As one progresses in Christianity he or she must ultimately come to understand that the salvation of the soul is NOT the same thing as the salvation of the spirit.  The two salvations are related in that one cannot begin to save one’s soul until his spirit has been saved.  One’s spirit is saved when he “receives” the Holy Spirit, when he is “begotten” of God.  This comes by faith in Jesus Christ.  God gives the faith itself as a gift, by grace.  You can no more save yourself than can the man in the moon.  God sovereignly acts to bring you new, spiritual life.  It is at this point that you can first “see” the Kingdom of God.

This salvation marks the beginning of one’s spiritual life, but most Christians make it the end, and this is because this is all they believe there is.  This explains why many Christians go to church every week and hear another sermon about “getting saved.”  But, the doctrine concerning spiritual salvation is not even the colostrum, much less the milk or the meat of the Word.  It comes even before that.  The doctrine of the salvation of the soul, however, consists of the meat of the word as we see in Hebrews.

Of whom [Melchizedek] we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 ASV)

Only the word, or teaching, about righteousness explains the doctrine of the salvation of the soul.  The entire book of Hebrews gives itself to this task.  First the book introduces us to who Jesus the Christ really is. 

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.  (Hebrews 1:8 KJV)

Verse 1:8 tells us that Jesus is both the Son of God and God Himself.  Further, it describes the sceptre of his kingdom as one of righteousness.  This informs us concerning the identity of the Kingdom’s King and the nature of his kingdom.  Having fully informed us as to Christ’s identity in chapter 1, chapter 2 then begins with the first of Hebrews five warnings to believers, saying,

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him…  (Hebrews 2:1-3 KJV)

In order to understand this teaching, one must see that Hebrews addresses believers, not unbelievers.  We will totally and finally misunderstand this great book if we relegate it to the “unsaved.”   First, note that these hearers have already “heard” many of the things this writer will address.  Second, see that these dwell in danger of letting this teaching slip from their grasp.   Next, become aware that failure to hold onto these doctrines will bring punishment for transgression and disobedience.  Finally, be warned not to neglect this “great salvation!”

What could be clearer?  Hebrews speaks to Christians who live in danger of punishment because they neglect God’s great salvation.  What salvation do they neglect?  They know who Jesus is.  They believe he died for their sins.  They believe he reconciled them to God.  They have received the earnest of the Holy Spirit and have been begotten of God.  So, what is the problem?  We shall see.

The Order of Melchizedek remains one of the most unknown teachings in Scripture.  What is it?  Who makes up the group?  Can anyone besides Jesus the Messiah actually belong to this priestly order?  We first learn about “the order” of Melchizedek in the following passage:

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.  [8] Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.  [9] And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,  [10] being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
    [11] About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  [12] For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,  [13] for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.  [14] But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.  Hebrews 5:7-14 (ESV) 

Please take a few moments to re-read the above passage and take special note of the highlighted words and phrases.  These words are the keys for understanding this teaching.  I will not review the foundational teachings the writer refers to right after this in Hebrews 6 because I have done that in previous posts.  Please see chapters 19 to 25 of the Image of God series as well as my books When We Awake and Food Sacrificed to Idols.

Let’s begin this series with the little understood idea of food in Scripture.  Throughout the Bible food represents doctrine, teaching, or ideas relating to the knowledge of God and walking in his ways.  Notice in Hebrews 5:14 that only mature believers who partake of  solid food will be able to understand the Order of Melchizedek which Hebrews also calls the teaching about righteousness. 

We can see how dominant this theme of spiritual food is by reviewing the first appearance of Melchizedek.  Genesis 14 describes how four kings from the East defeat the five kings of the area of Sodom.  The four kings then take as booty all the provisions of Sodom and Gomorrah as well as certain prisoners, including Abram’s nephew Lot, which brings us to the following passage that introduces Melchizedek:

When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. [15] And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. [16] Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.
    [17] After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). [18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) [19] And he blessed him and said,
     “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
         Possessor of heaven and earth;
    [20]  and blessed be God Most High,
        who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

    And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.  Genesis 14:14-20 (ESV)

Melchizedek appears for the first time known in history with “bread and wine.”  This bread represents the body and this wine the blood of Jesus himself.  Jesus told us that we must eat his flesh and blood, which is represented by the bread and the wine, in order to live.  He told us his words were spiritual.   (This means that we are not to take them literally!  We do not actually eat flesh and blood.)  “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,” he said.  Thus Jesus teaches us to eat the spiritual truth that comes directly from him and his Father.

