Christ’s Intercession
In short, Christ is our:
Sacrifice
substitute
surety
divine intercessor.
Jesus Christ the righteous is the propitiation for our sins; and also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2
Christ’s intercession is of a broken body, and of a spotless life. His wounded hands, pierced side and marred feet plead for the fallen humanity.
Our redemption was purchased at infinite cost. Jesus offered up His broken body to purchase back God’s heritage and to give mankind another trial.
Jesus is a living Savior. He is the Anointed One of God, seeking to transform our characters to His own. Christ has brought in everlasting righteousness and made reconciliation for sin.
Thus He is our only hope. He is the Anointed Priest who has ascended on high. Moreover, He is the One that ever lives to make intercession for every individual soul.
Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
Christ’s intercession for the lost race was done by His spotless life, obedience, and death on the cross of Calvary. Even now, the Captain of our salvation intercedes for us as a Conqueror claiming His victory in the courts above.
His offering is complete. Thus as our Intercessor He executes His self-appointed work. Jesus holds before God the censer containing His own spotless merits and the prayers, confessions, and thanksgiving of His people.
They will be crowned with glory, honor and immortality, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Who can be an Intercessor?
Who else besides Christ you could trust to be your Representative in Heaven. There’s no one else that loves you more than Him.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17.
The love of the Father, no less than of the Son is the fountain of salvation for the lost humanity.
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. John 16:27.
Thus in the ministration of heavenly sanctuary the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
And he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Zechariah 6:13.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
By His mediatorial right all things belong to Christ. For Him and by Him all things were created.
When mankind sinned, the Son of God chose to assume human nature and come to our world to die for the guilty race.
By the cross of Calvary was revealed to the sinless universe the character of Satan. In putting to death the Lord of life and glory through his human agencies, Satan made manifest the wickedness of his deceptive character.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10
How did Christ’s intersession manifest His love for mortals?
He did it by the sacrifice of His own glory, riches, and even His most precious life. Christ consented to a life of humiliation and great suffering.
Jesus submitted to the cruel mocking of an infuriated, murderous multitude, and to the most agonizing death upon the cross.
He clothed His divinity with humanity and for our sake He became poor, that we, through His poverty, might be made rich.
Christ came to the earth that was all marred with sin, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8
He submitted to insult and mockery that he might leave an example for mankind to follow.
Jesus said: This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12
Christ is the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
God has poured out all Heaven in one gift. Therefore, there is no reason why we should doubt His love. Look to Calvary.
Christ died for you, and what greater evidence of God’s love could you ask than that which has been given in the life, death and intercession of Jesus?
Evidence of the Cross of Calvary
God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His:
- existence,
- character,
- word
are all established by abundant testimony that appeals to our reason.
Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration.
Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity. While those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith.
Satan misrepresented the character of God in Heaven as severe and tyrannical. Moreover, he induced man to sin.
Having succeeded thus far, he declared that God’s unjust restrictions had led to human’s fall, as they had led to his own rebellion.
When mankind had sinned through yielding to the deceptions of Lucifer, God gave an evidence of His love by yielding up His only begotten Son to die for the fallen race.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. 1 John 3:1.
In the atonement the character of God stands revealed. The mighty argument of the cross demonstrates to the whole universe that God was in no wise responsible for the course of sin that Lucifer had chosen.
Furthermore, it was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, no deficiency in the divine government, which inspired in him the spirit of rebellion.
At the last great day, the cross of Calvary will appear plainly before those standing before the Judge of all the earth to receive sentence for eternity.
He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
He is able
Jesus points us to the love of God. The Father provided this propitiation because He loved us, that there might be a medium through which He could be reconciled to mankind and humans to Him.
Jesus is able because He is the:
- Messiah, The Christ, The Anointed One – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, … who hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:3, 4
- Only-begotten Son of God – This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17
- Savior of the world – Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
- High Priest – Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14
- Mediator – For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2:5, 6
- Advocate – And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1
- Judge – I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. 2 Timothy 4:1
- Eternal One – He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
- Risen Redeemer– It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34.
