MELCHIZEDEK, GRACE, TRUTH AND LAW
Personally, I believe “Grace” is a person. Grace is the Holy Spirit. Not Jesus, as most people advocate. Of course, it can be used interchangeably, since they are God of three in one. But, specifically, it is referring to the Holy Spirit.
There are many names for the Holy Spirit. These include:-
– Spirit of Grace (Zach 12:10; Heb 10:29),
– Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17; John 15-26; John 16:13; 1 John 5:6),
– Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2, Genesis 6:3, Exodus 31:3 Matt 3:16, 1 Corinthians 2:11-14, 2 Corinthians 3:3, etc
– Spirit of wisdom
– Spirit of God (1 John 4:2)
– Spirit of the Lord (2 Kg 2:16)
– etc.
The hyper-grace church keeps justifying themselves by saying: “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17 NKJV).” Yes, this verse is from the bible. But what really is “Grace and Truth”?
This “grace and truth” is referring to the Holy Spirit. Which means Moses left behind the “law”. Jesus left behind the “Holy Spirit” or “Grace and True.”
The entire book of John chapters 14, 15, and 16 are saying that when Jesus is away, the Father will send another Advocate or Helper. The emphasis here is that Jesus will not leave believers as orphans. And the Advocate or Helper is referring to the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, John 14:27 is saying “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (NKJV).”
Briefly, this “Peace” is referring to the Holy Spirit. In the nutshell, Jesus is saying He is going to leave “Peace” or “Holy Spirit” for believers in John 14:27. If we will backtrace, verse 26 is saying that the Advocate is the teacher that teaches believers in all things and brings them all things. Essentially, the Holy Spirit is believers’ peace in this era by teaching believers all the truth. And the truth will set them free.
If “Peace” is referring to the Holy Spirit, Melchizedek is not a type of Jesus then. The Bible tells us that the Melchizedek is the priest of the Most High God, King of Peace (Salem), and King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7). This means Melchizedek is the King of Peace, the picture of the Holy Spirit (Not Jesus).
Again Hebrews 7 is telling believers that Melchizedek is resembling (Liking) the Son of God (Hebrews 7:3 NIV). That means He is “alike” but not the Son of God. Furthermore, Hebrews 7:3 also tells believers that the Melchizedek does not have a genealogy, without a father and mother. Nevertheless, Jesus has had an earthly father and a heavenly Father. Jesus’ earthly genealogy can be found in the book of Matthew and Luke. Thus, Melchizedek can not be Jesus.
Interestingly, there is a change in Hebrews 7:11-28. These verses are making a comparison and contrast of Levitical priesthood; law and the new covenant. In short, under the new covenant, the priesthood is in the order of Melchizedek, no longer through the levitical priesthood.
The scripture reference is Hebrews 7:17 which says: “For He testifies:
“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (NKJV)
Should Melchizedek be Jesus, verse 17 shall read as:
“Jesus is the priesthood forever in the order of Jesus.” Does that sound funny?
Amazingly, Hebrews 7:12 is saying: “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity, there is also a change of the law (NKJV)”
Abraham gave tithe and received holy communion from Melchizedek (Genesis 14). Today, believers receive holy communion and give the tithe to the church. In the current age, the Holy Spirit is in the church. Should the hyper-grace church still says no more law (Under the new covenant), they should not collect tithe now. Since the Moses Law is inherited from levitical law; the old covenant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hebrews 7:11-12 is saying:
– Under Levitical priesthood, God gives Moses Law, and;
– Under the Melchizedek priesthood, God gives Christ’s law, or the Holy Spirit, a different law. Essentially, the priesthood determines the law system and not the other way, as most teaching advocates.
In most of Paul’s letters, he is making comparisons and contrast between the “Law and Spirit”. Of course, modern teaching refers to this as “Law and Grace”. It sounds like “Grace” is no law to hyper-grace teaching.
However, Hebrews 7:11-12 is saying under a specific priesthood, God gives a different “Law”. Last but not least, should we relook at John 1:17, it can be read as:
“For the law was given through Moses, but a different law (known as grace and truth) came through Jesus Christ.” It should be an apple-to-apple comparison; a contrast of two different but similar things.
The Holy Spirit is the “Grace and Truth”. And it doesn’t mean that “Grace and Truth” have no law. Certainly, “Grace” is “Unearned, unmerited favour”. It means believers can not earn or undeserved to have (possessed) the Holy Spirit.
And in many instances, believers are having the prompting (of the Spirit) to go ahead or against certain acts. These promptings are from the Holy Spirit. That is how the new covenant is much more effective in ministering than a law that is written on the stone; written outside of individuals. The Holy Spirit gives real-time prompting, and approval to the believers from within instantaneously. In addition, under the new covenant, the law is written in believers’ minds and hearts (Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 10:16)
Continue reading:
The law is being canceled.
LAW (1) – JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
LAW (2) – JESUS UPHOLDS THE LAW (CIRCUMCISION)
BELIEVE AND THE GOSPEL
