Christ As High Priest Interceding Now

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

As we continue this disussion it may prove important to define some terms:

1. mediator

Greek: mestises [3319]

1. one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant
2. a medium of communication, arbitrator

Used 6 times in KJV, NASB and translated as mediator.

For this reason He R347 is the mediator R348 of a new R349 covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called R350 may receive R351 the promise of the R352 eternal inheritance.

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Intercession

Gr. Entugchano [1722, 5177]

1. to light upon a person or a thing, fall in with, hit upon, a person or a thing
2. to go to or meet a person, esp. for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication
3. to pray, entreat
4. make intercession for any one

Found 5 times in KJV and NASB ... translated as makes intercession ... also plead and appeal.

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever * those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

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3. advocate -

Gr : parakletos [3875]

1. summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid
2. one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate
3. one who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor
   1. of Christ in his exaltation at God's right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins
4. in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant
   1. of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

KJV (5) - advocate, 1; comforter, 4;
NAS (5) - Advocate, 1; Helper, 4;

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

Agreed Praxeas. Intercession is not exactly synonymous to being a mediator. These definitions and distinction are important in this conversation.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Agreed Praxeas. Intercession is not exactly synonymous to being a mediator. These definitions and distinction are important in this conversation.

But Dan, they do not change the issue at hand as to whether or not there is presently intercession occurring now. That is the issue.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Is he acting as intercessor or mediator when we allowed access to the Father? Or both?

Yes! He is there for us as High Priest IN PROXY position for us. We do not physically enter there of course, since it is most likely a spiritual dimension, anyway. But the high priest was always in the most holy place AS THE PEOPLE. And if the people did not benefit from it due to lack of faith in the whole concept, he was there doing nothing for them, personally. Similarly when we believe this is real and He is there as us, we enter there by faith which shows in our behaviour being empowered by God due to that faith. This is what I beleive Hebrews means in 6:18 when it says we can enter where our forerunner has entered. And in chapter 10 it says to boldly enter with fulll assurance of faith.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by mfblume

But Dan, they do not change the issue at hand as to whether or not there is presently intercession occurring now. That is the issue.

Infact the position Jesus has was as both a mediator and an intercessor. He is a mediator of the new covenant and one thing that made the covenant superior was having an everlasting mediator....

[SDG]

Originally Posted by mfblume

But Dan, they do not change the issue at hand as to whether or not there is presently intercession occurring now. That is the issue.

Is that all this discussion is about? Are we not also discussing the nature and scope of His intercession as High Priest. Can we, meaning us all, be confusing his role as High Priest with his work and role as the Lamb of God?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Infact the position Jesus has was as both a mediator and an intercessor. He is a mediator of the new covenant and one thing that made the covenant superior was having an everlasting mediator....

Right! His unending life allows for that and is integral for that to occur. It is explcitly stated so in Hebrews.

Heb 7:16 KJV Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Heb 7:24-25 KJV But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (25) 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.

Heb 7:28 KJV For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Is that all this discussion is about? Are we not also discussing the nature and scope of His intercession as High Priest. Can we, meaning us all, be confusing his role as High Priest with his work and role as the Lamb of God?

I believe you are hitting the nail on the head: The difference between the lamb's single work once and for all, and the high priest's ONGOING work. This helps me say it more clearly now.

My entire point has been that his role as LAMB is in shed blood alone, to stand for us in death. But his role as high priest is something different again, standing for us in the holiest of holies. As high priest, he continues his work forever until 1 Cor 15 is fulfilled. As Lamb, he did the work once and for all 2000 years ago.

The Lamb stood for us once and for all. The High Priest stands for us even until now!

The Lamb's work is done. The High Priest's is not done until 1 Cor 15 is fulfilled.

[mfblume]

BUMP

Originally Posted by 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...

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


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....

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....



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!

[SDG]

Originally Posted by mfblume

I believe you are hitting the nail on the head: The difference between the lamb's single work once and for all, and the high priest's ONGOING work. This helps me say it more clearly now.

My entire point has been that his role as LAMB is in shed blood alone, to stand for us in death. But his role as high priest is something different again, standing for us in the holiest of holies. As high priest, he continues his work forever until 1 Cor 15 is fulfilled. As Lamb, he did the work once and for all 2000 years ago.

The Lamb stood for us once and for all. The High Priest stands for us even until now!

The Lamb's work is done. The High Priest's is not done until 1 Cor 15 is fulfilled.

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

[Praxeas]

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?

One thing was to stand as a representative of the people in the Holy place