ALWAYS ON YOUR SIDE
16th Sep 2020
I love the way that Hebrews 7 presents the case for Jesus as our Great High Priest. This chapter gives us the contrast between Jesus and the old covenant priests. These priests were constantly offering sacrifices for sin and the people needed to come again and again to receive forgiveness. Verse 27 states, “But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins.”
Later in Hebrews 9:12 it says, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” Our forgiveness is not a transient thing, one moment under the guilt of sin, the next moment having to go and plead for forgiveness. As Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Bumper stickers have rather gone out of fashion, but I heard of one which said, “I'm not perfect, just forgiven!”
Not only have we obtained eternal redemption, Jesus is always in the presence of the Father taking our side and presenting our case. Romans 8:34 says, “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” When satan appeared before God accusing Job, God was on the side of Job, defending him and supporting him. When the enemy of our souls is accusing us and seeking to drag us down, Jesus is before the Father interceding for us.
When Jesus was about to leave the disciples He assured them, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) The writer to the Hebrews underlines this when he declares that “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
As believers we are, “Always forgiven”, and as we deal with the challenges of life, Jesus is “Always Interceding”, and whatever our situation Jesus is, “Always with us.”
by Charles Sibthorpe
