Sunday October 28, 2012
Hebrews 7: 28
For the law appoints as high priest men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
The anonymous writer of Hebrews wants to bridge the seeming theological divide between the old and the new. The old is summarized by the term “law”, which to the writer included all of historical Jewish experience and worship lead by very human priests. The author claims that in the person of Jesus the new and singularly efficacious priest has come amongst us, he is the forever priest. He was sent to us to remedy our disobedience problem, forever!
The question may be asked, was Jesus, the great high priest, a time sensitive and limited savior redeemer for just the few? Was he sent to be the disobedience remedy for the few? From the record of Christian history the Church built fences or theological boundaries around the incarnation almost relegated Jesus to mere folk hero status. Does the great high priest have authority over the sin of all mankind, over the living and the dead as well as all generations yet to happen? It would seem that to this reader that the writer of Hebrews so believed.
How big is the incarnation to the apostle Paul? He was the biggest risk taking missionary in the early Church, telling of the power of the Savior to cure the sin problem for the living. Was the thrust of his redemptive message only for the living? In Romans 11 he had no limits on the power of God to save those who lived by the old way.
Romans 11: 28, 32
A far as the gospel is concerned, they (his Jewish ancestors) are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
The little word “all” is the biggest word in Scripture. If Paul so believed about those of his own family who were trying to kill him, why do we believers send every Tom, Dick and Harry to hell? There is no such hellish eternal, forever future awaiting anyone, God is big enough to work his will in everyone, preferably before death but his “election” or will is not limited by death.
Some years ago I was impressed to so believe despite being raised in the Church with a spirit of fear that assumed the heaven and hell scenario. I was relieved and surprised to discover from the writings of others, including the Bible, that the universalistic Grace of God has always been a minority but neglected dogma in the Church. It has been neglected by the Church for selfish reasons, believing that such an understanding of God's Grace would discourage evangelism and the giving of money to the immediate Church .
G.Goslaw
Landers, Ca
