Our Intercessor

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 8:34

Our theology is important and should be formed from the Word of God that reveals the mind of God. One of the misconceptions that many of us have is the idea that only the death and resurrection of Christ were essential for our salvation, or that after His resurrection and ascension into heaven, that Christ has become inactive, that now through His Spirit He is active in lives, but otherwise Christ has faded from the scene.

This is dangerous theology, and it is simply biblically wrong. The Lord saves us by His death, by His resurrection, and by His intercession for us today. The New Testament is very clear on these three points, that though the sacrifice of Christ is complete, He ever lives to make intercession for us. The author of Hebrews, for example, clearly explained this point, comparing the permanent priesthood of Christ to the temporary role of the many priests of the Old Testament temple.

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 7:23–25

The command of Scripture was not merely to believe in the death and resurrection of Christ, but to also believe that we can appeal to Him today through prayer and faith, and that He will represent us before the heavenly throne.

Our Lord lives and He is not merely sitting in heaven doing nothing, biding His time until He returns, but He applies the efficacy of His sacrifice to every believer, removing the blot of every sin, and representing us each before the Father. We have an Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous, who speaks to the Father in our defense (1 John 2:1–2).

As believers in Christ, there is no sin we commit today that we must stand before God to give an account without Christ as our representative standing alongside of us. We must appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), but this is an “in house” judgment, not a judgment regarding our eternal salvation. We have a living and eternal Advocate in Christ, and this truth should encourage us in our daily challenges.

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us when we have forgotten that You are still working for us in heaven, representing us before the Father, and that by Your payment for our sins on Calvary we have forgiveness. Amen.