Christ Interceding

Romans 8 is one of those chapters that always encourages me. I have read it more times than I can remember, and yet, it seems like there is always something new to discover.

Recently, I noticed the following verses:

“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? 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.”(33-34)

The words are so familiar, and yet, somehow, I had never connected those truths with the truths that follow:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vv.35-39)

You see, it is because of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension that we are secure in God’s love.  The book of Hebrews has much to say about Christ, and in a passage about the High Priesthood of Christ, we are told,

“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.”(7:25)

The Lord Jesus Christ’s intercession with God the Father is what allows us to come to God, for our salvation is dependent upon the sacrifice Christ offered on our behalf, not on anything we have done.  Later in Hebrews, this is mentioned again:

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” (9:24)

What an amazing thought, that Christ Himself has not only offered up Himself in payment for our sins, but He also is continually in the presence of the Father pleading for you and me!

And yet, it isn’t just a beautiful thought or a heart-warming idea. The truth of Christ’s intercession on our behalf has some practical applications for us as well.

Assurance of Salvation

Since Christ is the one interceding on our behalf, Hebrews says that He is able to save “to the uttermost.” (7:25) Because our salvation is based on Christ’s work, we can be certain that our salvation is secure. Our actions did not earn salvation, therefore they can never lose it. Jesus said,

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my had. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”  (John 10:28-30)

Going back to our initial passage in Romans 8, we see the question, “What can separate us from the love of God?” and the answer that follows is a resounding, nothing! Our salvation is certain, because the sin that separated us from God has been eternally forgiven. Psalm 103:11-12 says,

‘For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.”

Prayer

The truth of Christ’s intercession also applies to our prayer life. If we remember that Christ Himself is interceding for us, we will pray confidently. Hebrews 4 explains,

“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. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (vv.14-16)

We need never fear to come before the throne of grace. Because of Christ, we can enter boldly into the throne room of heaven, and present our requests knowing that Jesus Himself is pleading for us.

Holiness

Another area the intercession of Christ affects our lives is in the area of holiness. If we remember that Christ is, even at this very moment, interceding for us, we will want to please Him. We will face temptation knowing that He is praying the Father on our behalf, and that the grace and strength to resist Satan is ours. Because Christ intercedes for us, we have access every moment to mercy and grace, forgiveness of sin and power to do right.

These are just a few areas of our lives affected by this wonderful truth. To what part of your life is the Holy Spirit prompting you to apply the truth of Christ’s intercession for you?