Three Truths!

                              From James White's article, Was Anyone Saved at the Cross?


          Christ intercedes for those who draw near to God, not for those who are not
     approaching Him.  He intercedes for His people.

                         "(Jesus said), No one can come to me unless the Father who sent
                         me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day."  John 6:44

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          Christ's intercession is based upon the fact that He has died as the substitute
     for God's people, and since He has borne their sins in His body on the tree, He
     can present His offering before the Father in their place, and intercede for them
     on this basis.
          The Son does not ask the Father to compromise His holiness, or simply pass
     over sin.  Christ took care of sin at Calvary.


                          "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already
     here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made,
     that is to say, not a part of this creation."
                          "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, having obtained eternal
    redemption."   Hebrews 9:11-12


          After He had obtained eternal redemption for His people, Christ ascended into the
     true heavenly sanctuary, in the presence of God the Father.

          Christ did not merely attempt to redeem God's people, He actually obtained eternal
     redemption for them on the cross.  He entered the Most Holy place having already
     accomplished redemption.

          With redemption now accomplished, He is interceding today for His people be-
     fore the Father.  He died and arose so he could go to the Father to intercede for His
     children.  He is presenting His perfect sacrifice to the Father.

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           He is our Advocate.

                            "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if
    anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense --- Jesus Christ,
    the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but
    also for the sins of the whole world."  1 John 2:1-2

          John's message is for believers and not for everybody in the world, because he
     writes in verses 12 and 13 that the recepients know God and have had their sins for-
     given.  This applies only to God's children.

          ("The fact that John's letter mentions no one by name suggests it was a circular letter
     sent to Christians in a number or places.  The earliest confirmed use of 1 John was in the
     province of Asia (modern Turkey), where Ephesus was located.  Clement to Alexandria
     indicates that John ministered in the various churches scattered throughout that province.
     It may be assumed, therefore, that 1 John was sent to the churches of the province of Asia.")
                                                                                   NIV Commentary

          When John writes, "... not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world,"
     he does not mean that Christ atoned for everyone's sins in the entire world, but that He not
     only atoned for the sins of the believers who are receiving his letter, but also for all believers
     everywhere.
          Remember that the word "world" (Greek - Cosmos) has many different meanings in John's
     writings, and often does not mean every single person on earth.  Here, "world" can't mean
     everybody, because Christ's atonement is effective only for believers.

          "World" has the same meaning as the message in Revelation 5:9b:

          "... and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and
     people and nation."


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          Three Truths

          1. It is impossible that Christ not intercede for everyone for whom He died.

              If He died as their Substitute, how could He not present His sacrifice in their stead
     before the Father?  Can we really believe Christ would die for someone that He did not
     inend to save?

         2. It is impossible that anyone, for whom the Son did not die, could receive Christ's
     intercession. 
    
             If Christ did not die in behalf of a certain individual, how could Christ intercede for
     that person, since He would have no grounds upon which to seek the Father's mercy?

         3. It is impossible that anyone, for whom the Son intercedes, could be lost.

             Can we imagine the Son pleading before the Father, presenting His perfect
     atonement in behalf of an individual that He wishes to save, and the Father rejecting
     the Son's intercession?

            The Father always hears the Son ("Jesus said, Father ... 'I knew that you always hear
     me ..."  John 11:42).

            Would He not hear the Son's pleas in behalf of all that the Son desires to save?

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          Furthermore, if we believe that Christ can intercede for someone that the Father will
     not save, then we must believe that either:

                        1. There is dissension in the Godhead, the Father desiring one thing, the Son
     another, or

                        2. The Father is incapable of doing what the Son desires Him to do. 
                           
                            Both positions are utterly impossible!

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          Jesus does not pray for those who are not His.

                       "I pray for them.  I am not praying for the world, but for those you have
     given me, for they are yours."   John 17:9

         
          Jesus prayed not only for those living at that time, but also prays for us believers today.

                       "My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe
     in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me
     and I am in You."  John 17:20-21


                     Jesus is our faithful Intercessor!