Question 25

Did fallen Man need a Priest?

Yes. For every High Priest is ordained for Men in Things pertaining to God,^a

Did Christ Execute the Office of a Priest?

Yes. We have a great High Priest, Jesus the Son of God,^b

Was he appointed to this Office?

Yes. For Christ glorified not himself to be made a High Priest,^c

Was he confirm’d in this Office?

Yes. For the Lord Sware, and will not Repent, thou art a Priest for ever,^d

Did Christ, as a Priest, make Atonement for Sin?

Yes. He is a merciful and faithful High Priest, to make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People,^e

Did he do this by the Sacrifice of himself?

Yes. He appear’d to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself,^f

Was he himself the Priest?

Yes. For through the Eternal Spirit he offer’d himself,^g

Was he himself the Sacrifice?

Yes. He made his Soul an offering for Sin,^h

Was he himself the Altar?

Yes. For we have an Altar,ⁱ

Would not the legal Sacrifices serve?

No. For it was not possible that the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away Sin,^j

Did God declare them insufficient?

Yes. Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldst not,^k

Was this Sacrifice necessary then?

Yes. What the Law could not do in that it was weak, that Christ did,^l

Did Christ, as a Sacrifice, bear our Sins,

Yes. His own self bare our Sins in his own Body on the Tree,^m

Did he bear them by the Father’s Appointment?

Yes. The Lord laid on him the Iniquities of us all,ⁿ

Did he suffer for them?

Yes. He was wounded for our Transgressions, and bruised for our Iniquities,^o

And not for any Sin of his own?

No. Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself,^p

Did he suffer to satisfie for Sin?

Yes. He was once offer’d to bear the Sins of many,^q

And was the Satisfaction accepted?

Yes. He gave himself for us a Sacrifice to God of a sweet smelling Savour,^r

Did Christ offer himself Voluntarily?

Yes. No Man taketh my Life from me, but I lay it down of myself,^s

Was it his own Act and Deed to make his Soul an Offering?

Yes. For he said, Father, into thine Hands I commend my Spirit,^t

Did this Sacrifice need to be Repeated?

No. For by one Offering he perfected for ever them that are Sanctified,^u

Did Christ do this for the Purchase of our Pardon?

Yes. For when he did it, he said, Father, forgive them,^v

Was it design’d to save us from Ruin?

Yes. He gave his Life a Ransom for many,^w

And to Reconcile us to God?

Yes. For he made Peace through the Blood of his Cross,^x

Is this our Plea for Peace and Pardon?

Yes. Who is he that Condemns? It is Christ that Dy’d,^y

Is Christ then the great Propitiation?

Yes. He is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not for ours only, but for the Sins of the whole World,^z

And have we hereby Access to God?

Yes. He suffer’d the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,^aa

And had the Old Testament Saints the Benefit of this Sacrifice?

Yes. For he was the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World,^bb

Doth Christ, as a Priest, make Intercession?

Yes. For he bare the Sin of many, and made Intercession for the Transgressors,^cc

Is he always doing this?

Yes. He ever lives, making Intercession,^dd

Doth he do this as an Advocate?

Yes. If any Man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous,^ee

And as a High Priest?

Yes. Aaron shall bear their Names before the Lord,^ff

Doth he make Intercession in the virtue of his Satisfaction?

Yes. For by his own Blood he entred into the holy Place,^gg

Is Christ a Priest after the Order of Aaron?

No. But after the Order of Melchizedek?^hh

Is he a Royal Priest?

Yes. For he is a Priest upon his Throne, and the Councel of Peace shall be between them both,ⁱⁱ

Is he a Priest that needs a Successor?

No. For this Man because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable Priesthood,^jj

Is he a Priest that needs a Sacrifice for himself?

No. For the Law makes Men High Priests which have Infirmity, but the Word of the Oath makes the Son, who is consecrated for evermore,^kk

Have all Believers an Interest in Christ’s Priesthood?

Yes. For we have a High Priest over the House of God,^ll

Is this an Encouragement to us in our Approaches to God?

Yes. Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace,^mm

And is this it we must depend upon for Acceptance with God?

Yes. For spiritual Sacrifices are acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ,ⁿⁿ