If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 

‘Nobody’s perfect,’ they say, and we whole-heartedly agree. We know ourselves only too well. We are aware how flawed we are, and we know this is true of others.

But wait a minute…

Here is the glory of the gospel: In Jesus we have the first ever, the one and only perfect priest. Furthermore, in Him – for those of us who trust in His Finished work on the Cross – we too are made perfect:

  • Presently, we have a positional perfection, before God. This is, wonder of wonders, how He sees us in Christ;
  • Also we can say that we are currently being made perfect in that wonderful process we call ‘sanctification.’ Increasingly, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are becoming what we are;
  • Then, ultimately, we will have an actual perfection.

Salvation comes in three tenses:

  • We have been saved from the penalty of sin;
  • We are being saved from the power (and practice) of sins;
  • And we will be saved from the very presence of sin.

Nothing in Judaism could bring this about. It could only foreshadow it. Through the coming of Jesus perfection is being ”attained”.

Why would we go go back?

PRAYER: Thank you Lord that you no longer see me in my sin but in your Son. I can scarcely believe it; but by your grace and mercy it is true.