Good bread is God’s Word.  Good wine is God’s Spirit.  And there is also bad bread and bad wine.  Bad bread is false doctrine which always contains a mixture of God’s truth with man’s defiled flesh added to it; bad wine speaks of demonic, satanic, carnal spirituality.  The bread and wine of Melchizedek speaks of the good food of God.  Further, the relationship of Melchizedek and Abram deals with the idea that a man of faith can eat and digest the food of God.  This relates to the idea of Christians being able to assimilate the deeper truths of Christianity, doctrines that go beyond the “milk” of the Word.  The “teaching about righteousness” is one of these doctrines, one of the deep spiritual truths of God.  Anyone who becomes part of the Order of Melchizedek must understand and walk in the truth of this profound teaching.  Otherwise, he remains a child, and as we learn in the New Testament, a child does not yet possess his inheritance.

Who are the sons of disobedience?  The sons of disobedience comprise two groups of individuals, 1) those who have never believed upon Jesus as their LORD and Savior and 2) those who have believed upon him, but then have turned from following him to a life characterized by disobedience.   The second group is described as follows:

I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,  [2] and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,  [3] and all ate the same spiritual food,  [4] and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.  [5] Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
    [6] Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.  [7] Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”  [8] We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.  [9] We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,  [10] nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.  [11] Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.  [12] Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.  [13] No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  [14] Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.  [15] I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.  (1 Cor. 10:1-15 ESV) 

The Book of Hebrews deals with this same theme with respect to entering God’s rest:

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.  [2] For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.  [3] For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
    “As I swore in my wrath,
    ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ “

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.  [4] For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”  [5] And again in this passage he said,
    “They shall not enter my rest.”
 [6] Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news [the Gospel] failed to enter because of disobedience,  [7] again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
    “Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”
 
    [8] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.  [9] So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  [10] for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
    [11] Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.  [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
    [14] Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  (Hebrews 4:1-16 ESV) 

Hebrews teaches us that we enter God’s rest by “holding fast our confession.”  This means that we come into agreement with Jesus with respect to all things.  When our conscience convicts us of wrongdoing, we confess our sins to our High Priest who intercedes for us and keeps us pure before God.  In this way we remain pure and obedient before him.  As sons of God we remain sons of obedience.

Sons of disobedience do not wash themselves in the water of Christ’s word.  They do not understand nor walk in his ways.  Thus they walk in lawlessness.   They insist on calling good evil and evil good because they do not know God.  Therefore they cannot confess their sins  and cannot continually cleanse themselves before him at the his altar, the altar of Melchizedek.

    And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience… (Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV) 

    “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”  (Ephesians 5:6 ESV) 

Therefore let us strive to enter God’s rest by coming to know our God and practicing his righteousness.

The book of 1 John is the key book for understanding this term “practicing righteousness.”  In chapter 1, verse 6 he calls it “practicing the truth.”  In 2:29, 3:7, and 3:10  he calls it “practicing righteousness.”  In 3:4 John tells us that anyone who “makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness” and that “sin is lawlessness.”  In 3:8 he says that anyone who makes a practice of sinning is of the devil.  Verse nine teaches us that “no one born of God makes a practice of sinning.”  Finally, in verse ten he say, “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”  (1 John 3:10 ESV)

Here John teaches us that we know the children of God by two attributes, they 1) practice righteousness and, 2) they love their brother.  This statement actually reiterates the two great commands given by Christ, 1) love God with all your heart soul and mind and, 2) love your neighbor as yourself.

The last post dealt with this first aspect.  Now we move to the second.  Who is my brother?  If you read the parable of the “good Samaritan” you will understand that all men are our brothers.  Then how do we love our brothers?  Must we go out and take care of all their physical needs?  No, but we must take care of their spiritual needs.  How?  We must do as Jesus did.  We must cover their nakedness.  (Isaiah 58:7)  What?  I thought that meant provide clothing for them!  No, Jesus covered them with his blood spiritually.  We cover them by confessing their sins as if they were our own and asking God to forgive them.

Remember, when Adam and Eve sinned they realized they were naked.  They had been covered with the glory of God; sin caused that glory to leave.  This left them naked.  Immediately God clothed them with the skin of a beast.  Since then men have been as the beast of the field and will remain so for “seven times.”  The beast skin covered their natural nakedness, but not their spiritual nakedness.  Only Christ’s blood can do that.

