Intercession

July 30, 2022

In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God (John 16:26-27).

Some of the teachings of Jesus are difficult to understand and accept. They challenge some of the ideas we have held for years, ideas that have developed from a less than thorough study and understanding of Scripture. 

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:5), For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. This does not mean Christians make their requests to the Father through Jesus Christ, as though the Father is unapproachable to us. What it does mean is that since the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, we are able to pray directly to the Father. 

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn apart from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). We have direct access to the Father. (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22) Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need . . . .  Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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.

Scripture teaches the priesthood of every believer. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10). Jesus is our High Priest in heaven. That cannot be denied (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2). However, to think we cannot pray directly to the Father, that we cannot request anything from the Father because He is holy and unapproachable is unbiblical. He is holy and approachable because Jesus has made us holy through His atoning death on the cross. The Apostle Paul wrote (Romans 5:1-2), Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Amen.

Pastor Martin

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