OUR LORD'S POSITION AS HIGH PRIEST.
By J. O. Corliss
IN His preparation for the high-priesthood, the Lord Jesus took on Himself the form of man, so that He might truly be a servant of men in behalf of their eternal salvation from sin. To do this He laid off entirely the nature of angels, and took on the condition of the seed of Abraham (Heb. 2:16), so that with that seed He might descend to the depths of human suffering, even the agonies of death in its most cruel form. But this submissiveness to the results of sin was not always to last; for the very self-abnegation exercised in behalf of a ruined race brought to Jesus the highest exaltation, and a name which is above every other name. Phil. 2:7-9. This exaltation was an elevation to the Father's right hand, as joint-occupant of the throne of the universe. Col. 3:1; Rev. 3:21. Tho holding the title of High Priest, the additional name of God was bestowed upon Him, which was even higher than the name Michael,—“who is like God.” In His hand was placed a kingly scepter,—that of righteousness,—to be held out toward every debased and down-trodden soul who would be His follower. Heb. 1:8, 9. Thus equipped as a kingly priest, our Lord was fitted to hold a continued “counsel of peace” with the Father concerning lost souls, and thru their recovery constitute them the “temple of God.” 1 Cor. 3:16. As these are fitted, one by one, each into his place as a stone in the immortal structure, the temple of the Lord is being built for its eternal occupancy. Zech. 6:12, 13. Such a position must necessarily be held by our High Priest until the temple of God has been completed, and those who refuse to become factors in its building have been put under the feet of Him whom they scorn to serve. 1 Cor. 15:24-27; Luke. 19:27. This is the logical effect of wielding the scepter of righteousness. When this is held out to the repentant sinner, tho he knows that he deserves only death for his rebellion against the rule of Heaven, he sees in it the signal of peace. Coming under its mild sway, and constantly beholding the gentleness of Him who wields it, rebellion and iniquity give place in the heart to the divine image of Jehovah. 2 Cor. 3:18. But he who refuses to let this reformation take place, must know that he remains unfitted to become a part of the uprising temple made without hands, and so he can not hope to continue in life with it. This relation of the hopefully repentant soul to our great High Priest, makes it plain that He is the one directing head of all His earthly adherents, called the church. Eph. 1:22, 23. The only course, therefore, for loyal ones is to “follow where He leads.” To do this, one must renounce all allegiance to earthly leanings, and “seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Col. 3:1. In other words, he must be dead to the charms of the world, while his “life is hid with Christ in God.” Verse 3. This is the only possible way to enjoy being raised up to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:4-6. The reason for this is evident. Whosoever loves the world can not love God, because all that is of the world,—the lust of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of life,—are not of God, but opposed to Him. To love these is to adhere to ephemeral things which must soon pass away with the world itself. 1 John 2:16, 17. Having loved them to the end, one becomes like them, and so meets with the same end as they do. But to separate from them entirely, gives one a claim upon the protection of Him who is infinitely merciful and long-suffering. James 4:1-10. The truth is that the very life which is the basis of all our actions is a gift from God. It was given to man in the beginning to complete the image of God in him. Gen. 1:26; 2:7. It was using that life which belongs to God in the service of heaven's arch-enemy which first brought alienation between God and man. Instead of letting that life perform deeds which would glorify its Owner, it was3used to dishonor Him. The life of God given to our first parents represented His power in humanity, and so their act of disobedience was really using the power of God to bring reproach upon His name. It is the same now; whoever uses God's entrusted life with which to do iniquity, forces Him to serve with the sins of their lustful hearts. Isa. 43:24. Man having defiled and weakened the very life of God confided to his care, God arranged a plan by which that life may be renewed by a second birth thru the everlasting Fatherhood conferred upon His only-begotten Son. Isa. 9:6. This was so that man might recover from the weakness brought upon him by entertaining sin in the heart, and thus be able to overcome the world, so strongly opposed to God. 1 John 5:4. Therefore to return to God, and to rest confidingly in Him, is salvation. Isa. 30:15. Closing thus with the offer of God thru Christ, nothing can separate one from His love and power. He may have tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, and even death, yet these can not shut him away from the rescuing power of infinite love. Rom. 8:35-37. Tho one goes into the embrace of the tomb, He will there be found, and death will surely be swallowed up in victory, so that in all things and at all times one may confidently say, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory thru our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:54-57.