( HEBREWS 6:20-HEBREWS 7:1 )

As a student of God’s word for now some 45 years; It’s my desire to teach these verses or, at least set a trend toward giving you a desire to understand what is being taught here. I often say that I’m simply a vessel, the Holy Spirit is the only true teacher. With that being stated; that means that the self-same spirit that inspires me to seek to teach these verses must also be the spirit that helps you to understand what is being said and, even gain a better understanding than I might be able to teach.

Just by way of beginning; every person that we can study out in scripture has a genealogy. We can see who their parents were and , in most cases; that all the way back to Adam and Eve. That even includes Jesus Christ. You will have to study this out but, actually we see in the book of ( luke 3:23 ) the genealogy of Mary, the mother of Jesus. As you read that, it appears that it’s talking about ( the genealogy ) of Joseph but, if you study you will notice that it can’t be, it has to be Mary. We see the genealogy of Joseph in ( Matthew 1 ) notice ( verse 16 ). We can see that both Joseph and Mary can be seen in the King line of Israel. Joseph was the son of Jacob and, the son in law of Heli. He was also a descendant of David.

When we see this, if the world desires to say that Joseph was the father of Jesus, Jesus Christ was still in the King line. I personally just believe by faith that Jesus Christ was virgin born, therefore God the Father was his father. However, in the sense of being ( after the order of Melchisedec ) he had no beginning or end. We can’t find where Melchisedec had a father or mother in scripture. We never see where he died either.

Melchisedec was not a priest appointed by any man. That’s what it means when it says that ( Christ was High Priest after the order of Melchisedec ) When we see the Aaron line of priest, all of those priests were appojnted by man. The Bible says in ( John 1:1 ) In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. In ( Romans 6:9 ) it says ( Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

The reason God sent his son into this world was to ( fulfil the law ). He did what no other person could possibly do and, he done it for mankind.

I’d, once again like to point out that all these things are just for our information, we except these fact by faith, in my case without question! No one has to prove to me that Jesus is my High Priest, that he was virgin born or, that he arose from the dead. I believe that and except that by faith.

I’d like to say this as concerning me. In 1975 when I got born again; I was under great conviction by God’s Spirit. He, himself drew me a to an alter. Since then I have learned to trust his leadership. As the Apostles Paul uses these verse to teach the Nation of Israel or ( the Hebrew believers ) what he is saying here, he is seeking for that same spirit to use scripture to help them understand the priesthood of Christ.

( Hebrews 6, Verse 5 )

Whither the forerunner is entered for us.

The Hebrew children understood this in the Old Testament. For instance, if the High Priest went behind the veil and came out, that meant that they had victory over their sin. The sacrifice had been eecepted by God the Father. The resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ meant the very same thing. For any man to die without their sin-debt being paid means eternal death.

That fact needs to be understood. What exactly is ( death ) ? Or, what eaxactly is life? I know how those terms are defined by man but how does God the father see them? Because of what is being taught here, I’d like to say some things here that might truly make you, as the reader stop and think. All I ask is that you allow God’s Spirit to speak as you read.

Let’s look at;

Genesis 2:7 )

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breathe of life; and man became a living soul.

Now, since man was a living soul, did that mean that he had life? What did Jesus say?

( John 11:25 )

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live: ( 26 ) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

You can read this whole account in ( Genesis 2-3 . After Eve had bitten the friut, she then offered it to Adam. When the Serpent was tempting Eve, do you think Adam was standing there? No, he wasn’t! Satan will never cause you to fall to sin when you are walking close to our Lord. It’s when we are led away of our own lust when we fall.

Jesus said: ( I am life ). Just as soon as God formed man, he ( God the Father ) gave that man a commandment to keep. When I say this, I always point out that ( the woman ) hadn’t been created yet. Therefore, to whom was given the responsibility to tell her truth? Adam had that responsibility. I personally believe that Adam’s failure was not eating to fruit that was offered him by Eve but rather, he failed in his responsibility of giving her spiritual instruction.

( James 1:14 )

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and indiced.

Can you see how that Eve could have been drawn , by temptation to that tree, just simply lusting to see what it taste like? Lo, and behold, who met her in her temptation? Also, can you see how she should have been standing ( methphorically ) working hand and hand with her husband? She could have been right beside Adam meaning that Satan couldn’t have tempted her but,she was drawn away by her lust to know.

