Christ As High Priest Interceding Now

[mfblume]

Another tributary from the thread AS MAN JESUS... BUT AS GOD JESUS...

I already stated much about this issue in that other thread, but I truly believe the book of Hebrews is a key book which reveals much about Christ's present intercessory priesthood, and this deserves its own thread.

Most simply knee-jerk a reaction when they hear of this, and say, "Christ is not interceding for sinners who come to God now. He did that once when He died for them and made atonement once and for all." But that is not what the book of Hebrews is saying the intercession is about, anyway! The intercession in Christ's priesthood, that IS ONGOING EVEN NOW, is not for atonement for sin. It is for empowerment for those who are believers so that they can live above sin and victoriously.

I will endeavour to prove this by quoting from Hebrews in this thread.

Heb 7:24 KJV But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Notice the indication his priesthood is ongoing through now into the future, since His ascension. His priesthood required a continuing LIFE. WHY???

If his priesthood was in death only and is now done and over with, no more active intercession occurring, why did He requrie a continuing life in order to have an unchangeable priesthood? That would make no sense.

Hence...

Heb 7:25 KJV 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.

If atonement is the issue, which I think it is not, and atonement was the only intercessory work Christ did, whcih renders intercessory in the past alone, WHY DO WE READ HIS UNENDING LIFE IS NECESSARY FOR IT? And why do we read his unending life is associated with ever living to make intercession? When one lives to do something, that means one lives IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH something. Since everlasting life is what is required for intercession for us, NOT SINNERS, then intercession is ONGOING.

He has an unchangeable priesthood, that death cannot hinder nor affect in any way, since He never will die....

Rom 6:9-10 KJV Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

HE LIVETH UNTO GOD.... The "eth" suffix indicates an ONGOING thing. He continues to LIVE UNTO GOD. Notice the distinction from GOD here.

This proves there remains a distinction between the WILL of the MAN Christ Jesus and His deity. LIVETH is not PAST but PRESENT AND ONGOING. It is a NOW thing.

We know this because it is an example for us wherein we find the SAME TWO blessings Christ enjoys now applied to us....

Rom 6:11 KJV Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We can easily see that we have need of living UNTO GOD. But this states that this is so because CHRIST LIVETH UNTO GOD right now. That is not past tense. It is ONGOING.

Christ is not alive unto HIMSELF as a MAN. He is our example and living unto DEITY, as High Priest, MINISTERING TO DEITY, just as WE ARE ALIVE UNTO GOD in the LIKEWISE fashion.

In verse 11, "LIKEWISE" indicates that we experience the same thing Christ experiences. And since Christ died once to sin, we LIKEWISE are DEAD INDEED unto sin. And since Christ is alive unto God, we LIKEWISE are alive unto God. Our wills are distinct from God's will, so that demands Christ's WILL AS A MAN is distinct, but in full obedience to the will of GOD, when He is described as one who "liveth unto God". And all the while HE IS ONE PERSON!

His intercession NOW sends forth a flow of power from the Father to us at all times, so we can live life to the UTTERMOST!

[mfblume]

The priesthood of Melchisedek is superior to that of Aaron for more reasons than there being a single sacrifice of Christ. As awesome as the contrast of one sacrifice is, the priesthood issue goes even further than that.

Aaron's priesthood involved a work that could not open the holiest of all for more than a few moments one day every year. Christ's present Melchisedek priesthood has opened the holiest up for us all.

Furthermore, Melchisedek was PRIEST actively interceding for Abraham WHILE KING AT THE SAME TIME. Christ is KING on the throne NOW. And He is priest while on that throne as well. Christ was not King until the ascension. He is only Priest and King while on the throne.

Zec 6:13 KJVR Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; 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.

Hebrews also shows us that Melchisedek's order awarded Christ an UNENDING PRIESTHOOD. He ever lives to make intercession. That statement alone proves He is presently interceding. It's so plainly stated.

The entire concept of how we can come to God by Him involves the statement that He ever liveth to make intercession for us. And note that saving to the uttermost is mentioned. THAT IS MORE than simply "coming out of Egypt", spiritually. It is getting into Canaan, spiritually.

Heb 7:25 KJVR 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.

This is not merely getting saved from the world. It is SALVATION TO THE UTTERMOST. Hebrews is about OUR LIFE that CAN ENJOY the HOLIEST OF ALL. Heb 6 focuses on the entire theme of the book by saying we can enter the most holy place. And as we read Hebrews, entering the most Holy Place is actually living in such transcendent power and victory, that so many believers never experience, let alone KNOW ABOUT IT.

Note verse 25 above. The only way this makes sense is to realize that people can come to GOD -- TO THE UTTERMOST -- BY HIM NOW because HE IS ACTIVELY INTERCEDING FOR THEM NOW.

We all understand our advocate picture. Like a lawyer actively pointing to the once shed blood to appeal for anyone who trusts in the cross, JESUS ACTIVELY AND PRESENTLY STLL INTERCEDES.

