By Gary Ray Branscome
As our high priest,
Christ has not only made atonement for our sins, but also makes intercession
for us before the throne of God. As it is written, He takes upon Himself
the sins of many, and makes intercession for the those
who transgress (Isaiah 53:12).
The words, I do not pray for the world, but for
those whom you have given to me, the words I have prayed for
you, that your faith may not fail, and the words, I will ask
the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, tell us that Christ
was making intercession for believers before His resurrection (John 17:9, Luke
22:13, John 14:16). While the words, Who is there to condemn us? Christ who
died, yea rather, who was raised from the dead, is at the right hand of God,
and also intercedes for us, tell us that Christ continues to make intercession
for us (Romans 8:34).
Christs words, It is finished, tell us that His
work of intercession is not part of our atonement, the atonement is complete
(John
The words, For Christ
did not enter a man made sanctuary, that is only a type of the true one, but
into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor did He
enter heaven in order to offer Himself often, as does the high priest who enters
into the sanctuary every year with blood that is not his own; Otherwise He
would have had to suffer many times since the world was made: but now He has
appeared once at the close of history to put away sin by the sacrifice of
Himself, tell us that Christs one sacrifice completed our atonement, that
He did not enter heaven to continue that atonement, but He entered the heavenly
temple [sanctuary] to apply His blood to the heavenly mercy seat for our
forgiveness (Hebrews 9:24-26). As it is written, There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus (1Timothy 2:5). [See Lev. 16:14-15.]