May 4, 2004

THE ABLE INTERCESSOR

"Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25, NKJV).

Today, we consider Jesus as the "Able Intercessor." As our able intercessor, He saves all who draw near to God through His everlasting intercession.

Ever since Adam and Eve got in trouble with the law of God, the entire human race, without exception, has been implicated. There was no escape from the death penalty (see Romans 3:23; 6:23). That's where the plan of salvation came into play. In due time Christ became human, lived among men, and died in our place to pay the penalty of our transgression. He became the able intercessor because He "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV).

The whole purpose of Christ's intercession is to ensure that if a person is lost, it must be because that person has made a conscious decision to reject God's loving purpose. Through His able intercession, Christ seeks to woo men and women to apply the merits of the atonement made on the cross. The intercession assures the believer that "there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1, NKJV).

In Christ's prayer to His Father, He pleaded that none would be lost and that "they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am" (John 17:24, NKJV). "His offering is complete, and as our Intercessor, He executes His self-appointed work, holding before God the censer containing His own spotless merits and the prayers, confessions, and thanksgiving of His people. Perfumed with the fragrance of His righteousness, these ascend to God as a sweet savor."--God's Amazing Grace, p. 174.

My Prayer Today: Lord, help me to fully appropriate the benefits of Christ's intercession on my behalf. Amen.