So if we truly practice rightousness what does that have to do with covering my neighbor’s nakedness?  Now that we have learned how to practice righteousness we know how to love ourselves spiritually.  We repent of every known sin, continue to learn the ways of God, and repent again when we fall short of God’s glory by missing the mark (by sinning).   We love our neighbors by confessing their sins as if they were our own.  We pray that God will forgive them “for they know not what they do,” just as Jesus did to those who tortured him.  We see the same example in Daniel’s prayer, except that Daniel includes himself.  Why?  Because he knows that he is not perfect either.  He wants to be perfect, just as Jesus says we must.  Therefore he practices righteousness by repenting of all known and unknown sin for both himself and confessing the sins of his people.    I am not saying that you have to confess every sin of every person.  Just start praying for and confessing the sins of those you know or become aware of.   Become an intercessor and ambassador of Christ!  We can pray for others as exemplified in the following prayer:

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.  [4] I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,  [5] we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.  [6] We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.  [7] To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.  [8] To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.  [9] To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 
    [10] and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.  [11] All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.  [12] He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.  [13] As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.  [14] Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice.  [15] And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. [16] “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.  [17] Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.  [18] O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.  [19] O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”   (Daniel 9:3-19 ESV)

The teaching about righteousness is a Biblical term that occurs in the book of Hebrews.

Of whom [ Melchizedek] we have many things to say, and hard to explain, seeing you are dull of hearing. For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJ2000)

I have written extensively on this subject, particularly in my books When We Awake and Food Sacrificed to Idols.  Given the great apostasy of the church as clearly seen in other links on this site, and as personally experienced on The Shack Forum the last three days, we would do well to review it.

First, Hebrews 5:14 counsels mature Christians to become able to discern between good and evil.  Anyone who cannot do this remains a babe in Christ, unskillful in the word of righteousness.  This means that such a one cannot understand the Word of God, the Bible.  Oh, he will think he can, but his words and lawless attitude betray him as a mere babe.

The teaching about righteousness has nothing to do with obeying a particular set of principles, commonly called The Law.  It has everything to do with being led of the Spirit, though, as we apply God’s principles to all of life.  Thus moral principles like forsaking fornication certainly apply to us in the natural as written in Exodus 20.  On the other hand, by following the Spirit we understand that we do not need to continue sacrificing bulls, sheep, goats, or birds according to the book of Leviticus.  This is because Jesus himself fulfilled all of those sacrifices and we apply his sacrifice to our life by faith in him.

Jesus himself teaches us to be perfect, not perfect by some human standard, but perfect as his Father in heaven is perfect.  God calls this perfection “righteousness.”  Another word for this is “holiness.”  Our God IS righteous and holy and fully expects us to be too.  Jesus did not make some flippant, unattainable comment when he said, “be perfect as my Father in heaven is perfect.”  He meant it.

So how do we “be perfect.”  First, become acquainted with God’s ways.  Get to know his definitions of right and wrong.  Learn how to apply these principles to all of life’s many situations.  Second, begin to desire to obey particular standards and rules of conduct.  This has to do with taking every thought captive to Christ so that you will obey his will instead of your own which has been steeped in sin.  Of course this obedience does not “earn” your salvation.   Only an imbecile would suggest that it does once he understands that Jesus died for us and forgives us our sins.  Third, repent of anything you do that you know is contrary to God’s will.  Anything that is not of faith is sin, and don’t fool yourself into believing that your clearly sinful acts are done in faith.  I’m afraid that won’t work with God.

John said it clearly, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.  [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:9-10 ESV)  So, you may disagree and say that God does not call us to be righteous and holy, but you will be wrong.  You would be in agreement with Satan instead of God.

The Old Testament proves we cannot perfectly keep God’s Law.  God knows you are not inherently perfect.  That’s why he gave us an escape valve from sin.  It’s called repentance.  That’s why its the first elementary doctrine of the Christian faith mentioned in Hebrews 6.  So long as we faithfully seek to obey Christ and repent when we fail, we maintain our perfect standing before God.  This is all God asks of us.  [Next]

Ye servants of a sov’reign God,
you’re a people called to be.
So, rule with an iron rod
ye servants of a sov’reign God.
Since elohim you are called,
how long will you judge unjustly?
Ye servants of a sov’reign God,
you’re a people called to be.

