Christ As High Priest Interceding Now

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Okay ... now we are going somewhere. Now what is the nature and scope of the ONGOING work of our High Priest?

Intercession is definitely part of it. But it is intercession in the sense of BEING IN THE HOLIEST AS US, to continue to secure our position and opportunity to enter there by our practical life changing into one of victory by realization of His position there in actuality FOR US.

I am still studying and learning of all of this. Hence, this thread for others' insight. But I cannot accept the idea there is ongoing intercession apart from the blood having been presented, now.

[Praxeas]

Thank You Jesus! I have confidence
Heb 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

[mfblume]

Dan, I hate to propose this, but if you could read over all my posts, I believe they show the ongoing work of the high priest and its nature, in the present.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Dan, I hate to propose this, but if you could read over all my posts, I believe they show the ongoing work of the high priest and its nature, in the present.

I've read thru them ... I have little dispute with their content ..... I am learning as I read also. Still haven't formulated any firm assertions yet. I will re-read to clarify for myself.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I've read thru them ... I have little dispute with their content .....

No problem.

It's just my best at trying to understand what Hebrews is teaching.

I am learning as I read also. Still haven't formulated any firm assertions yet. I will re-read to clarify for myself.

I think we've rarely ever heard preaching from Hebrews along these lines. One thing is for sure, when we've not been made familiar with an issue, it will appear odd, whether it is truth or not.

[deacon blues]

Have not read the thread.

Most people make the mistake of visualizing Jesus before God standing and interceding on our behalf. I came to terms with this particular scripture back in bible school 20+ years ago.

The fact that God became a man and dwelt among us, His experiences, His being touched with the feelings of our infirmities, His humanity, acts as a continual intercession for mankind. He is perputually standing in the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. The veil in the tabernacle was a buffer between the two just as the man Christ Jesus is the buffer between our wickedness and God's holy wrath.

Its a metaphor, not a literal picture.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Have not read the thread.

Most people make the mistake of visualizing Jesus before God standing and interceding on our behalf. I came to terms with this particular scripture back in bible school 20+ years ago.

The fact that God became a man and dwelt among us, His experiences, His being touched with the feelings of our infirmities, His humanity, acts as a continual intercession for mankind. He is perputually standing in the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. The veil in the tabernacle was a buffer between the two just as the man Christ Jesus is the buffer between our wickedness and God's holy wrath.

Its a metaphor, not a literal picture.

Then, as I asked many others with no response, why is the unending life aspect of Christ's priesthood said to be the reason for His ability to ever make intercession?

It is far from a metaphor. He is actually High Priest, after which the Old Testament high priest was patterned.

[mfblume]

Philjones wrote something today which I responded to, and I wish to put the core of my response in this thread, since it applies to it as well.

I think some have taken a far too simplistic approach to the issue of the flesh of Christ that resurrected 2000 years ago and where it stands today, thinking ONLY GODHOOD exists in Christ now, and that there is no humanity left with which He resurrected 2000 years ago. What changed between His immortalized human ascension and now? And I think this has been due to lack of undestanding of what Hebrews and 1 Cor 15, especially, says.

As I stated, Christ is still manifest in humanity in glory right now standing as high priest in active duty right now. That is why we read he ever lives for the purpose of making intercession. That cannot refer to a work of intercession accomplished 2000 years ago once and for all. He shed His blood and made atonement once and for all, but He still intercedes for the purpose of seeing us overcome sin... not be forgiven of sins. This was manifested in the conversations beforehand about this issue. Folks who opposed any present humanity in Christ did not see any other intercession than that for sins. If the intercession occurred once and for all 2000 years ago in one moment of time, then it would make no sense to say that He ever lives TO MAKE intercession. There would be no association with living forever with the thought of intercession. The text reads that his everliving life was necessary to make intercession. Only one moment of time would have been required, rather than forever, if intercession occurred in one moment of time 2000 years ago.

Intercession was only accomplished by the HIGH PRIEST when He entered the most holy place. How could He intercede on the cross in DYING??? It breaks the entire purpose of typology in the Old Testament High Priesthood. HEAVEN is distinctly said to be the Most Holy Place in Hebrews 9. THAT is where both atonement and intercession were made in the Old Testament. He did not even present atonement while on the cross! The cross corresponds to the OUTER COURT, not the most holy place where the atonement was presented.

The entire book of Hebrews and its overall theme and POINT has never hardly been preached amongst our circles, just as Romans 6 through 7 has hardly ever been preached. Hence, our people have gotten all sorts of lacking beliefs, in my opinion. Our generation of ministers today has to veritably pioneer these understandings all over again, when the early church had them down pat. We would not read He ever lives TO MAKE intercession, but rather He remained human until the end of the cross' work in order to make intercession for us if it was true there is no intercession occurring now.

The fact remains that Romans 6 teaches CHRIST LIVES UNTO GOD since He has died to sin once. It does not say He died to sin once and for all and lived to God once and for all, as if the humanity that is implied in distinction from God, seen in the very phrase "unto God", is not the case today. But LIVETH unto God in Rom 6:10 is an ongoing event, even to now. Paul said HE LIVES UNTO GOD EVEN NOW in that verse! And it is the basis upon which we can compare our position in Romans 6:11 when we are told we likewise are alive unto God. As much as He liveth unto God STILL, He continues to make intercession which required an everliving existence.


Rom 6:10-11 KJV For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As I said, ...my thoughts, anyway.

[mfblume]

Can anyone refute Christ is NOT High Priest in active duty NOW after reading Romans 8:10? He LIVES UNTO GOD. That shows there is still a distinction occurring between humanity and deity. LIVETH is ongoing. Even until Paul wrote those words decades after the resurrection. HE LIVETH - NOW - Unto God.

[ReformedDave]

I posted this before but I believe Wesley had it right.




Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.