Tag: intercessions of Christ our high priest

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A Theology of Prayer

Every Christian should be a praying Christian. Prayer is a distinguishing characteristic of the Christian life.

What is prayer? Simply put, prayer is communion and communication with God. Christians pray because of who God is, because of what Jesus has done for us, and because of the Holy Spirit who helps us.

Jesus said to his disciples (and to us), “And I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

Right away, we find ourselves asking if this promise is to be understood as an all-inclusive guarantee, like an Aladdin’s lamp with a magic genie inside. No, there are some built in limitations in this promise. The mention of the Father means that any request that would be granted must bring glory to God. Also the mention of the name of Jesus means that our petitions should be consistent with the character and purposes of the Lord Jesus.

The immediate context of this promise emphasizes the fact that Jesus was about to return to the Father in heaven. In preparing the disciples for this, the Lord mentions the Father twelve times in John 14:1-14. He wants us to think of God as a Father.

The Father is willing to hear us, to help us, to listen and to understand. He is strong and sympathetic. Jesus invites us to pray to him because of who he is, what he has done, and what he has promised to do. This gives us assurance in prayer.

Because we are sinners, we need a way of approaching God. We have such a way. Jesus is the Savior who died to take away our sins. He is the mediator who  intercedes for us as our representative before God. He is the one who says to believers, “You are in me and I am in you” (John 14:20). This union with Jesus makes the Father accessible to us. We may approach God with freedom and confidence in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus gives us authority in prayer.

Furthermore, in the verses that follow, Jesus promised the disciples that he and the Father would send the Holy Spirit to them. He would indwell them and help them. One of the ways the Spirit helps believers is in prayer. Romans 8:26-27 tell us that the Spirit intercedes for us when we do not know how to pray as we ought. He helps us in our weakness. The Holy Spirit, then, gives us ability in prayer.

Robert Murray McCheyne wrote, “When we pray in private there are three persons with us: there is God the Father, whose eyes see in secret and whose ears are open to our cry; there is God the Son, blotting out our sins, and offering up our petitions with the incense of his own merit; and there is God the Holy Spirit, quickening our spirits and putting into our hearts good desires.”

Let us pray.

Pastor Randy Faulkner

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Saved Through His Life

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10)

An examination of Romans chapter 5 reveals our need of salvation, and what God in Jesus Christ has done to make it possible for us to receive salvation. It says that sin renders us alienated from God and helpless to do anything about it (v. 16).  It says sinners are enemies of God (v.10).

Furthermore it says that the Lord Jesus solved the problem of our alienation from God when he died on the cross. He made it possible for ungodly people to be objects of God’s love (v.8), justified by his blood (v.9), saved from God’s wrath (v.9), and reconciled to God (v. 10).

Added to all this is the promise that “we shall be saved through his life” (v.10). This means that the Jesus who died for our sins was also raised from the dead. His resurrection life is given to his people now and in the resurrection on the last day. This is salvation.

Consider some practical implications of the phrase “saved through his life.” Think of it this way: Christ outside the empty tomb, Christ inside our hearts, and Christ beside the Father in heaven.

Outside the tomb

We are saved by believing the gospel, the message of Jesus’ death, burial and  resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is the basis for our assurance of resurrection life. The resurrection was prophesied in the Old Testament, recorded by eyewitnesses in the New Testament, and is the reason for the existence of the Christian faith today.

The empty tomb challenges philosophy: “explain this event.” It challenges history: “repeat this event.” It challenges time: “erase this event.” It challenges faith: “believe this event!” We  are saved through his life.

Inside our hearts

“Saved through his life” means that those who believe the gospel have the living Christ living in them. Paul the apostle wrote, “You, however, are controlled, not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9).

This verse, and many others, tell us that we are being saved by the power and presence of the risen Christ in our lives, This union with Christ is our hope of eternal life. So, when the Father judges us, he does not look on us alone. In God’s sight the believer is one in union with Christ. Believers are declared righteous by faith in Christ. This is a new legal standing or position before God. We are justified by faith. We are saved by his life. “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Beside the Father

“Saved by his life” also points to the present ministry of our risen savior at the right hand of God the Father. This means that believers are kept saved by the intercessions of Jesus our great high priest, who prays continuously on their behalf. It is through him that we are invited to draw near to God in prayer. He is the guarantor of our forgiveness and of our heavenly inheritance.

The Bible records numerous instances of Jesus praying for his disciples. One of my favorite examples is when our Lord spoke directly to Peter and warned him that Satan desired to claim him and sift him like wheat. Then Jesus gave Peter an assuring word, “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:31-32).

Peter failed the Lord when he denied him. But through the intercessions of Jesus God brought him through the failure to restoration and fruitful ministry. I believe this is how Jesus is praying for his people now at the Father’s right hand. He is seated in the presence of God  on our behalf as advocate and representative (1 John 2:1-2).

In the future, as you read the phrase “saved through his life” in Romans 5:10, think of the living Christ outside the tomb, inside your heart, and beside the Father in heaven interceding for you.

Pastor Randy Faulkner