Who Is This Melchisedec?

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem,

priest of the most high God,

who met Abraham returning from

the slaughter of the kings, and blessed

him; to whom also Abraham gave a

tenth part of all; first being by 

interpretation King of righteousness,

and after that also King of Salem, which is,

King of peace; without father, without

mother, without descent, having

neither beginning of days, nor end

of life, but made like unto the Son

of God; abideth a priest continually.

Hebrews 7:1-3 

      Over the years there has been many different interpretation as to who Melchisedec was and some even went so far as to establish that all Christians were to give at least a 10th, a tithe to the Church. Some have speculated that Melchisedec was Jesus Christ, a theophany, or Christophany and several doctrines were developed by those speculations and interpretations. So then, we must take time to ferret out the truth according to Scripture and not mere speculations, or presuppositions. 

     In Hebrews chapter five the nature of the priesthood of Jesus Christ was treated of and in this chapter (7) it is treated in a larger manner. For the Hebrews genealogy was most important and kept for all to read and see, to handle disputes over land, etc...., and the Hebrew writer writes of the genealogy of Melchisedec, for him to be without genealogy. Why? The name of Melchisedec was not to be found in the public genealogical records, his father and mother were unknown. There is no record of his birth or death, it is as if he had always been and will always be, no record exists. Also, Abraham gave to Melchisedec a tenth, a tithe to Melchisedec so we must then examine this action. In the world from those heathen writers they tell of the customary giving of a tenth of spoils to religious leaders, therefore it was not uncommon for this to be done and Abraham followed this custom. Remember, Abraham came from the area around Babylon, a people that did not believe in Jehovah, and they gave tithes from victors to religious leaders. It was part of their worship. There were followers of Jehovah in the land of the Babylonians and Abraham was one of those followers but he also was influenced by the customs of the land. Therefore it is a bit of a stretch to use this tithing of Abraham as a rule for Christians who are under a New Covenant. This rule of giving of a tithe became a requirement under the Old Covenant of the Hebrews. Yes, we are required as Christian to give money, time, and support as God places this upon the heart, but not to give before covering all bills for to not do so is to demonstrate a poor witness. 

     As I wrote there are and have been many opinions about Melchisedec, some that he was an angel, some state that he was an emanation of God, or actually the Son of God, but all these opinions cannot stand the test for what we know from Scripture is that Melchisedec was a righteous and peaceful king, a worshiper and priest of the Most High God, living in the land of Canaan, a friend of Abraham and had a rank above Abraham. If we hold to the opinion that Melchisedec was Jesus Christ, then we would be forced to adopt the interpretation, that Christ is like unto Himself. Was not that which the writer of Hebrews wrote? Yes! Melchisedec was "made like," and to be made like is not to make him to be anything else, a representation, and that representation was of Jesus Christ.  

     For Abraham to be deemed, by his posterity, to be the patriarch and head of all of his descendants, to hold pre-eminence in rank, then by his action towards Melchisedec by paying him dues acknowledges his inferiority to Melchisedec, therefore the descendants of Abraham are also inferior to Melchisedec. Let us look at that statement: it is built upon the oriental method to estimate descent and rank, and would follow as seen in the Jewish manner of reasoning, that the priesthood of Melchisedec was a rank higher or superior than that of Levi. Many of the things needed by the Jewish people due to their condition and times, urged upon them, are less applicable to us, merely because our circumstances differ so much from them. 

     This Hebrew writer is giving to us the excellency of Jesus Christ and does so by comparison with Melchisedec and later we will find that this true also of the Levites. This writer is proving upon principles received by themselves, the faith, and principles of the ancient people of Israel.      

     I will after Thanksgiving, as I will take that day off, to give more information that is to be found in Scripture and show the intent and revelation why this writer was inspired to write what he wrote and make application to our time. 

Have a great thanksgiving, eat much, sleep much, and do not forget to give thanks for our freedoms, for our nation, and most of all: the greatest blessing to us from God: Jesus Christ!

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings:

     be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice

    with trembling.

                  Psalm 1:10-11

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Richard L. Crumb  

How To Live As A Chosen One By God

For the earth which drinketh in the rain

that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth

forth herbs meet for them by whom 

it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 

 but that which beareth thorns and briers

is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing;

whose end is to be burned.

Hebrews 6:7-8

     This illustration has a two-fold application: 1. The earth is blessed when good things are come upon it, a blessing from God for all good is from God, that is, as all things are ordained of God He allows means to accomplish His purpose and in this case we are blessed for God provided a means to grow food. Do good and good things will happen to you. 2. If a person lives a life of bad, a thing which God has also ordained, that is, He will not put His hand out to save you from that which you know is wrong. He will allow it, and by your bad choice you will not receive a blessing of good, and only have in the end destruction. The writer of Hebrews goes on to explain his illustration: "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak" (Hebrew 6:9). God in creating this world provided what is needed for this world, rain, sun, fog, trees, water, etc.... all that is needed for life. You are blessed even if you are not a Christian for all participate in this blessing of God. An Authentic Christian has a blessing above that which all men are blessed and that blessing is salvation. This salvation does not come about by any of your works no matter how good they are, but many are blessed do to your good works. This general blessing can come from anyone, Christian or non-Christian, but, if they come by means of your faith in Jesus Christ, in God who blesses His people with salvation, then there is a special blessing for anyone who will receive that blessing. As James stated: "Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone, Yea, a man may say, Thu hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:17-18). To say that dead faith is alone is to say that it is done for reasons other than Authentic Christian Faith, it for self aggrandizement, and not for and with Jesus Christ. Out of our Authentic Christian Faith comes authentic works, works that will have a blessing from God for it is done with God, not for Him, but with Him and accomplishes His purpose, a purpose to reveal Himself and His salvation. Apathy does not do anyone any good, but too many Christians have become apathetic or are working in some Christian service with other reasons than to be a true Authentic Christian in service for God, for they do this service hoping to get some applause. God sees the heart: "For is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:10-12). This work of love is for the name of God, for Jesus Christ Who is God, come in the flesh, showing us how to love and this will take and does take diligence, not for some time but for all time until you reach heaven. That is the promise of God, again, not do to your works but by the faithful and true promise of God given before you did anything: "For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swear by Himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee" (Hebrews 6:13-14). God made a promise and that promise has the highest surety, God Himself and we can be assured then that God Who is true to Himself will keep His promises. So why will we not? "And so, after he had endured, he obtained the promises. For men verily swear by the greater; and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel,  confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Hebrews 6:15-20). 

