1. THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO LIVE! OUT WITH THE OLD PRIESTLY SYSTEM Hebrews 7:1 – 8:6

2. Our experience relating to God Religious Formalism is a HUGE PROBLEM! Formalism – ““the practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to, or dependence on, external forms rather than truthful content & personal transformation in matters of religious faith.”

3. Hebrews 8:1-2, 6 “Now the main point of what is being said is this: we have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, and not man…Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been legally enacted on better promises.”

4. Why the talk about priests?  Everyone needs a priest because we are all estranged from God!  What priests were the Hebrews tempted to turn to? The Levitical priesthood & all of its ritualized systems They had some dilemmas to overcome to trust Jesus as their high priest…

5. Jesus is better because he existed PRIOR to the old priestly system “For this Melchizedek— King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything; first, his name means “king of righteousness,” then also, “king of Salem,” meaning “king of peace”; without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God— remains a priest forever.”(Hebrews 7:1-3)

6. Jesus is better because he existed PRIOR to the old priestly system  Genesis 14:17-20 This event occurred about 2100 BC 700 years prior to the beginning of the Levitical priesthood!  Psalm 110:1-4 A messianic psalm penned around 1000 BC What’s the point? Jesus is and always has been God’s PLAN A!

7. Hebrews 7:11, 13-19 “If, then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek, and not to be described as being in the order of Aaron? For the One about whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has served at the altar. Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and about that tribe Moses said nothing concerning priests. And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek arises, who doesn’t become a priest based on a legal command concerning physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. For it has been testified: You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. So the previous commandment is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

8. Jesus is better because He is PERMANENT “Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because He remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.” (Heb. 7:23-28)

9. Jesus is better because He is PERSONAL  Because Jesus is our mediator… We are assured of God’s acceptance We can actually relate intimately with God We can relate with God with others who follow Jesus

10. How does this match your experience?  Is Jesus your high priest, or are you relying on old ways of trying to make yourself acceptable to God?  Are you assured of God’s acceptance?  Are you willing to put in the time to continually keep learning how to develop an intimate relationship with God?  Are you intentionally making space for others who can encourage, help, and challenge you?