God's Plan For Man Final

but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until t he Se ed t o whom t he pr omi s e r e f e r r ed had c ome . The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For i f a l aw had be en g i v en t ha t c ou l d impar t l i f e , t hen r i gh t e ousne s s wou l d c e r t a i n l y hav e c ome by t he l aw . But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So t he l aw was pu t i n char g e t o l ead us t o Chr i s t t ha t we mi gh t be j us t i f i ed by f a i t h . Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Gal 3:16-23) Prophecy concerning Jesse’s root or branch from which the staff comes is articulated to reveal God’s purpose for the son to whom the promise is extended. Can anyone in good conscience say that the promise from God was for God? Was the promise extended from God veiled for a reason? Now, consider and contemplate carefully: was Jesus called to a priestly vocation? If Jesus was to fulfill that vocation, He had the attention of the teachers of the law to do exactly that. However, He rejected the worldly vocation, and told us He was the Father; in essence, His words revealed His Divinity. By their very nature, Jesus’ words clarify both prophecy and fulfillment for future generations. Perfection existed within His person; so much so, that those in mere proximity could have acquired perfection. Yet, their belief and the law held them bound. Articulated by Paul to clarify this issue he wrote, “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”

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