June 2008 - Vol 4, Issue 1

In this issue...
-- What is Clear Biblical Teaching? (Part 4)
-- Hear Dr. Whitcomb speak this month
-- May was new record month on SA for WMI

What is Clear Biblical Teaching? (Part 4)
By Dr. John C. Whitcomb

The Melchizedekian high priesthood of Christ is one of the clear, "solid-food teachings" of the Bible. To most Christians, however, this is not an easy concept to understand. It is therefore often neglected and ignored. Let us note these points:

1) Melchizedek (Hebrew: "king of righteousness") was a king-priest in Salem (which later became Jerusalem - Psalm 76:2) about 4,000 years ago. He blessed Abraham and received from him a tithe of all his spoils of war (Gen. 14:18-20). He was therefore, in the sight of God, a very important ruler. For a highly significant reason, however, the Holy Spirit did not record his genealogy: neither parents nor children, neither ancestors nor descendants. Because of this, some believe Melchizedek was an angel, or even a theophany (an appearance of God). But no angel could function as a king on the earth; and he was not an appearance of Christ, for the Bible tells us that he was "made like unto the Son of God" (Heb. 7:3). Thus, he was a genuine descendant of Adam, of whom nothing more is known.

2) A thousand years later, God the Father announced to David that His Son was "a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4), not according to the order of Aaron. We know that Aaron's high priesthood began more than 500 years after Abraham (and Melchizedek), and was severely limited by the sin natures and short life-spans of those who held this office (Heb. 7:23, 27).

3) Nearly 500 years after David, God confirmed that Messiah ("the Branch") "shall be a priest upon his throne [thus, a King-Priest]: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both" (Zech. 6:13).

4) More than 500 years after this prophecy, God explained the true significance and need for a High Priest who is infinitely superior to Aaron's line, namely Christ the Lord (Heb. 7:23-28). Eight times the author of Hebrews refers to Melchizedek. This amazing king received a tithe from Abraham (and thus from his descendants, including Levi [Heb. 7:4-10]). To confirm his superiority, he even blessed Abraham, and "without all contradiction, the less is blessed of the better" (Heb. 7:7). Furthermore, Aaron's priesthood was not inaugurated with a divine oath, but Christ's Melchizedekian high priesthood was (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 7:20-21).

What kind of a high priest, then, is Jesus Christ the Lord? He is eternal (not temporal like Aaronic high priests). He is sinless (not sinful like Aaron and his descendants). He is divine (not finite like Aaron). He offered Himself as the payment for our sins (not a mere animal).

This is the only kind of High Priest that can take us to heaven, intercede for us, and meet our total need! "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession . . . Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those [Aaronic] high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself" (Heb. 4:14, 7:25-27).

Does the Melchizedekian high priesthood of Christ constitute "clear biblical teaching? Yes - if we carefully and prayerfully study all that God has told us about this vital truth! May God help us, then, to move from spiritual infancy and mere milk to the realm of solid theological teaching, for "strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14) in the life-transforming realm of biblical revelation.

To Be Continued...

Hear Dr. Whitcomb speak this month
Our Internet ministry is reaching people around the globe with the gospel and solid Biblical teaching. Please pray also for Dr. Whitcomb's personal ministries in the following locations at this season.

From Friday, Aug. 29, to Sunday, Aug. 31, Dr. Whitcomb will speak on "The Creation of the Church" at The Living Hope Church of Winchester, Wis. For more information, call Pastor Richard Krenz at 715-686-7502.

From Friday, Sept. 12, to Sunday, Sept. 14, Dr. Whitcomb will teach on prophecy at the Martensdale Community Church of Martensdale, Iowa. For more information, call Pastor Gary Crandall at 641-764-2491 or visit www.martensdalecommunitychurch.com.

From Monday, Sept. 15, to Friday, Sept. 19, Dr. Whitcomb will lecture on the book of Job at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary of Ankeny, Iowa. For more information, call Dr. John Hartog III at 515-964-0601 or visit www.faith.edu.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, and Wednesday, Sept. 24, Dr. Whitcomb will speak on creation at the Creation Evidence Expo to be held in Indianapolis, Ind. For more information, call Pastor Fredrick Boyd, Jr. at 317-345-9072 or visit www.creationevidenceexpo.org.

From Tuesday, Sept. 30, to Friday, Oct. 10, Dr. Whitcomb will lecture on the book of Genesis at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake, N.Y. For more information, call Dr. Tom Davis at 518-494-4723 or visit www.wol.org/biblei.

From Friday, Oct. 17, to Sunday, Oct. 19, Dr. Whitcomb will preach on "The Bible & Science" at the Philadelphia Baptist Church of Conyers, Ga. For more information, call Pastor Steve Love at 770-483-7789, or visit www.pbchurch.org.

On Thursday, Oct. 23, and Friday, Oct. 24, Dr. Whitcomb will speak at the Faith Bible Institute and Pastors' Luncheon in Everett, Penn. For more information, call Pastor Walter Hoard at 814-652-5578, or visit www.faithbiblepa.com.

On Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26, Dr. Whitcomb will preach at the Fellowship Baptist Church of Lakeland, Fla. For more information, call Dr. Rick Piatt at 863-646-3318, or visit www.fellowshipbc-lakeland.org.

On Monday, Oct. 27, and Tuesday, Oct. 28, Dr. Whitcomb will teach at the Sunshine State Regular Baptist Bible Conference, to be held at the Fellowship Baptist Church of Lakeland, Fla. For more information, call Dr. Rick Piatt at 863-646-3318, or visit www.fellowshipbc-lakeland.org.

From Wednesday, Oct. 29, to Friday, Oct. 31, Dr. Whitcomb will speak at the Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa. For more information, call Melody Maines at 515-964-0601 or visit www.faith.edu.

For additional details about these events, please visit our web pages at www.whitcombministries.org and www.sermonaudio.com/whitcomb.

(*Answers in Genesis-sponsored event. For more information on these conferences, visit www.answersingenesis.org/events.)

May was new record month on SA for WMI
With all glory to our great Lord God, Whitcomb Ministries is very pleased to announce that May was our biggest month ever on SermonAudio.com!

We had 8,101 messages listened to or downloaded during May, bringing our cumulative total to more than 185,000.

We thank each and every person throughout the world who is helping us fulfill our ministry by making use of the recordings which we provide on this wonderful Web site. The month of July marks our fifth anniversary of broadcasting there. We thank God for the many new friends we have made -- around the world -- during that time.