What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge 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. (Romans 8:31-34)
Romans 8 is one of the greatest chapters in all of the Bible. The apostle Paul had been a persecutor of the early Christians until God called him out on the road to Damascus to be the chosen apostle sent to the Gentiles to declare the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and salvation for all…Jew or Gentile.
One of the greatest realizations through faith we can have is that the ascended Christ is interceding for all true believers sitting at the right hand of his father. Even though we continue to live struggling against our flesh and sinful natures, we know there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We have learned to trust in the fact that God now only sees us through the shed blood and intercession of his only begotten son.
If we believe and know this is true, we have the right to come boldly to that throne of grace and ask anything we will and he will do it. It may not be in our way or timetable, but God is always on his way and coming to our rescue. He corrects us and leads us every day if we submit our wills to Him and live according to the spirit over the flesh.
In His role as intercessor, Jesus advises us, heals us, quickens us to good works, fills us with unconditional love for others, ourselves, and most importantly for our creator. It is only through the power of his resurrection and this marvelous intercession that we have any chance to live holy and pleasing lives for God.
Thus we know that we always have Jesus in our corner in this life, and even more so as we look for his coming back to rule and reign over this earth.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:1-6)
Christ our advocate and intercessor is perfecting us through LOVE. We are free from sin and condemnation as we continue to live completely reliant on his intercession. This is a marvelous truth that we should be totally thankful for. Obedience is thankfulness, and love is all you need to be perfected. Of course, even this faith and love is a gift from God…”lest any man should boast”.
Let us continually praise our great intercessor!