Why Safe Religion Cannot Save You

The King of Righteousness: Why Safe Religion Cannot Save You
Spencer R. Fusselman, D.Min

There is a fascinating principle woven throughout church history: the world rarely persecutes a religious system. Society is generally content to let you follow your rituals, attend your services, and adhere to a strict set of moral ethics. However, the exact moment you transition from practicing a safe religion to declaring absolute allegiance to the exclusive Lordship of Jesus Christ, the friction begins.

As Pastor Steve highlighted in his powerful exposition of Hebrews 7, the original audience was feeling the intense heat of this persecution. Exhausted and fearful, these Jewish Christians were being tempted to abandon the narrow path of following Jesus to retreat back into the comfortable, culturally acceptable shadows of the Levitical priesthood and the temple system. Nobody was going to throw them in prison for sacrificing an animal.

But the author of Hebrews violently blocks their retreat. He warns them that the temple system is obsolete, and he points their gaze to a mysterious ancient figure who proves that Jesus Christ operates on an infinitely higher, eternal plane.

The Mystery of Melchizedek
In Genesis 14, after Abraham wins a massive military victory, an enigmatic figure steps onto the pages of Scripture: Melchizedek, the King of Salem and Priest of the Most High God. He blesses Abraham, receives a tithe of the spoils, and then vanishes. Centuries later, Psalm 110 declares that the coming Messiah will be a priest forever "according to the order of Melchizedek."

Why does this matter? Because the Jews were utterly fixated on pedigree. Under the Law of Moses, if you wanted to be a priest, you had to prove you descended from the tribe of Levi. Furthermore, the throne and the altar were strictly separated. A king could not be a priest, and a priest could not be a king. But Melchizedek shattered those rules. He had no recorded genealogy, no recorded birth, and no recorded death. God sovereignly orchestrated his life to serve as a breathtaking "type"—a prophetic historical picture—of the coming Son of God.
Voddie Baucham accurately identifies the danger of relying on human lineage and religious tradition: "We are prone to trust in our pedigree, our background, and our religious routines. But the Gospel strips away all human boasting. Christ does not stand in a long line of flawed human priests; He stands alone, supreme, and completely sufficient."

The author of Hebrews argues that since Abraham—the great patriarch of the Jewish faith—bowed to pay tithes to Melchizedek, the priesthood of Melchizedek is inherently superior. Therefore, the priesthood of Jesus Christ completely eclipses the flawed, dying priesthood of Aaron.

The Eternal Priesthood of Christ
This brings us to the glorious doctrine of The Eternal Priesthood of Christ. Under the Old Covenant, the priests were constantly dying. Their ministry was interrupted by the grave. But Jesus holds His priesthood permanently because He possesses an indestructible life. He flawlessly unites the sovereign authority of a King with the intercessory mediation of a High Priest.

This dual role is vividly displayed in the very names of Melchizedek. Melchizedek literally translates to "King of Righteousness." He was also the King of Salem (the ancient name for Jerusalem), which translates to "Peace."

Notice the divine order: Righteousness must always precede Peace. You cannot experience the true, lasting peace of God until you have been justified by the righteousness of God.
John MacArthur emphasizes the absolute perfection of this exchange: "The Levitical priests could never provide peace because the blood of bulls and goats could never provide actual righteousness. Jesus, the true King of Righteousness, took our sin on the cross, imputed His perfect righteousness to our account, and thereby secured an eternal, unbreakable peace with God."

Because Jesus has accomplished this justification, Pastor Steve reminded the congregation that we must now press on in our sanctification. Christ's physical work on earth is finished, but He is currently actively working behind the heavenly veil, interceding for us to bring us to maturity. He is the anchor of our souls.

A Cheerful Surrender
When Abraham encountered this great King of Righteousness and Peace, his immediate response was surrender. He gave Melchizedek a tenth of all he had.
Pastor Steve provided a vital pastoral clarification regarding New Testament giving. We do not give to the church to fulfill a legalistic Old Testament tax. We give because the Greater has blessed the lesser. When we realize the magnitude of what our Great High Priest has done for us, giving ceases to be a grudging obligation and becomes a cheerful act of worship.
As Warren Wiersbe beautifully noted concerning the Christian's response to grace, "When you truly understand the superiority of Christ and the eternal security He provides behind the veil, your only logical response is total surrender. You give Him your time, your talent, and your treasure, not out of fear, but out of overwhelming gratitude."

Everything in the world around us is shaking. Do not retreat to the false safety of religious routine. Anchor your soul behind the veil, submit to the King of Righteousness, and let His peace guard your heart forever.

Audit Your Allegiance: Are you following a religion, or are you following Christ? Take time today to confess any areas where you have been relying on your church attendance, good behavior, or traditions to make you feel right with God, rather than resting entirely in the finished work of Jesus.

Embrace the Right Order: Righteousness precedes peace. If you are lacking peace in a specific area of your life, evaluate if there is unrepentant sin or unrighteousness blocking it. Confess it quickly to the Lord to restore your quietness and rest.

Redefine Your Giving: Look at your finances, your calendar, and your skills. Are you hoarding your time, talent, and treasure? Choose one specific way to cheerfully and generously invest in the work of your local church this week without expecting anything in return.

Anchor Your Anxieties: The next time you feel overwhelmed by the shaking of the culture or personal trials, visualize your spiritual anchor locked securely behind the veil in heaven, held by the resurrected Christ. Speak out loud: "My hope is secure in Him."

Stand Firm in Persecution: If you face pushback or mockery at work or with family for your devotion to Christ, do not retreat. Remind yourself that persecution is the natural result of living a life submitted to the true King, and count it a privilege to suffer for His name.