When Adam appeared, where was the Serpent? He had done his evil deeds and left. Noe, this is what I want you to see. When she offered the fruit to Adam, He knew exactly what he was facing when he bit that fruit. He knew, if I don’t bite or, eat this fruit; I’ll be forever seperated from my wife. He willingly bit that fruit to stay with his wife!

( 1 Timothy 2:13-14 )

For Adam was first formed, then Eve. ( 14 ) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Now, look at this verse:

( Genesis 3: 12 )

And the man said, the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

We often like to look at that verse and say that Adam was blaming ( the woman ) for what he had done but, he’s not; he’s simply stating truth. Did you notice that she didn’t make him eat of that tree did she? I also want you to notice that they both ( hid from the from the Lord ). ( Genesis 3: 8-10 ).

What happened to Adam and Eve? Adam gave in to the temptation of his wife to be with her and they both died a physical death. With that being said, when Adan and Eve ate the fruit they didn’t die physically did they? So, how did they die? They died spiritually, they seperated themselves from God the Father. However, God’s grace was with them. God shed the blood of an animal and made them a covering for their bodies. There’s a lot to learn here but, I want you to see that Adam’s actions brought forth physical death to all men. God, in his mercy and grace gave Adam and Eve ( eternal life ). Although they each had to die physically, they lived eternally.

When Jesus Christ faced death, he never yielded to the sin of his bride. Therefore, when he walked behind that veil, he was able to face death, without dying; that is, in the spiritual sense. As far as Jesus Christ being raised in the physical sense from death was for the benefit of those of that day, even us that we might know for certain that he arose from the dead.

He was raised for our justification:

( Romans 4:25 )

Who was delivered for our offences, and raised for our justification.

So, what is death and what is life? The very second that we realize that we are sinners and, we know we need a savior, God sees us as dead from that moment on. We look at death often as when we take our last breath and life when we are conceived or, when we take our first breathe. God sees us as ( with life ) the very moment that we ask Christ into our hearts. He is life!

( Romans 5:8-20 )

But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ( 9 ) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ( 10 ) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ( 11 ) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. ( 12 ) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world; and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ( 13 ) ( For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ( 14 ) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses; even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. ( 15 ) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man. Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ( 16 ) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the free gift: for the judgment was by one to comdemnation, but the free gift of many offences unto justification. ( 17 ) For by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. ) ( 18 ) Therefore as by the offence one judgment came upon all men to comdemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

To put this in perspective; when Adam sinned, physically he didn’t die right then, not in the flesh but, he did spiritually. When Jesus Christ died in the flesh, he didn’t die spiritually but only physically bringing about our ability through his blood and physical death to obtain the life eternal that he purchased for us by his actions.

Basically, if you are born once, you will die twice. Your first death will be spiritual and the second death will be eternal.

If you are born twice, you will only die once. That death will occur the moment you ask Jesus Christ to be your savior.

The second death still has nothing to do with the minute you breathe your last breathe. Look at this scripture:

( Revelation 20:10 )

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Jesus Christ died physically, look straight into the face of the law and it had no effect on him at all! The law had no power over him because of his perfection. Death could not hold him! By his resurrection he became the firstfruits of the resurrection for all that believe by faith. He, like Melchisedec had no beginning and will never have an end. In him all that trust him by faith will never face the second death. We, as believers have passed already from death unto life.

( John 5:24 )

Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.

( 1 John 3:14 )

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Many people, including to Hebrew believers struggled with the concept of ( being dead while we are still alive and, having ( life eternal ) even before we actually face physical death. However, this is what Jesus Christ was able to purchase by his perfect life and, willingness to suffer on a cross for all that believe.

I often say this. Every sin of every person that is in hell right now and, every sin of every person that ever will go; their sin-debt was paid for on the Cross of Calvary. The problem, those people just never received the free gift that Christ offered to each and every person.

Look at yourself, you are a sinner just like every man or person that ever lived. Your sin-debt is paid for, no exceotions. Have you asked Christ to be your savoir? If not, you can today. He is very willing to be your savior if you are willing to drop your pride and ask him to!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7