Intercession for sinners in the courts above
The disciples of Christ knew that they had a Representative in Heaven, an Advocate at the throne of God. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the promise:
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23, 24.
They extended the hand of faith higher and still higher, with the mighty argument:
It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34.
Christ intercession after His ascension
We have a living Savior. He is not in Joseph’s new tomb. Christ is risen from the dead. He has ascended on high as a substitute and surety for every believing soul.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
The sinner is justified through the merits of Jesus. This is God’s acknowledgement of the perfection of the ransom paid for mankind. Christ was obedient even unto the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8.
He is the pledge of our acceptance with God. We stand in favor before God, not because of any merit in ourselves, but because of our faith in The Lord Our Righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6.
When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity.
The Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit was Heaven’s communication that the Redeemer’s inauguration was accomplished.
Moreover, it was a token that He had, as Priest and King, received all authority in Heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people.
I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God. John 20:17.
The family of heaven and the family of earth are one. For us our Lord ascended, and for us He lives.
Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:11-12
Jesus is the only Mediator
For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5.
Jesus is our Advocate, High Priest and Intercessor. In His death type met anti-type. He is the Lamb slain for the sins of the world.
Our great High Priest has made the only sacrifice that is of any value in our salvation. When He offered Himself on the cross, a perfect atonement was made for the sins of the people.
We are now standing in the outer court, waiting and looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
He is performing His work in the most holy place. In His intercession as our advocate, Christ needs no human’s virtue nor human’s intercession. He is the only sin-bearer and sin-offering.
Our position today is like that of the Israelites on the day of Atonement. When the high priest entered the most holy place, representing the place where our High Priest is now interceding with God, every heart was to be bowed in contrition, pleading for the pardon of transgression.
Prayer and confession are to be offered only to Him who has entered once for all into the most holy place. He will save to the uttermost all who come to Him in faith. He ever lives to make intercession for us.
Intercession of Christ in the most holy
The 2300 days prophecy came to an end in 1844. Till that time the door of hope and mercy by which people had for 1800 years found access to God was closed.
Thus one part of Christ ministration had closed, only to give place to another. Furthermore, there was still an open door to the heavenly sanctuary where Christ was ministering in the sinner’s behalf.
Thus forgiveness of sins was offered to them through His intercession in the most holy.
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth: I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. Revelation 3:7, 8.
Those who by faith follow in His work of the final aatonement will receive the benefits of His mediation.
In the typical service, when the high priest entered the most holy place, all Israel were required to gather about the sanctuary.
Moreover, they were required to humble their souls before God, that they might receive the pardon of their sins, and not be cut off from the congregation.
How much more essential in this anti-typical day of atonement that we understand the work of our High Priest, and know what duties are required of us.
Conclusion
The intercession of Christ in our behalf is that of presenting His divine merits in the offering of Himself as our substitute and surety.
For He ascended up on high to make an atonement for our transgressions.
If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1, 2.
Present your case before God, pleading the merits of the blood shed for you upon Calvary’s cross.
Satan will accuse you of being a great sinner, and you must admit this.
Furthermore you can say: I know I am a sinner, and that is the reason I need a Savior. Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
When Satan would overwhelm you with despair, the Holy Spirit will point you to the intercession made for you by the living Savior.
When the light of Christ’s righteousness is fully understood and accepted, love, joy, peace, and inexpressible gratitude will pervade the soul. Thus the language of one who is blessed will be:
Thy gentleness hath made me great. Psalm 18:35.
References
- RH, Sep 1892; SC 105; RH, Mar 1906 ; 4SP 320; 1T 690; RH, May 1891; COL 149,156; ST, Jul 1892; GC88 416, 429; ST, Aug 1891; AA 35, 38; ST, Jun 1899 – The Ellen G. White Estate
- King James Bible Version
Smith Falls
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2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” AND 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”