Topical Bible: the High Priest Christ: Offered Himself a Sacrifice

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The role of the High Priest in the Old Testament was central to the religious life of Israel, serving as the mediator between God and the people. The High Priest was responsible for offering sacrifices to atone for the sins of the nation, particularly on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is presented as the ultimate High Priest who offers Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin.

Christ as High Priest

The Epistle to the Hebrews provides the most comprehensive exposition of Christ's high priesthood. Hebrews 4:14-15 states, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin." This passage highlights both the divinity and humanity of Christ, emphasizing His ability to empathize with human frailty while remaining sinless.

The Sacrifice of Christ

Unlike the Levitical priests who offered animal sacrifices repeatedly, Christ offered Himself once for all. Hebrews 7:27 declares, "Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself." This singular, unrepeatable act underscores the sufficiency and completeness of Christ's sacrifice.

The Nature of the Sacrifice

The sacrifice of Christ was both voluntary and substitutionary. In John 10:17-18 , Jesus states, "The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father." Here, Jesus affirms His willing participation in the divine plan of redemption, acting in obedience to the Father.

The Efficacy of the Sacrifice

The sacrifice of Christ is efficacious in that it accomplishes what the Old Testament sacrifices could not—complete atonement and reconciliation with God. Hebrews 9:12 explains, "He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption." The blood of Christ, unlike the blood of animals, secures eternal redemption for believers.

Christ's Ongoing Intercession

Following His sacrificial death, Christ continues His high priestly ministry through intercession. Hebrews 7:25 states, "Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them." This ongoing intercession assures believers of their secure standing before God, as Christ continually advocates on their behalf.

Conclusion

The high priesthood of Christ and His self-offering as a sacrifice are central to the Christian understanding of salvation. Through His perfect sacrifice, Christ fulfills the Old Testament sacrificial system, providing a new and living way for believers to approach God with confidence.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 9:14,26
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether the Effect of the Priesthood of Christ Pertained not Only ...
... the priest of the Old Law offered sacrifice not only ... written (Lev.16:17) that "the
high-priest goeth into ... Israel." Therefore the priesthood of Christ also had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of the.htm

Christ as Righteousness; as the Demiurge, the Agent of the Good ...
... with the question of the greater than the demiurge; Christ we have ... sin; and in
consequence He is a great High-Priest, having offered Himself as the ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of john/40 christ as righteousness as.htm

Whether the Effect of Christ's Priesthood is the Expiation of Sins ...
... Reply to Objection 1: Although Christ was a priest, not as ... Word of God did not become
our High-Priest and Apostle ... one with Him to Whom it was offered, united in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of christs.htm

The Great High-Priest.
... of our own we ascribe to Christ's death what is ... 77] He was perfecting Himself to
be our High-priest. ... He was rendering Himself fit to be the sacrifice offered. ...
/.../chapter iv the great high-priest.htm

Priest and victim
... the great hand that presented the Lamb of God as the one sacrifice for sin was the
hand of the Christ of God: "He offered up himself." Our High Priest is of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/priest and victim.htm

Fifth Sunday in Lent
... CHRIST OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST. 1 ... sacrifices. But Christ offered himself in the
heart before God. His sacrifice was perceptible to no mortal. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fifth sunday in lent.htm

Christ Our High Priest.
... of others, to make atonement for the sins of Israel; but Christ, as the high priest
of the good things to come, has entered the holy place on high, with His ...
/.../xi christ our high priest.htm

Whether the Priesthood of Christ Endures for Ever?
... laid down, Lev.16:11, and yet he offered up the ... Reply to Objection 2: Although Christ's
passion and death are ... Law in that, once a year, the high-priest of the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priesthood of christ.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... person"this unique and solitary high-priest, accomplishes what ... ever: there is no
other atoning priest, no other ... to notice the results of Christ's one offering ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm

Of the True and Perfect Sacrifice.
... God as our sacrifice through the great High Priest, who offered ... Mediator, in this
He is our Priest, in this ... Christians: we, being many, are one body in Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 6 of the true and.htm