1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

priest, neither as men are the saintsmembers of the royal priesthood, but as"new creatures" they shall hold andexecute their office. Jesus as a "newcreature," "partaker of the divinenature" (which he was from the time ofhis baptism) was the priest, and as apriest he offered up his perfect humannature an acceptable sacrifice to God.He consecrated or offered himself insacrifice before he became the priest, butthe anointing was necessary to enablehim to accomplish the sacrifice as well asto apply its benefits to men. The humannature, when sacrificed, could do nothingmore; it must remain a sacrifice forever;but the new nature, fully developed inthe resurrection, has "all power inheaven and in earth." Matt. 28:18.The new nature (the priest) is not ofthe Aaronic order; it does not trace itslineage to any human source. This factis strikingly typified in the priesthood ofMelchisedec, whose lineage is not recorded,and thus is typified the endlesslife of Christ. In this type the work ofsacrifice is not shown, as he representsthe Christ glorified and reigning after thework of sacrifice has been completed,and the divine nature fully perfected.In Heb. 7, this Melchisedec is declaredto be greater than Abraham, thus showingthat the divine Christ will be greater,and therefore able to bless the "friendsof God" on the human plane."Wherefore he [Christ] is able to savethem to the uttermost, that come untoGod by him, seeing he ever liveth tomake intercession for them. For sucha high priest became us, who is holy,harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,and made higher than the heavens"[of the divine nature]. Heb. 7:25,26.And this blessed assurance of such apriest, so mighty to save, is confirmedunto us by the oath of Jehovah. (Heb. 7:21;Psa. 110:4.) What strong consolation