same.

I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you.

(John 15:9-12 GNB)