Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

For Gentiles, and even for modern Jews who aren’t used to the sacrificial system, this discussion seems rather arcane. However, for a true student of the Bible, it finally puts the seemingly endless regulations in Leviticus and the like into context. The author of Hebrews (I lean toward that having been Apollos, as in Acts 18:24-28, but there are many different opinions) was obviously a true student of the Old Testament indeed. The whole book is in a sense a commentary on the whole Old Testament, explaining the meaning of the Levitical system, and as such is very valuable. This verse, with its reference to intercession, is obviously why this section appears in a series of readings on prayer, and it is deeply meaningful. We are indeed “once saved always saved,” (as has come up recently again from a Facebook friend’s post) but the reason for that is not that we are faithful, but that Jesus is. If we didn’t keep sinning, He wouldn’t need to keep interceding for us! Thankfully however, He does, as this verse says, so we are secure in Him. We tend to have a very shallow grasp of and appreciation for intercession. Intercession is essentially standing up for the guilty/needy party and saying, “Put that on my tab.” That’s why Jesus is the only Savior, because as both fully man and fully God, He alone has “enough in His account,” so to speak, to take care of the sin debt of all mankind. The continuing nature of His intercession is because we keep sinning! It can be a very difficult concept to grasp, but it is glorious indeed when we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal it to our heart.

I am certainly in need of Christ’s intercession, but then everyone is. My wife Cathy tells me she was very disappointed the first time she realized she had sinned after she had been baptized. In her immaturity she had thought she would never sin again! Paul wrote of his own struggles in Romans 7, and gave the glorious answer to that in the first of the next chapter: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2) Even if you don’t classify them as sins, we are constantly making mistakes. Paul again gloriously deals with the push for perfection in Philippians 3:12-14. The point is, none of that would be possible without Christ standing up for us in heaven, because there is no way we can achieve God’s sinless perfection ourselves. That Christ does intercede for us is an essential part of the Gospel.

Father, thank You for Your incredible, perfect plan. Help me not just revel in it for my own benefit, but communicate it effectively to as many as will receive, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!