It is the risen Christ who helps us obey God and intercedes with the Father when we fall short. The book of Hebrews explains how Christ carries out His role as our High Priest: “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren [referring to the Word becoming flesh], that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God [the Father], to make propitiation [an atoning sacrifice] for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).
Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5) and His goal is to bring “many sons [and daughters] to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). He knows what it’s like to be tempted to sin and transgress God’s spiritual law. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). By never once transgressing God’s law, “He condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3).
In contrast, sin has tainted us, and one of our major goals as Christians is to learn to overcome sin, but we cannot do this apart from our Saviour, who told us, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Jesus Christ now sits at the Father’s right hand “to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24) as the author and captain of our salvation: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV).
The Apostle John encourages us with these words: “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin…. If we confess our sins [to God], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7 and 9). However, this wonderful truth is not a license for us to sin. John cautions us: “…you should not commit sin. But if anybody does, we have in Jesus Christ one who is acceptable to God and [as our High Priest] will plead our cause with the Father” (1 John 2:1, REB).
We do not earn salvation (eternal life) through obedience. Nonetheless, God requires as a condition of His gift of salvation that we cease from sin and obey Him: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). This is what Paul meant in Romans 12:1-2 when he wrote: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (NIV).
In Romans 8:34 the Apostle Paul reaffirms the wonderful truth that “it is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Both the Father and Son are actively involved in fulfilling Their purpose of bringing others into the divine family. It’s our destiny.