1Jo 2:1 KJV My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

He did not DIE to act as intercessor, but HE EVER LIVETH to make intercession. Death did not accomplish that. An unending LIFE does this. Don't focus on the death, here, but THE LIFE.

People WHO COME TO HIM NOW are able to be saved to the uttermost BECAUSE HE LIVES NOW AS INTERCESSOR for them. If He was only intercessor for them at his death, we would not read of Him EVER living to make intercession, and we would not read that this is the reason people who COME TO HIM NOW can be saved to the uttermost!

Saving us to the uttermost is going FAR PAST salvation from sin. It is saving us to such a degree that we overcome sin everyday of our lives! And we read at the end of Hebrews 6 how Jesus has entered for us into the holiest, past the veil, as forerunner. He is in there now, seated as King and High Priest. And when we truly believe Him for all He is there for us to experience, we have this victory over sin. And that is spiritually saying we entered with Him into the Holiest. Having total victory, so as not to turn back, as many of the Hebrews had, and others were in danger of doing, is spiritually called dwelling in the most holy place.

Heb 6:18-20 KJV That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (20) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

When some claim his work on the cross and shedding of blood alone is where the intercession occurred, they actually lower Christ's priesthood to that of Aaron. His work on the earth on the cross in death was a priestly work similar to Aaron's Levitical priesthood. But the present priestly ministry beyond the veil, seated in the holiest of holies is a work foreshadowed by the Melchisedek Priesthood. It is not a ministry to purge us from sins, since that is already done. It is a ministry to lift us to absolute victory NOW.


Notice the terms associated with Melchisedek's priesthood! They are BEYOND THE VEIL terms. THEY ARE UNENDING LIFE terms, NOT DEATH terms.

Yes, Christ died, but the association with the Melchisedek priesthood is not focusing on death. BUT UNENDING LIFE.


Again, it is not a priesthood to purge us from sins, since that is done. It is to give us total victory NOW before we leave this world for glory. Aaron's stopped at dealing with sins. Melchisedek's priesthood goes beyond that to save us to the UTTERMOST in daily living! THIS uttermost situation is why Christ ever intercedes! We ARE NOT THERE YET!!!! 99% of believers are not in the UTTERMOST position of indwelling the holiest of holies, spiritually speaking. Again, this indwelling in this place is speaking of absolute victory.

Please notice this. It's not intercession to simply see shed blood remit sins. It is beyond that to intercession to COME TO THE UTTERMOST, to which we have not yet experienced in the practical sense. His intercession is not for weakly sinners, but saints who have not yet come to the place of victory in everything. THAT is the context of why He intercedes. Had it been a context of association with sins, Aaron's did that. But Mel's DOES far more!

READ OF MEL'S MEETING WITH ABRAHAM and you can see the reason for intercession NOW!!!

I am under the impression that the cross is sufficient by which I HAVE ALREADY overcome the world by abiding in him.

I am not too keen on "Kingdom Now" theology.

[mfblume]

We all are overcomers, but in position. However, when it comes to PRACTICAL living, the issue is quite another story. This is what the intercession is for.

I see nothing about KINGDOM NOW in this in any form.

[SDG]

It's almost funny to hear two 3 steppers argue whether His death and resurrection are enough.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

It's almost funny to hear two 3 steppers argue whether His death and resurrection are enough.

Nothing in Brother Blumes posts insinuated in the least that His death & resurrection aren't enough.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Nothing in Brother Blumes posts insinuated in the least that His death & resurrection aren't enough.

Exactly. His Death and resurrection cover everything we'd ever need. But the intercession that continues on until today and through tomorrow refers to our application of that in our practical lives. And the intercession is BASED UPON and POINTS to the atonement, but takes it further into practical living.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Exactly. His Death and resurrection cover everything we'd ever need. But the intercession that continues on until today and through tomorrow refers to our application of that in our practical lives. And the intercession is BASED UPON and POINTS to the atonement, but takes it further into practical living.

My remarks about the resurrection and death sufficing are said with the knowledge that many 3 steppers believe our salvation is not complete until re-enact HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION ... this topic of Christ's priesthood also lends itself to soteriological scrutiny.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

My remarks about the resurrection and death sufficing are said with the knowledge that many 3 steppers believe our salvation is not complete until re-enact HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION ..

The bible clearly designates that these things are applied to us especially in water baptism. Baptism is not a work that causes self to do something to exalt self. It is death of our entire old lives. That is diametrically opposite to works to save us.

. this topic of Christ's priesthood also lends itself to soteriological scrutiny.

Exactly. It is a GREAT MISSING LINK between salvation and practical Christian living.

[mfblume]

The Book of Hebrews is the source for all information about this issue. The third verse in the entire book lays it out clearly.

Heb 1: (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

His work of purging our sins is clearly involving His High Priestly duties. But it is easy to miss the fact that the second portion of the issue is not recognized as High Priestly duties as well.

...sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high

All of this can only be understood in light of the truth regarding His priesthood after the order of Melchisedek.

