Great High Priest, Perfect Savior, and Intercessor

                                "The former priests, on the one hand existed
                                  in greater numbers because they were prevented
                                  by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other
                                  hand, because He continues forever, holds His
                                  priesthood permanently.

                                 THEREFORE HE IS ABLE ALSO TO SAVE
                                 FOREVER THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR TO
                                 GOD THROUGH HIM, SINCE HE ALWAYS
                                 LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM."
                                                                          Hebrews 7:23-25
                             
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                          ***************


                                                         GREAT HIGH PRIEST

          "The old priests were imperfect on many levels.  They could not save
     completely for they were prevented from continuing their ministry by death.

            Christ is not like them.  He 'continues forever,' therefore, He holds His
     priesthood permanently.  Because of this He has a capacity, an ability, that
     none of the old priests had:

                             He is able to save 'forever' or to the 'uttermost.'

             ... we note that the Scriptures say He is able to save a particular people
     (those who draw near to God through Him) because He always lives to engage
     in that unique and wonderful work Paul mentioned in Romans 8:33-34, the work
     of intercession.

                                  'Who shall bring any charges against God's elect?
                                   It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn?

                                   Christ Jesus is the one who died -- more than that,
                                   who was raised -- who is at the right hand of God,
                                   who indeed is interceding for US (the elect).'
                                                                           Romans 8:33-34

                
            Let us consider what these few words mean.


                                                         PERFECT SAVIOR

            He is able to save.  He has the ability to actually save human beings,
     deliver them from the dominion and penalty of sin, and bring them into
     eternal glory.

            This ability resides in Him, not in mere potentiality, but in reality.
     He is able to save to the uttermost, forever, completely, without fail.

            If a person believes salvation is the work of God then these words
     fully explain why we glory in confessing Christ as the perfect Savior.
    
            This is the ground upon which we can understand His statement from
     the cross, 'It is finished,' rather than 'it is now theoretically possible.'

             Jesus is able to save, not merely make savable.


                                                          INTERCESSOR

            Christ makes intercession for those who draw near to God through Him.
     He intercedes only for them, not for anyone else (John 17:9).  He intercedes
     only for the elect (John 6:37 makes the same point).

            Christ intercedes for all for whom He dies.  Just as the high priest could
     not intercede for anyone without a sacrifice, so too Christ does not intercede
     for anyone for whom He does not make atonement.

            Christ intercedes for all for whom He dies since intercession is simply
     the presentation of the finished work of Calvary before the Father.  The scope
     of the atonement, then, is the scope of intercession.

            Yet, we saw in Romans that Christ intercedes for God's elect, and here
     the same group is in view, THOSE WHO COME UNTO GOD BY HIM . 
     And since His act of intercession is given as the explanation for Christ's ability to
     save forever, it follows inexorably that CHRIST'S DEATH SAVES ALL THOSE
     FOR WHOM IT IS MADE."
    

                                                            James R. White
                                                            The Potter's Freedom