"But He Holds His Priesthood Permanently"

“But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he can save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession.” (Hebrews 7:24-25 ESV)

The Old Testament priests could not forgive sins; instead, they performed sacrifices and prayers to cover them temporarily. Christ came in the flesh to lay down His life, so we could be rejoined to God, forgiven our sins, and made righteous before the Lord. Unlike those priests, Christ's priesthood is eternal.

The writer of Hebrews is telling us just this very thing. Christ is eternal, unlike the priests whom God gave limited power; His power is unending and unrestricted, and through His sacrifice, He can save all who place their faith in Him. In our faith, we will never be cast aside nor forgotten. Nothing can pluck us from the hand of God and our salvation. We become one of many who make up the body of the church, brothers and sisters in Christ.

We know that only those whom God calls will come to faith and that the way to the Father is through Christ. We know this because Christ Himself told us, ^“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’ “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) For us to stand in a living relationship with God, we must be justified, made righteous, and sinless. While we will stumble and will still sin, though our faith in Christ Jesus, our sins, past, present, and future, will be wiped away forever.

This gospel message from the writer of Hebrews has not, nor will it ever change, and today, so that we may be saved, God must give us the grace to come to faith in Christ alone as the risen Son of God who alone can save one from their sins. But the writer of Hebrews also tells us another truth about our Savior.

In verse 25, we are told that our Savior, Christ, is our mediator and intercessor with God. Paul tells us the same truth in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” And while the Spirit groans prayers when we are unable, Christ is our intercessor with the Father. This is incredibly important because we have assurance in Christ by His resurrection and power, His grace and mercy, and His unending love.

In some religions, those who identify as Christians pray to Saints and mothers. They are not intercessors. They cannot cleanse one of their sins; they have no power in redemption. It is idolatry at its worst.

The Saints of the early church, the apostles, were truly Saints as they believed in Christ, witnessed His power and glory, and were martyred in His name. The modern saints make up the modern church. We are saints, believers not by sight, but by faith. We spread the gospel to those who are lost, and just as Paul instructed, we stand firm in our faith, clothed in the armor of God. (Ephesians 6). When Christ appeared to Thomas and the apostles, He said to Thomas, who finally believed, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Are you a believer? If not, are you curious about Jesus Christ, about salvation through faith in Him alone? Is there a longing in your heart that you cannot explain? Perhaps the Lord is calling you to faith.

Seek Christ today. Do you need help getting started? Reach out to In Messiah today, and we can provide you with the scriptures that tell of salvation through Christ alone.

Grace and Peace.