‘Fitting For Us’

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.’

Hebrews 7:26

We stand in need of a High Priest such as Christ.  He is that High Priest Who is ‘fitting for us.’  The High Priests who were of the ancient priestly caste in Israel, came from the lineage of Aaron, Moses’ brother, the first High Priest of Israel.  The whole of that priesthood, of which he was the first, was a means to an end.  All of the ancient priestcraft, and particularly the work of the High Priest, was a picture of the work of Christ.  The whole of the ancient economy was full of types, shadows, and illustrations of the redemptive work of Christ.  The writer of Hebrews argues that Christ is superior as High Priest; has come from a higher order of priests, and has offered the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice.  This is the most ‘fitting’ High Priest for us.  We stand in need of the once-for-all sacrifice which really does atone for our sins.  This is why it is impossible for us to make too much of Christ.  Rites and ceremonies, rituals and works, church membership and involvement; even preaching and ministry cannot accomplish what Christ has accomplished by ‘the sacrifice of Himself.’  Christ is, the ‘High Priest’ Who is ‘fitting for us.’  Therefore we look to Him as our only Redeemer.

Our Wise and Sovereign God,
we rejoice that we have such a Great High Priest as Christ our Savior.
We praise You that He has done all that is necessary,
to purchase our redemption.

 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘To Make Intercession’

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

Christ is the greatest High Priest of time and of eternity.  The purpose of the High Priest is to intercede for the people before God.  In the ancient economy, the High Priest entered the veil of the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple, to make atonement for the people by the sprinkling of the blood of the lamb on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant.  His intercession was for the purpose that God would forgive the sins of the people based upon the presentation of the blood of the sacrifice.  This was an illustration of what Christ would do.  Christ, as the Perfect High Priest, has entered into the very Presence of God, bringing His Own Blood as the blood of the sacrifice.  This Blood, which He presents in Himself is the great argument for God to forgive the sins of all whom He represents.  Because of who Christ is, what He has done, and what He is now doing in the Presence of God His Father, we have hope.  We look to Christ to ensure our acceptance with God.  Christ is our unfailing, undying Advocate.  He cannot fail, therefore His intercession for us cannot fail.  This is the greatest of comforts and encouragements to us.  Christ ever lives to make intercession for us.  Therefore we look, not to ourselves, but to Him.

O Christ, our Great High Priest,
we rejoice that Your intercession cannot fail.
We praise You that we may rely utterly upon You,
and all that You have done, to accomplish all we need.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘Those Who Come to God Through Him’

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

Christ is the All-Sufficient Savior.  He said that He came, ‘to seek and to save that which was lost.’  He was very direct about the fact that, ‘all that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’  The Apostles declared unequivocally, ‘neither is there salvation in any other.’  The writer of Hebrews pressed the claims of Christ right from the beginning of his work, proving His position as the Savior by quoting passage after passage from the Old Testament.  As he progresses in his work, the author goes on to contrast the Old Testament system with the Gospel of Christ to show the superiority of Christ’s Priesthood and Sacrifice.  The text we are currently considering is a key text in the presentation of the Person of Christ and of His power to save.  It declares that He is, ‘able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.’  This text is but one of a multitude, all of which impart the same message:  Christ is the Savior, Who saves all who come to God through Him.  We have no other Savior to offer.  We have no other true cure for all that ails us.  The message of the people of God from ancient days unto the present hour is, ‘Jesus saves.’  He has saved; does save; and will save ‘to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.’

Our Glorious Saving God,
we rejoice that You have given unto us Christ,
to bring up our lives from destruction.
We praise You that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘To Save to the Uttermost’

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

How much of us requires saving?  If the inherited sin nature, which we have all received by virtue of our being the sons and daughters of Adams’ fallen race, has made us to be completely depraved, then we need to be saved in every way and to the fullest extent.  This includes salvation in every aspect of our being; mental, physical, spiritual, and social.  Complete salvation cannot exclude any of these elements.  Our text for today, declares that Christ ‘is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.’  Whatever else this means, it must include the salvation of the whole person in every respect, and that for all eternity.  Anything less than such a salvation leaves something lacking.  Christ is no lackluster or impotent Savior.  What He does, He does well, and does completely.  Therefore, being ‘the only Redeemer of God’s elect,’ and having undertaken to purchase our redemption, He infallibly accomplishes that salvation to the fullest extent.  Herein lies great encouragement for us.  Our salvation, ‘to the uttermost’ does not depend upon our ability, but upon His ability.  He is able in every way.  Therefore He saves us ‘to the uttermost.’

Our Great and Gracious Savior,
we rejoice in Your Almighty Power to save.
We praise You that You redeem our lives from destruction,
and save us to the uttermost.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘Able to Save’

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

We intentionally make much of Christ.  We do so because throughout the sacred history, from Genesis 3:15 onward, God made much of Christ. In that same tradition, the four evangelists made much of Christ.  According to the historical record of the Book of Acts, the Apostles also made much of Christ.  Why is Christ so important?  The answer is that Christ is the only Person Who ‘is…able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.’  This has always been the message from Genesis 3:15 onward.  We not only say, ‘Jesus saves, ‘ we also say, ‘Jesus is the only Savior.’ This is utterly consistent with the rest of Scripture, and with the testimony of Christ Himself when He said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’  Mere religion, rites, ceremonies and regulations will not do what Christ does.  Moral philosophy, good works, and personal reform will not succeed.  Christ Alone ‘saves to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.’  Therefore we make much of Him.  If you have not embraced Him, as He is freely offered to you in the Gospel, take the opportunity to embrace Him today.  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.

Our Savior and Our God,
we praise You for the blessed and glorious privilege we have,
to rest by faith in You.
We rejoice that You, do indeed, save us to the uttermost.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning