Andrew Murray was way ahead of his time. What a prolific, heartfelt writer that loves scripture, Jesus and Jesus followers. In this book, he carries the reader through verse by verse of the book of Hebrews. He breaks down each and every verse and virtually leaves the reader both without excuse for carrying out its tenets as well as encouraging the reader to move forward on their journey of faith. If you read Murray's book, and you choose to remain hard hearted about your own spiritual journey, it is not in any way because he hasn't fully given you the tools and equipped you to do so. Take steps forward in your life with the words of "Holiest of All."
One of my favorite passages in this book is Murray's eloquence in explaining how as Christians we see and view Christ as only our Aaron (earthly and finite priest who intercedes for us) but not as our Melchizedek (eternal priesthood who intercedes for us and brings us into eternity with Him). I see this as a transactional faith in Jesus (Aaron-you saved me now I get to go to heaven. The End.) versus a relational faith with Jesus (Melchizedek-As I trust in and lean into Jesus daily, I become more like Him and not only will I spend eternity with Him, but He is in my daily life, walking ahead of me and beside me each and every day and each and every moment that I take a breath.)
Here is an excerpt of that section of Murray's book. Read and learn. Read and rest. Read and move forward on your faith journey.
"There are too many Christians who see in Christ only the fulfilment of what Aaron typified. Christ's death and blood are very precious to them; they do seek to rest their faith upon them. And yet they wonder that they have so little of the peace and joy, of the purity and power which the Saviour gives, and which faith in Him ought to bring. The reason is simple, because Christ is only their Aaron, not their Melchizedek. They do indeed believe that He is ascended to heaven, and sits upon the throne of God ; but they have not seen the direct connection of this with their daily spiritual life. They do not count upon Jesus working in them in the power of the heavenly life, and imparting it to them. They do not know their heavenly calling, with the all-sufficient provision for its fulfilment in them secured in the heavenly life of their Priest-King. And, as a consequence of this, they do not see the need for giving up the world, to have their life and walk in heaven.....
The work of redemption was accomplished on earth in weakness (2 Cor. 4); it is communicated from heaven in resurrection and ascension power. The cross proclaims the pardon of sin; the throne gives the power over sin. The cross, with its blood-sprinkling, is the deliverance from Egypt; the throne, with its living Priest-King, brings into the rest of God and its victory. With Aaron there is nothing beyond atonement and acceptance; nothing of kingly rule and power; it is with Melchizedek that the fulness of power and blessing comes, the blessing that abideth continually. lt is as the soul no longer ever again seeks the foundation, but resting on it and it...... The more we consider and adore our blessed King-Priest, our Melchizedek, the stronger will our confidence become that from His throne in heaven He will, in divine power, Himself apply to us all the blessed fruits of His atonement, and make a life in God's presence and nearness our daily experience.”
Amen!