Dear Fellow Believers in Christ, (Christ has ever been Our Intercessor to the Father)
Is Christ still interceding for us even today? On what basis is Christ our Advocate with the Father? When you carefully read Romans chapter 8 with all preconceived ideas and biased glasses removed, who does the Word define as the intercessor being discussed? How could anyone pray without ceasing on watch with all manner of prayer all the time for the saints? How does Christ express His eternal intercession in and through us? Holy Spirit lead us and guide us into Christ who is all truth.
CHRIST OUR INTERCESSOR"Therefore He is also ever able to ever save to the uttermost those who are continually coming to God through Him, since He is ever living to be ever interceding for them" (Hebr. 7:25, author's translation).
First, Christ is Now Ever Living and Ever Interceding on Behalf of Us
The author of Hebrews makes it clear that Christ is ever living and ever interceding on behalf of us (Hebr. 7:25). That is a liberating truth to know and understand. Not only did Christ intercede for us on the cross as our sin sacrifice, but He also continues His intercessory work today. Paul states that, "It is Christ who died, and much greater is once then risen; who even ever is in the authority of God, who also ever intercedes in behalf of us" (Rom. 8:34, author's translation). Christ has always been interceding on our behalf. Christ was the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). Christ also took the cup in Gethsemane saying, Yes to the Father and went to the cross on our behalf. Christ is now ever living and ever interceding on our behalf to the Father.
Second, Christ is the Advocate with the Father based on His Finished Work
John informs us that, "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world" (I John 2:2). Jesus Christ because of His death, burial, and resurrection is now our Advocate with the Father. Also, since Christ was the propitiation or appeasement offering for our sins, He now stands as our righteous Advocate before the Father to intercede on our behalf. It is the shed "blood of Jesus Christ His Son that continually cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7). Christ intercedes to the Father on our behalf, based on his finished work on the cross: (1) He put to death the original sin of Adam (Rom. 5:12-21); (2) He put to death the old man and old nature of Adam (Rom. 6:6); and (3) He wiped out the ordinances and law against us (Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15,16). Because of His shed blood, we are justified and considered righteous to the Father (Rom. 3:24,25). Because of the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all we are considered sanctified to the Father (Hebr. 10:10).
Third, Christ Jesus is the One Mediator Between God and Man
Paul declares, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5). Again Paul tells us, "For He Himself is our peace who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us" and the Father (Eph. 2:14). Paul continues, "For through Him (Christ) we both have access by one Spirit to the Father" (Eph. 2:18). The only way we have a connection, a relationship, fellowship, and acceptance with the Father is in, by, and through Christ Jesus our Mediator who has interceded to make it possible. This is why we can have peace. For Christ has made it possible to be one in union with the Father through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit renews the mind, so Christ can have a mind to operate with and express Himself through us as us. Christ uses the renewed mind in His intercessory activities.
Fourth, Christ is One Given Authority for Judgment and Intercession
John quotes the words of Jesus, Himself who tells us, "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son" (John 5:21). There is nothing that that "all" leaves out. The Father has granted the Son the full rights to make any and all judgement on our behalf. The Father has committed all authority in heaven and earth to the Son (Matt. 28:18). The Father has granted all absolute ruling authority including intercession to the Son. The Son is at one in union with the Father speaking His words, and doing His works. Christ prayed and interceded specifically for you when he said, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word (that's us); that they all may be one, as You Father, are in Me and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" (John 17:20,21).
Fifth, The Spirit of Christ Makes Intercession for Us with Groanings
Paul states, "And likewise the Spirit ever co-joins in to assist our weakness, for we do not already know what we should once then pray according as is ever binding, but the Spirit Himself ever pleads our case with unutterable groanings" (Rom. 8:26, author's translation). The Spirit that is ever co-joined with us is the Lord Jesus Christ. "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him" (I Cor. 6:17). It is Christ, who is our life and strength and assists our weaknesses (II Cor. 12:9,10). Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). Paul throughout the whole passage of Romans chapter 8 is centered on Christ. "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Rom. 8:9). Paul tells us clearly that it is Christ, who died and is risen, and in all authority who makes intercession for us to the Father (Rom. 8:34).
Sixth, Christ Searches the Heart and Knows the Mind and Will of God
"Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Rom. 8:27). Christ is co-joined to our spirit at the birthing. Christ in the Spirit ever searches and already fully knows our heart. Christ also fully knows the mind of the Holy Spirit. As a result, Christ knows exactly how to intercede for every saint.
Seventh, Christ Makes Eternal Intercession for Us to the Father
"For Christ has not at intervals entered into the holy places made by hands, which are figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to once then fully declare before the face of God in behalf of us" (Hebr. 9:24, author's translation). Christ is making eternal intercession for us to the Father. We have received an eternal salvation (Hebr. 5:9). Also, we have obtained an eternal redemption (Hebr. 9:12). This is because of the shed blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God (Hebr. 9:14). Now he is the eternal Mediator and Intercessor of the new covenant, so that we may receive the eternal inheritance (Hebr. 9:15). How could anyone fulfil Paul's command to "ever pray without ceasing"? (I Thess. 5:17). That cannot be fulfilled in one's own weakness and fleshly abilities. Christ the intercessor in us can easily fulfil that verse. How can anyone pray through all prayer at every time in the Spirit, and continually watch for all the saints? (Eph. 6:18). Only through Christ, and His eternal intercession in and through us, can these things be continually accomplished without ceasing. Christ expresses His intercessory life in us as us for the Father.