The Priest Who Brings Us Back to God

Introduction

In the beginning, Adam and Eve walked freely with God in the garden. There was no temple, no altar, no barrier. Humanity lived in perfect fellowship with its Creator. But when sin entered, that open relationship was shattered. Ever since, people have tried to rebuild what was lost. They built altars, offered sacrifices, and appointed priests—always reaching upward, hoping to bridge the distance sin created.

Hebrews chapter 7 tells the story of how God Himself built the bridge back to us through a new kind of Priest. The writer points to a man from the book of Genesis named Melchizedek. His story may seem small, but it reveals a huge truth: God’s plan of redemption was never confined to one nation, system, or ritual. It was always about restoring the direct fellowship we lost in Eden.

Imagine three circles. The largest represents Adam and Eve’s open relationship with God. The next circle, smaller, represents Melchizedek—a man outside of Israel who still knew and served the true God. The smallest circle represents the priesthood of Aaron, where only one tribe, one family, and one man could approach God once a year. When Jesus came, He expanded the circle again. Through Him, we are invited back into that first, wide fellowship with God.

Part 1: God’s Unexpected Pattern — Melchizedek

Melchizedek appears suddenly in Genesis 14. He meets Abraham after a battle and blesses him in the name of “God Most High.” Abraham, in turn, gives him a tenth of all he has. The story is brief, but it’s full of meaning.

In a culture where genealogy defined everything, Melchizedek stands apart. There is no record of his father or mother, no mention of his birth or death. In Scripture, that silence matters. It’s as though God left the page blank to show that this priesthood did not depend on ancestry or human tradition. It came directly from God.

He ruled in a place called Salem—probably the early name for Jerusalem—and served as both king and priest. Long before Israel existed, this man represented God to his people. He was not part of Abraham’s family line; by definition, he was a Gentile. Yet he worshiped and served the true God.

The book of Hebrews points back to this moment to prove something radical: God’s blessing has never been limited to one nation or religious system. When Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, he was recognizing the authority of a priesthood greater than his own descendants would ever have. The lesser (Abraham) was blessed by the greater (Melchizedek). In that simple act, God hinted that one day He would raise up a priesthood beyond Israel—a priesthood that could include all people.

Melchizedek’s very name carries the message: King of Righteousness and King of Peace. Righteousness and peace—these are the two things humanity has longed for since Eden, and they would find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Part 2: God’s Eternal Replacement — Jesus Changes the System

The writer of Hebrews asks a sharp question: If the old priesthood worked, why did God promise another? The priests of Levi offered countless sacrifices, but none could make the people truly clean. The system of law could show sin, but it could not remove it.

So God changed the priesthood. And when the priesthood changes, the law itself must change (Hebrews 7:12). Under the new covenant, the priest does not come from Levi but from Judah—the tribe of kings. Jesus’ priesthood is different in every way. It doesn’t rest on family records or ceremonial rules but on one unchanging truth: He lives forever.

The priests of old were many because they died one after another. Their work was never done. But Jesus’ priesthood is built “after the power of an endless life.” He will never die again, and His work will never need to be repeated.

The author of Hebrews reminds us that this was confirmed with an oath: “The Lord has sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” No Levitical priest ever received such an oath. God Himself declared that Jesus would be the final, eternal High Priest.

The old system was good in purpose but weak in power. It could symbolize forgiveness but not secure it. Jesus brought something better—an unbreakable covenant grounded in His own perfect life and death.

Part 3: God’s Perfect Priest — Jesus Restores Fellowship

Under the old covenant, people always needed someone to stand between them and God. They needed sacrifices to cover sin and priests to offer them. Even the high priest could only enter the Most Holy Place once a year, and only with blood that could never truly remove guilt.

But now, through Jesus Christ, everything has changed. He is both the priest and the sacrifice. His offering of Himself on the cross accomplished what thousands of animal sacrifices never could—true and total forgiveness.

Hebrews 7:25 says, “He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” That means He is always representing you before the Father. You never stand alone. When you sin, when you struggle, when you fail—your Priest is still there, alive and active, pleading your case by His own blood.

The old priests died and had to be replaced. Jesus lives forever. The old priests offered for their own sins first. Jesus had no sin of His own. The old priests repeated sacrifices endlessly. Jesus offered one perfect sacrifice once for all.

When He died, the temple veil tore from top to bottom. God was saying, “The way is open.” The barrier between heaven and earth was gone. Through Christ, we return to the full circle of fellowship God intended in the beginning.

Conclusion

The story of the priesthood is the story of God bringing humanity back to Himself. Melchizedek was God’s pattern. Aaron was humanity’s attempt. Jesus is God’s perfection.

He is the Priest who brings us back to God—the One who opened the circle again. His priesthood never ends, His intercession never ceases, and His invitation never closes.

So when you come to Him, you don’t approach through a ritual or a religious system. You come through a living Savior who welcomes you with open arms.

Take-Home Truth: Because Jesus’ priesthood is eternal and perfect, you can come boldly to God and never be turned away.

Short reminder: Trust the Greater Priest.

Invitation – The Priest Who Brings Us Back to God

A Call to Respond

The message of Hebrews 7 is not just a lesson about ancient priests; it is a living invitation from the heart of God. Jesus Christ is not a distant religious figure—He is the living Priest who stands between heaven and earth, offering reconciliation, forgiveness, and peace to anyone who will come.

When truth like this is spoken, we are all standing somewhere on the path of response. Some are believers who need to draw closer again. Some are seekers who have not yet decided. And some have never trusted Christ at all. This invitation is for each of them.

1. For the Believer – Draw Near Again

Maybe you know the Lord, but you’ve drifted. You’ve let prayer grow cold, or guilt convince you that God doesn’t want to hear from you. Remember this: your Priest ever lives to make intercession for you. His door is never closed.

You don’t need to earn His favor again—you need only to return. The veil is torn. You are welcome in His presence.

Come and kneel. Talk to Him again. Bring the things you’ve been hiding in your heart—the sins, the fears, the disappointments. He knows them already, and He loves you still. The same Savior who saved you by grace keeps you by grace. Come boldly, for your High Priest is alive.

2. For the Unbeliever – Come for the First Time

You may have believed that reaching God required religion, effort, or good works. But Jesus ended that struggle on the cross. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once for all. No other priest, ritual, or payment is needed.

If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, this is the moment to come. You can pray simply from your heart:

“God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for me and rose again. I accept Him now as my Savior and trust His sacrifice for my forgiveness.”

When you turn to Him in faith, your sins are forgiven, your soul is made clean, and your place in heaven is secure. You no longer stand far off—you are brought near by the blood of Christ.

3. For the One on the Fence – Stop Waiting

Perhaps you have heard these truths many times. You agree that Jesus is the only way, yet you keep waiting—waiting for proof, for a feeling, or for a better time. But faith is not built on waiting; it is built on trusting.

The same God who spoke to Abraham still calls today. The same Savior who interceded for Peter still prays for you. Don’t stay in the middle ground. You will not find peace there.

Today, step toward Him. If your heart is uncertain, pray this:

“Lord, help my unbelief. I want to know You. Show me Your truth, and give me the courage to follow it.”

God honors honest hearts. He meets those who take even one small step toward Him.

Closing Appeal

Wherever you stand tonight—whether you are near, far, or somewhere in between—Jesus Christ stands ready as your Priest. He is not calling you to a system but to Himself. The door to God’s presence is open. The circle has been widened again.

Come. Speak to Him. Let the One who never dies bring you back into fellowship with the God who never stopped loving you.