Jesus – Our High Priest in Heaven
Today, Jesus is serving as the High Priest of the believers in heaven: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
The Christian system of salvation by faith finds its center in the person of Jesus as of our great High Priest. Jesus’ death as our sacrificial lamb and substitute, and His continual powerful ministry as our heavenly Priest, accomplish two incredible miracles for us:
1-A complete life change called the new birth, with all the sins of the past forgiven (John 3:3-6 Romans 3:25). This is instant experience is called Justification (Romans 5:1).
2- He gives the power to live a righteous life in the present and future (Titus 2:14 Philippians 2:13). In Him we can be “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37), for God “giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57) over both sin and its wages, death (Galatians 2:20). These day-by-day experiences is called sanctification (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
Jesus is granting these two miracles that make a person righteous. There is no possible way for a person to become righteous by works (his own efforts), because righteousness requires divine help which only Jesus can accomplish (Acts 4:12). A person becomes righteous by trusting Jesus to do for him what he cannot do for himself. This is what is meant by the biblical term “righteousness by faith.”
Jesus’ Amazing Provisions
Anyone that makes it a habit to come daily to the throne of grace for a fresh supply of God’s grace enters into the “rest” God has provided for the sincere believer (Hebrews 4:11).
- He forgives our sins (Isaiah 44:22; John 1:9).
- He restores us to God’s image (Romans 8:29).
- He gives us the desire to live right and then grants us His power to do that (Philippians 2:13).
- He causes us to happily do only the things that please Him (Hebrews 13:20- 21, John 15:11).
- He removes the death sentence from us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- He fills our cup with Joy (Psalm 23:5)
- He keeps us faithful until He returns (Philippians 1:6 Jude 1:24).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