See Psalm 82, Revelation 2:27, 12:5, 19:15

As lovely as a babe in arms, you are
radiant as the virgin bride, you are
Patient since the dawn of time, so far
Molding us to you will … you are

You’re holy; that’s who you are
You’re holy, wholly set apart

As lovely as a babe in arms, you are
created that glow within her, her very heart
Patient since the dawn of time, so far
you created the law with mercy, that’s who you are

You’re holy; that’s who you are
You’re holy, wholly set apart
but I can’t approach you with sin deep in my heart
and I can’t deny you, oh tell me where to start

When I hear the wind blow through the trees
I know you are
When I hear the birds sweetly sing
I know you are

You’re holy; that’s who you are
You’re holy, wholly set apart
but I can’t approach you with sin deep in my heart
and I can’t deny you, oh tell me where to start

Start with me … my name is Jesus
Start with me … I am your God
Start with me … my name is Jesus
Start with me … I am your God

Start with Me

You can hear the song here: Start With Me

There is this crucial difference between God’s plan for creation and man’s.  God created all things, including man, to reproduce after their own kind whereas man always attempts to “improve” what God made whether corn, soybeans, beef, or himself.  The difference amounts to lawfulness versus lawlessness.  God’s ways are lawful; man’s ways are lawless.  Lawlessness is the preeminent sign of the times.  Even those responsible for executing the law are often found breaking the law these days.  Just consider that three high-level appointments by President Obama were all found to have cheated on their taxes, including past president of the Senate, Tom Daschle, who stole from the government in a very extravagant way.  Thus, when one considers the concepts of Elohim presented on these pages one must approach it in a lawful manner.

Going to the book of Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, we see that God implemented the law of reproducing after one’s own kind from the very beginning, even from the third day of creation.  “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.  And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:11-12 KJV)  Here God promulgated a law of creation that from that time forward caused every plant that He created to reproduce after its own kind according to the seed within it.    Modern genetic engineering which produces seed for farmers that does not reproduce seed after its own kind breaks this fundamental law.  Those who partake of such scientific activity and the sales of such seed are lawless, Christian or not.  Modern Christianity should be ashamed that it did not teach its own even this basic law, but it does not know how to blush.  Like the world at large and Mystery Babylon itself, Christianity is lawless.

On the fifth day of creation we see God create creatures of the water and the air, “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:21 KJV)  Again the created are commanded to reproduce after their own kind.

The next day, day six, God created all living animals that move upon the dry land, saying, “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:24-25 KJV)  So we see that God implemented the same law with every single living thing he created, plant or animal.  All things must reproduce after their own kind.

This law is so important that God even established another law to enforce it.  Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. (Leviticus 19:19 KJV)

This law establishes the concept of purity for God’s people.  Purity and holiness speak of the same thing.  John said, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3 KJV)

Purity, yes even holiness, marks the sons of God.  Johns speaks of a promise for today, for you and me, now.  As John says, the world knows us not…

The Melchizedek Priesthood “enters into the inner place behind the curtain,” (Hebrews 6:19) where “Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:20)   A forerunner is a person who goes before others in order to lead them into a particular place.   This particular passage tells us that God’s plan is for others to follow Jesus into this holy place where He has gone.  Those Christians who do follow Him into the holy and most holy places of God’s tabernacle comprise the royal priesthood Peter mentions in 1 Peter 2:9.

The Book of Hebrews itself was written for two primary reasons, to establish who in fact Jesus is and to exhort believers to follow His footsteps into priesthood.  This book, like most of the Bible, was written to believers, not unbelievers.  Unbelievers cannot receive the things of God.  Men must first repent and have faith in God before God opens their spiritual eyes to see other things, especially the teaching about righteousness.    The Order of Melchizedek is all about this particular doctrine first introduced in Hebrews 5:

[Melchizedek] Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV)

 This verse explains why many of the writings before this have dealt with the elementary doctrines of the faith.  We simply cannot go on until we understand them.  The sad reality is that even today most Christians do not understand even these six basic truths.  Most Christians want to send all unbelievers into an eternal fire pit of horrible torture forever!  They actually think that the Bible teaches this.  They serve a false god.  God is a God of mercy!  Throughout His Word He teaches that mercy triumphs over judgment.  “Love your enemies,” Jesus said.  He did not tell us to torture and kill them.

“God’s righteousness is not fully declared until He makes His creatures righteous with His own righteousness. … Righteousness is not complete, if it only judges and condemns, for the devil can also condemn.  The highest righteousness, while it judges sin, can never rest until it also makes the sinner righteous.”  (Andrew Jukes, The Names of God, pp. 53-54)