2) Prepare to Meet Thy God (Robert F. Turner)
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Abraham & Melchizedek<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wayne Goff<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe LORD has sworn and will not relent, \u2018You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek\u2019\u201d<\/em> ~ Psalm 110:4 (Hebrews 7:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, we read about Melchizedek in Genesis 14 when Abraham was returning from his defeat of area kings who had carried off his nephew, Lot. This event can be dated to around 2175 B.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prior to this event, we know nothing of Melchizedek. We do not know his genealogy, we do not know when he was born nor when he died. So historically speaking, he had neither beginning of days nor end of life (Hebrews 7:3). These historical truths would be used by God in the New Testament symbolically<\/em> to emphasize the greater priesthood of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hebrews 7 points out that Melchizedek was both king and priest of Salem (later known as Jerusalem). He was ordained by the Most High God, and Abraham paid tithes to him. The nation of Israel was, so to speak, still in the loins of Abraham when this was done. So the rightful conclusion is that Melchizedek was a greater high priest than anyone who might have descended from father Abraham. We know that the nation of Israel, and Levi in particular, submitted to Melchizedek and his priesthood through Abraham. Therefore, if anyone became priest \u201cafter the order of Melchizedek,\u201d<\/em> that high priest would be superior to anyone of the Jewish nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God prophesied through King David that One would come and be both king and priest like Melchizedek, Psalm 110:4. The Hebrew writer refers to this prophecy in Hebrews repeatedly<\/em> to emphasize how much greater Jesus Christ was as King and High Priest than anyone else, including Abraham, Levi, and any other descendant (Heb. 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1, 10-11, 15, 17, 21). The nation of Israel should naturally believe in and submit to this new King and Priest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The priesthood of Christ is greater than that of Levi because Jesus is an eternal <\/strong>high priest, never to be replaced. By the power of an endless life, He serves the needs of His people, Hebrews 5:6. What was symbolically<\/em> true of Melchizedek is literally<\/em> true of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus was called by God<\/strong>, just as Aaron was, Hebrews 5:10. Jesus is our Forerunner<\/strong> into heaven, having preceded us as the resurrected Lord, King and High Priest! (Heb. 6:20). We will go to heaven if we will follow Him! Jesus is greater than Abraham because of His Divine Nature, Divine Calling, and eternal High Priesthood, Heb. 7:10-11. And His priestly order was established by an irrevocable Divine oath, Heb. 7:21!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the priesthood was changed by God, there must also of necessity be a change in the Law, for the Law of Moses only allowed for a Levitical priesthood, Heb. 7:12-14. Therefore, the Law of Moses was concluded, and all of its special favors and relationships between God and Israel. This was a difficult \u201cpill to swallow\u201d by the Jewish people. They had mistakenly thought that they would forever <\/strong>be God\u2019s special people above all nations. However, if they had considered the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ as a New Lawgiver (Deuteronomy 18), and as a new High Priest (Psalm 110:4), and the need for a new covenant which they had broken (Jeremiah 31:31-34), then they would not have been so surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through Jesus Christ we have eternal forgiveness, a spiritual nation comprised of those from every nation, a better covenant than the law, an unchangeable priesthood in Jesus Christ, and a \u201cperfected\u201d <\/em>(completed) One as well, Hebrews 7:22-28. All of this was foreordained<\/strong> by God long before Israel became a nation, and it was foreshadowed by the man, Melchizedek. The honest Bible student can come to no other conclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via Roanridge Reader, <\/em>Volume 34, Issue 41, Page 2 \u201cMany are the sorrows of the wicked, -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Robert F. Turner<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Matthew 24:42, Jesus tells his disciples to \u201cWatch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh \u2026therefore be ye also ready.\u201d Paul echoes this thought when he writes, \u201cso then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober\u201d (1 Thes. 5:6). And John records the words of Christ in Revelation 22:12, \u201cBehold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n These verses, as well as others, remind us of the inevitability of meeting God in judgment. As the song states, \u201cThere\u2019s a great day coming\u2026\u201d and it seems that the vast majority of humanity is failing to prepare for that day. James warns us that this physical life is too uncertain to go unprepared to meet our Maker (Jas. 4:14). If we wish to have an eternal home with God, we must begin our preparation now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We cannot begin to make significant preparation to meet God in judgment until we have developed the proper attitude. Solomon points out that our attitude determines what we do or say. In Proverbs he writes, \u201cas a man thinketh within himself, so is he\u201d and \u201cKeep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life\u201d (Prov. 23:7; 4:23). Christ also emphasizes this truth when he says, \u201cout of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh\u201d (Mt. 12:24). If our actions are to be pleasing to God, we must set our hearts \u201cto seek the law of Jehovah and to-do it\u201d (Ezra 7:10). Our attitude should be \u201cSpeak, Lord; for thy servant heareth\u201d (1 Sam. 3:10). If we develop within ourselves the desire to serve God, our actions will reflect this desire. We will remain steadfast in our preparation by continuing to learn all we can concerning God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n David\u2019s attitude motivated him to meditate on God\u2019s law day and night (Ps. 1:2). Because of his desire to serve God, the Psalmist exclaimed, \u201cTeach me, 0 Jehovah, the way of thy statutes\u201d (Ps. 119:33). David knew that God\u2019s word was the only guide which could prepare him to meet his Creator. The Bereans, in Acts 17:11, were aware of this fact, so they \u201cexamined the scriptures daily.\u201d Also, Paul instructed Timothy to \u201cgive heed to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine\u201d (1 Tim. 4:13f). All of these men had a desire to serve God. This attitude motivated them to prepare to meet their God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we finally meet God in judgment, our attitude will greatly influence the outcome. Countless numbers will be lost because their hearts, or attitudes, are not right. Precious souls will be left outside the marriage feast crying \u201cLord, Lord, open to us!\u201d (Matt. 25:1f) \u2014 they thought they had a little more time. Many, because of a selfish attitude, will be asked \u201cand the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?\u201d (Lu. 12:16f) \u2014 they desired to serve themselves rather than God. You know what your attitude is \u2014 you know whether or not you are striving to serve God to the best of your ability. If your attitude and service to God is not what it should be, remember the words of Amos 4:12 \u2014 \u201cPrepare to meet thy God!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via Plain Talk<\/em>, Vol. XVII, No. 1, pg. 6, March 1980 \u201cMy soul will make its boast in the LORD; 1) Hear <\/strong>the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- Contents: 1) Abraham & Melchizedek (Wayne Goff)2) Prepare to Meet Thy God (Robert F. Turner)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- -1- Abraham & Melchizedek Wayne Goff […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=256"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":353,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions\/353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Abraham & Melchizedek<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Jesus Christ<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A Needed Change<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart\u201d (NASB).
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The humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together\u201d (NASB).
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe<\/strong> in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent<\/strong> of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith<\/strong> in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized<\/strong> in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith<\/strong>, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday<\/strong> services:9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday:\u00a0<\/strong>7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor:<\/strong>\u00a0Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/strong>
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http:\/\/tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org\/<\/a>
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