August 25, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
MEANING of ‘SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH’
When Christ, the anti-typical “Lamb of God” expired on the cross on 31 A.D, a victor over all the temptations and sins that all mankind is subject to, He rose on the “third day” a victor over death and the grave and ascended to the heavenly sanctuary to assume His office and work as High Priest (embracing the functions as Advocate, Mediator and Intercessor) for penitent and repentant sinners. This is the Priesthood of Christ as typified by the Aaronic and Levitical priesthood and their function and work throughout the Old Testament Mosaic era up to the first coming of Christ as the prophesied Messiah.
When Christ has finished His work on earth the Bible tells us that He ascended to heaven and “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” [God the Father].
“Sat down does not here denote the mere act of sitting, but is a formal seating, as an inauguration or installation into office. It is a word of delegated power; of investiture with authority; a formal acknowledgement of the RIGHT to exercise office; a coronation. It marks the beginning of activity, not the end.”
“The idea that Christ, having done His work on earth, sits down to REST, awaiting results, is wide of the truth. The Father installs and addresses Him as High Priest, gives Him the HIGHEST place by His right hand, and AUTHORIZES Him to function as Mediator ‘after the order of Melchizedek.’”
“In this is included the LAST PHASE of the atonement, which comprises Christ’s work in the sanctuary above and His work in the church below.”
“It is this phase of which [the epistle] Hebrews speaks of when it says that Christ is ‘able to save to the UTTERMOST that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.’ Heb. 7:25.”
“The induction, or coronation, of Christ took place consequent upon His ascension. He had fulfilled the conditions laid upon Him; He had lived a perfect life, and had overcome Satan. He had suffered and at last had died on Calvary; the blood had been shed, by and through which He was to enter the holy places in heaven; and now He was ready to begin His work as Priest. By His coronation God recognized His right to the [antitypical] priesthood, seated Him at His own right hand [the ultimate hand of authority], and God-man [the Creator incarnated into flesh-and-blood human nature], takes His place BESIDE the Father on the throne of the universe [John in the Revelation describes is as “the great white throne’].” M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 60, 61.
“Today, If you will hear His voice [the ‘still small voice” of the invisible Holy Spirit speaking to the conscience], harden not your hearts.” Why? As God warned the antediluvians through Noah, “My Spirit will not always strive with man.” Jesus warned, “As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of man,” and apostle Paul warns: “Grieve not the Holy Spirit by which ye are sealed unto the day of your redemption.” Eph 4:30.
God bless all. NMF