As the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus bore our sin on Calvary's cross. He conquered death and was seen by over five hundred people after His resurrection. Christ then ascended into heaven ... but this was not the end of His ministry.
Our Lord is forever faithful in His role as Priest and King ... For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10)
When we stumble, He pleads our case before the Father ... Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:33-34)
The doctrine of divine intercession makes it clear that believers are 'in process'. We are being transformed through the Spirit's work of sanctification and therefore need Christ to be our advocate as it takes place.
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. John 17:11,15
Even our most heartfelt prayers are limited, for we 'see through a glass darkly' (1 Corinthians 13:12). Christ, on the other hand, knows everything about our condition and is able to concentrate His intercession on each believer's particular need.
His attentiveness to your walk of faith is constant ... But Jesus, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:24-25)
Jesus is our living, exalted, and triumphant Redeemer, who intercedes on our behalf before the throne of God.
John encourages us to live uprightly but also remember that Christ is our 'advocate' when we fail ... My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1)
Finally, it is important to understand that He is the only 'mediator' between God and man. No one else; not Mary, not an angel, not a saint, not a priest; has the power to intercede for you before the Almighty ... For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)
Abide in Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment