JESUS CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST (Part III)

JESUS CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST (Part III)

As previously stated, Jesus Christ fulfills three distinct functions to secure our redemption from sin and eternal salvation.  Firstly, Jesus Christ acts on our behalf as Atoner.  Secondly, Jesus Christ acts on our behalf as Mediator.  Thirdly, Jesus Christ acts on our behalf as Advocate.  Previous devotions have explored Christ’s priestly ministry as the Atoner and Mediator for us.  Today, we highlight the indispensable ministry of Jesus Christ as our Advocate.

Jesus Christ is the author of our eternal salvation.  The Word states, “though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Hebrews 5:8-9)  The Greek word for salvation employed here is “aitios,” which suggests that a very definite action is taken which causes something else to occur.  This is a splendid portrait of the salvation work of Jesus Christ, i.e. He is both “the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)  Grace and truth came to us via the Kingdom message (the gospel) of Jesus Christ, so our faith has its beginning and ending in The Living Word. (Luke 16:16 – John 1:1 – John 1:14)  There can be no doubt that Jesus Christ started it and Jesus Christ will finish it. (Philippians 1:6)

Question: How does Christ fulfill in us what He started (and ended) on Calvary? 

Answer: Christ’s priestly function as Advocate is the gracious method by which He supplies ongoing grace to believers who must “fight the good fight of faith” within a world system that is saturated with sin and sinful practices. (I Timothy 6:12)

According to Dictionary.com, an advocate is “a champion, a proponent, a backer.”  To advocate means “to support in defense of a person” [or] “to plead for or on behalf of another” [or] “to intercede.”  These definitions aptly Christ’s high priestly ministry to believers in the post-conversion phase of our faith.  The Apostle John characterizes it this way:

I John 2:1-3

¹ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Synonyms for Propitiation are “appeasement, accommodation, adjustment, reconciliation, reparation, restoration.” (Thesaurus.com) In order to fully comprehend the meaning of the above scripture, you should substitute each synonym for propitiation within the following scripture.  “Jesus Christ is the _______ for our sins.” (I John 2:2)  Got it?

Christ’s high priestly office of advocacy means that He actually serves as our spiritual attorney.  Jesus Christ is seated at “the right hand of God” to continually represent us, that is, to make adjustments, to make accommodations, to reconcile, to repair and to restore us to divine favor whenever we have “sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 8:34 – Colossians 3:1 – Romans 3:23)  Although we have already attained salvation “by grace…through faith,” we are able to walk in sustained salvation  by virtue of Christ’s ongoing redemptive activity at the right hand of the Father. (Ephesians 2:8) As our Advocate, He stands by us and for us, even in the wake of our sins – but only “if we confess our sins.”  Only then, “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

One may rightfully conclude that every believer has been saved, is being saved, and will be saved.  The believer has been saved by virtue of the sacrificial atonement of “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)  The believer is being saved via the process of sanctification, “the washing of water by the Word.” (Ephesians 5:26)  The believer will be saved by a total deliverance from the physical body, which is the sensory medium for experiencing sin and its ill effects. (I John 3:2 and I Corinthians 15:51-54)  JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HIGH PRIEST.  Christ’s effective service as our Atoner, our Mediator and our Advocate accomplishes all three aspects of ‘Operation Salvation.’  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!