     Question: Have you fled, fled from this old world that is coming to destruction, and in the present is attempting to destroy you now? Are you fleeing to God or from God? Are you laying hold of the sure promises of God? Is God your anchor? We have Jesus Christ Who died for our sins, and did so willingly, not as some created creature, rather, it was God who paid this debt for you by Himself, through His Wisdom Who became the Only Begotten Son of God. Are you willing to set aside your hopes for success in this world to be successful for God, for Jesus Christ? We all must make a choice and I pray that your choice will be for God, for His Son, and lay hold of the greatest of all promises, everlasting life.

Give thanks unto the LORD,

     for He is good: for His

mercy endureth forever.

     Let the redeemed of the LORD

say so, whom He hath redeemed

    from the hand of the enemy

                   Psalm 107:1-2

God redeemed you: live for Him

Richard L. Crumb

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

For it is impossible for those who were

once enlightened, and have tasted

of the heavenly gift, and were made 

partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have

tasted the good word of God, and the

powers of the world to come, if they

shall fall away, to renew them again

unto repentance; seeing they crucify

to themselves the Son of God afresh,

and put Him to open shame.

Hebrews 6:4-6

     Jesus did not sugar-coat His words, He spoke the truth no matter what if may cost, to Him, or to those hearing Him. "Pick up your cross and follow me", or, "Deny yourself, even fathers, mothers, sisters, daughters, son, or anyone else," harsh! Not often spoken by preachers in today's cultural Christianity. The Greek word: άδύνατον: to be without power to do a thing, impossible, this word so strong we must not sugar-coat it in anyway. It is "impossible" with no possibility. For whom? Those who have been enlightened. Sometimes it is very infuriating because some will allow their presuppositions to translate a word to mean what the word or the context does not warrant. For instance some will say that this word "enlightenment" stands for "baptism" which this word does not even imply. What this word stands for is found in the grammar, for it is a passive participle, and in this grammar it is being used metaphorically of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9; Ephesians 1:18; 3:9). In the second or the third century this Greek word took on a mystical sense and applied to being given something when baptized as in baptismal regeneration, or to be given anything when a person is baptized. Baptism is simply a person's outward display of what occurred inwardly, publicly or privately, either way a person is physically confirming their commitment to Jesus Christ. 

     A person who has tasted all the good things from the word of God, and come to know the power of the coming of Jesus Christ and the the heavenly kingdom, to have become a partaker of the Holy Spirit, then fall away: how can they be renewed to repentance? It is impossible, they have put the Lord Jesus Christ to shame, they crucify Jesus Christ once more. A person has come to be convicted of their sins and became satisfied by the word of God that it was good, a holy and salutary, and that they were to attend to the word of God, to those gifts given to them, but they did not, their old nature hardened their hearts and the new nature of Jesus Christ having been now replaced the become unregenerated and crucify Jesus Christ over and over again. Some have gone so far to renounce the Christian religion, they even have blasphemed the name of Jesus Christ. Their roots were shallow, and what they are actually showing is: they never really converted to Jesus Christ even with all the things that they have learned and heard, they said they were, but actually they were not, their actions prove this to be true. 

     We are not speaking of "backsliding" for we are still encumbered by our old nature and the temptations of this world, we are still in an imperfect state. Do not use these verses to prove a person can lose their salvation for this is not taught in Scripture. If you truly repented, not just feel sorry for your sins, but come to know that your sin was against a Holy God, God through His Only Begotten Son will save you and preserve you. If you are committing sin over and over, the same sin, the same attitude that stands against God, you may want to take time to examine your belief and your salvation, is it real, or just something you would like to have, which? All of us should beware, cautious for we all face a precipice in which we could fall. God saves, we then do all for His glory and if we fail, we come to Him humbly knowing that it was God, His Holiness, that we have failed, not us, or them, but God. The best insurance against failing is to study His word, to pray for help from Him, and to then pragmatically do what the Bible says to do and not to do that which it says not to do. Who are we pleasing? Ourselves or God? Can't do both if dichotomy exists in our lives. 

    The love of God is greater than anything we can do or give to Him, for He gave of Himself, His Wisdom, to become flesh to die upon a cross to pay this debt of sin owed to Him, He paid it, not you, He did it when you never deserved it, so great is His love, a love that through Jesus Christ is given to all who will believe on Him and by this belief you will not hear that it is impossible for you to be renewed. Do not run from Him in fear, run to Him in love for He first loved you.

And the LORD said, I will destroy

    man whom I have created from

the face of the earth; both man, 

    and beast, and the creeping thing,

and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth

    me that I have made them. But Noah

found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

                       Genesis 6:7-8

God preserves His children

Richard L. Crumb