Sunday: Access to the Heavenly Sanctuary
Read Hebrews 4:16; Heb 6:19-20; and Heb 10:19–21. To what do believers have access, and what does this mean for us? What hope is offered here, and more important, what impact should this hope have on our life and faith?
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
Believers have spiritual access to the heavenly sanctuary, to the very throne of God. We can seek closeness to God because our “entry” was made possible by the blood of Christ and by His representation in our behalf as our High Priest. The texts assure us that our soul has an anchor, Jesus Christ, who is in the very presence of God (Heb. 4:14–16; Heb 6:19-20. The assurance for us is that Christ gained full access to God after He was inaugurated as the heavenly High Priest (Heb. 6:20). At the inauguration, Christ sat on the heavenly throne, an image that demonstrates His royal status (Rev. 3:21).
The good news for us is that our Representative is in the presence of the Father. No mere earthly priest, who himself is sinful, serves on our behalf. We have the better Priest. Nothing separates the Father from the Son. Because Christ is perfect and sinless, there does not need to be a veil that shields God’s holiness from Jesus, our High Priest (Heb. 10:20).
“What does intercession comprehend? It is the golden chain which binds finite man to the throne of the infinite God. The human agent whom Christ has died to save importunes the throne of God, and his petition is taken up by Jesus who has purchased him with His own blood. Our great High Priest places His righteousness on the side of the sincere suppliant, and the prayer of Christ blends with that of the human petitioner.”—Ellen G. White, That I May Know Him, p. 78.
What assurance we have that we can have close communion with the Father, all because of what Jesus has done and is doing for us!
Dwell on what it means that Jesus is interceding for you in heaven. Why do you need that intercession so greatly?
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SATAN PREYS and JESUS PRAYS. Satan stands at our right hand to accuse us, and our Advocate stands at God’s right hand to plead for us. He has never lost a case that has been committed to Him. We may trust in our Advocate; for He pleads His own merits in our behalf. Hear His prayer before His betrayal and trial. Hear on Luke 22: assuring Simon peter , 31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
I need God's help in all situations of my life. Jesus's intersession is an on going process to secure my salvation. It is a blessing to know that the work that Christ did on the cross want only the beginning. He became my intercessor when he accended into heaven. It let's me know that I am not alone in this Christian journey. My relationship with Chirst and the power of the Holy Spirit lets me know that I need him to survive the firey darts of the enemy. I need Jesus intersession because I have done nothing to earn my salvation. "Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain" I need Jesus to talk with me and for me to the Father. Amen
i need the intercession coz i am still in the world where sin still reigns, but my link to the heavenly sanctuary thr' the holy spirit will always sustain me in the path of righteousness.
Living in this sinful earth means that the possibility exists where I am sinning and not even knowing. Knowing that I am in a relationship with Jesus who is not only my friend but my priest who has access to the father is very reassuring as I have forgiveness at my finger tip. I can call on Him all the time and know that he hears.