r but by me." John 14:6.

(4.) Finally, the Levitical priests were not only mediators between God
and men, but _mediators through propitiatory sacrifices_. They were
ordained to "offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." Heb. 5:1; 8:3.
"Wherefore," adds the writer, "it is of necessity that this man [Christ]
have somewhat also to offer." Heb. 8:3. They offered the blood of bulls
and goats, which made expiation only in a typical way; he offered to God
his own blood as a real propitiation for sin. Heb. 7:27; 9:12-28;
10:10-14.

The points of _dissimilarity_ between the Levitical priests and Christ,
as stated in the epistle to the Hebrews, all serve to illustrate the
superior dignity and efficacy of his priesthood. They were sinful men,
and as such needing to offer sacrifice first for their own sins (chap.
5:3); but he is "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and
made higher than the heavens" (chap. 7:26). They were many, "because
they were not suffered to continue, by reason of death:" but he,
"because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood." Chap.
7:23, 24. Their offerings could not take away sin. They were only
typical of expiation, and therefore needed to be continually repeated.
But Christ has by his one offering "perfected for ever them that are
sanctified"--perfected them in respect to the expiation of sin, which is
the foundation on which the work of personal sanctification rests. Heb.
10:11, 12.

Mediatorship between God and man through propitiatory sacrifice
constitutes the central idea of priesthood. The Levitical
priests did indeed make intercession for the people in the
burning of sweet incense (see above, No. 8), and in presenting
to God their unbloody offerings, but all this was done _through
the blood of atonement_. We see, then, how false and mischievous
is the idea that there can be true mediating priests under the
New Testament dispensation. Christ appeared once for all "to put
away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Heb. 9:25-28; 10:10-12),
since which no further sacrifice is needed, or can be lawfully
offered. Christ also opened to all believers through his blood a
new and living way of access to God, through which they can come
boldly to the throne of grace, having no need of human
mediators. Heb. 10:18-22. Believers as a body are "a holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God
by Jesus