[Nov. 11th, 1855.]
I. The idea and necessity of a Priest.
The holiness of God is his prominent characteristic. Hence he is opposed to sin. Hence he is inaccessible to sinners. Men are unholy. Holiness and sin are opposed not as two natural laws, or two elements, as fire and water, merely; nor as two principles, as justice and injustice; but as far as we are concerned, as persons, so uncongenial that association is impossible; and also, as far as the sinner is concerned, so guilty that God must forbid his approach.
As on the side of God there is infinite power, blessedness and excellence, this banishment from him involves on our part utter destruction. We cannot approach him. We must approach him or perish. All feel this. All this is symbolized under the Old Testament.
Hence the necessity of a mediator; one who can approach and who can propitiate. These are the functions of a priest. This is included in the radical meaning of (Kohen) and (hiereus) from (hieros.)
II. Christ is our Priest;—Christ, the person, the Theanthropos; not as Logos, but as both, God and man; Jesus the Son of God.
He is qualified for this work,
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Because he has liberty of access.
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Because he has somewhat to offer.
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Because his infinite dignity gives infinite merit and efficacy to his work.
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Because he ever lives.
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Because he can be touched with a sense of our infirmities.
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Because he is divinely appointed.
III. What he does as our Priest.
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He actually atones. He renders God propitious. He expiates our sins.
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He thus gives us access to God. This the old priests could not do because their sacrifices could not take away sin.
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He makes intercession for us; prays for our justification, sanctification and preservation, the supply of all our wants.
IV. The duties we owe to Christ as Priest.
The recognition of him in his office, not attempting to draw near to God without him, which unbelievers do, and the inquiring sinner so often and so fruitlessly attempts.
This recognition is not merely the acknowledgment of him as High-Priest, but the actual committing our souls into his hands to be atoned for, and to be introduced to God by him. This must be done not once, but constantly.
- Confidence, a. In his willingness to act for us as our priest. b. In the efficacy of his blood and in the prevalence of his intercession. c. In his sympathy and tenderness. He is called a merciful and faithful, i.e., trustworthy high-priest.
V. Importance of this doctrine.
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To Christianity as a system of doctrine. Without this, the gospel is a mere philosophy. This constitutes the difference between Evangelical systems and Rationalistic, e.g., Socinianism; between Protestantism and Romanism.
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To Practical Religion. Religion consists in intercourse with God. There is no intercourse except through Christ as priest. All our religious exercises therefore depend on our experimental recognition of this great truth.
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