Melchisedek was a perfect type of Jesus' present ministry as High Priest, whereas Aaron's Priesthood simply fell short. Aaron only particpated in purging of sins, albeit only for a year, in atonement. But Aaron died, and Aaron's priesthood ended. However, Christ is foreshadowed more perfectly by Melchisedek.

Melchisedek was both king and priest at the same time. Zechariah foretold Christ's ministry as Priest WHILE SITTING ON THE THRONE. This shows there is a priesthood that occurs even now since Christ is still King on His throne. And it shows the priesthood after the orde rof Melchisedek DID NOT OCCUR WITH CHRIST until He sat down on the throne.

Now, opponents of this thought propose that Christ was acting as priest before He ever sat down on the throne. They point to the death and resurrection. That is not the case. HE WAS SACRIFICE THEN. NOT PRIEST.

Zec 6:13 KJVR Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; 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.

Hebrews said that Christ purged our sins and sat down on the throne of majesty on high. This is referring to His Priesthood after the Order of Melchisedek. There is no record of Melchisedek's death, nor genealogy, when genealogy was EVERYTHING in Aaron's Levitical priesthood. This starts to point us in the right direction as to the nature of the priesthood.

Heb 7:1-3 KJVR For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (2) To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (3) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Since Christ continues past His death on into His priesthood, Aaron's priesthood fails to typify Him. Aaron's priesthood could only bring redemption and continue until Aaron's death, but Christ ever liveth to make intercession for us!

Heb 7:25 KJVR 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.

Melchisedek's lack of record of death is a type of Christ's never ending priesthood. Christ EVER LIVETH IN ORDER TO MAKE INTERCESSION. His intercession was not solely through his death! It CONTINUES ON today! But it is not for redemption, since that is already our's. He intercedes now, and is High Priest on the throne NOW, for victory in day to day living AFTER we are saved.

People WHO COME TO HIM NOW are able to be saved to the uttermost BECAUSE HE LIVES NOW AS INTERCESSOR for them. If He was only intercessor for them at his death, we would not read of Him EVER living to make intercession, and we would not read that this is the reason people who COME TO HIM NOW can be saved to the uttermost!

Bro Alicea,

Ths next verse speaks of the same thing that saving to the uttermost speaks about.

Heb 6:18-20 KJV That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (20) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Entrance into the most holy place is entering practical victory in our lives. We all are more than conquerors just because we're in Christ. But not very many enjoy that practically. Entrance into the most holy place is a picture of entering this actual victory in our daily living.

Hebrews 8 also mentions this practical victory status. It speaks about Christ's priesthood in the better covenant in contrast to Aaron's. Aaron's priesthood only got people so far and it was due to the law associated with that priesthood. Every where we look in Hebrews, we see the transcendency of grace and our covenant. But people miss the aspect of full and practical victory in our daily living.

Heb 8: (6) But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (7) For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. (8) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: (9) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. (10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

The failure of LAW was that it did not empower the people TO CONTINUE. They failed. They could not live up to law. That is what it means when we read "they continued not in my covenant".

And since that was the problem with Law, and that was its FAULT, when we read that God would INSTEAD write His law into our hearts, we must realize that writing it into our hearts is the REMEDY for the failure.

That is what "saving to the uttermost" means as well, Dan.

One thing all are also missing, is that Aaron could not DWELL in the holiest as Priest. Christ does DWELL there as PRIEST. People are dropping off the aspect of His priesthood when they regard Christ as dwelling in glory now. They just view Him as God in that. But the context teaches that HE IS STLL PRIEST in the holiest and DWELLS THERE. I would say this is pointing to Him being Priest while on the throne. He SITS ON THE THRONE THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE ARK'S MERCYSEAT.

Hebrews 10 mentions the fact that Christ's single offering has perfected forever those who are sanctified. We are complete in Him. But this needs to come out into our behaviour. And that cannot happen unless we GET this truth in our hearts and realize the impact it is saying. Here is where our CONSCIENCES require purging.

His blood paid for it all, but people who struggle and are self-defeating do not have their consciences purged. Their unnecessary guilt causes them to not even considering living up to what I am proposing we can live up to, as one of many examples. Hebrews 10 is repeating the emphasis of the fullness of Christ's work in order to encourage our faith and get us out of this self-defeating mode caused by lack of understanding. SO THAT OUR CONSCIENCES CAN BE PURGED.

Once we get the confidence that these truths about His single offeirng for sin are trying to give to us, we will ENTER THE HOLIEST WITH BOLDNESS. Now, this refers to more than our standing with Christ.

Is everyone entering the throneroom with boldness? NO! Why? Their consciences are still EVIL. Hebrews calls a conscience that destroys the victory in people's hearts, by making them think such things as "I am no good," an "evil conscience. It contradicts the truths of who we are since our salvation. So it is evil. It needs to be purged by TRUTH.

Heb 10:1-2 KJV For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Heb 10:18-23 KJV Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised

Brother, people WAVER today. They lack full assurance. Their hearts are not sprinkled from an evil consience. Their evil consciences taint and mar their hearts and rob them of faith and confidence that they can live powerfully right now.

His priestly intercession revolves around THESE NEEDS.