The Jewish high priests of the Levitical system represented man to God from an temple on earth,
but these priests served only for their lifetime since they died and the priesthood was given to
another. Josephus says there were 83 high priests from Aaron until the destruction of the temple
in 70 AD. But, Jesus Christ did not enter a temple on earth, but instead upon his ascension into heaven Jesus entered into the real presence of God in the eternal temple. Because of this Jesus’ priest hood is described in Greek as aparabatos which means “permanent” making Jesus’
service as high priest for man before God in heaven as an unchanging. Since Jesus lives forever
and his priesthood is permanent in the eternal temple in heaven the quality of his priestly ministry cannot be compared to the Levitical priests.
“Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.” – Hebrews 7:24
Because, Jesus lives forever and his priesthood is permanent, the writer of Hebrews draws this conclusion:
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.”
The salvation that Jesus provides is described as “completely” from the Greek expression
eis to panteles that is used only one other place in the GNT: “a woman was there who had
been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.”
(Luke 11:13) Just as the woman was “completely” bent over, those who come to Jesus are “completely” saved.
The verb “come” in the phrase “save completely those who come to God through him,” is
proseromai and is also used in Hebrews 4:16; 10:1; 11:6; 12:18; 12:22 to refer to an
approach to God in worship. The idea is to come near to God from far away similar to
Ephesians 2:13. Through the high priesthood of Jesus individuals can approach God from their rebellious state of sin to worship and attain complete salvation. This is available to all mankind,
but not accessed by all since many refuse to approach God through the high priesthood of Jesus.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
The reason this salvation is “permanent” and “complete” is “because he always lives to intercede
for them” in the presence of the eternal God. This was promised in Isaiah 53:12, seen by Stephen in
Acts 7:56, experience by Peter in Luke 22:32 and all the disciples in Jesus high-priestly prayer in
John 17. But, Jesus being eternally in the presence of God as our representative to see that our salvation is effective and productive is spoken of by Paul in his letter to the Romans:
“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
– Romans 8:33-34
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