The Intercession of Christ is the ongoing high-priestly ministry of the risen and ascended Lord Jesus as He appears in the presence of God on behalf of His people.
Having offered Himself once for all as the perfect sacrifice, He now lives forever to make intercession for those who draw near to God through Him.
His intercession is the application and continuation of His finished work on the cross, securing the final salvation of all who belong to Him.
Because Christ intercedes, the believer’s access to the Father is permanent, and no charge can stand against those whom God has justified.
After making purification for sins, Christ sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. From that exalted place He continues His priestly work — not by offering further sacrifices, but by interceding for His people on the basis of the sacrifice already made. The New Testament presents this intercession as both continuous and effective. He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. When accusations arise, Christ Jesus is the One who died, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, and who indeed is interceding for us. His intercession is not a pleading of uncertainty but the presentation of His own finished work and the assertion of His people’s rights in Him. The Spirit also intercedes within believers according to the will of God, yet the intercession of Christ in heaven remains the foundation of their security and the guarantee that nothing will separate them from the love of God.
- The intercession of Christ is the present activity of the exalted High Priest on behalf of His people.
- It rests entirely on the once-for-all sacrifice already offered; no further atonement is needed.
- Because He always lives to intercede, He is able to save completely and forever those who come to God through Him.
- His intercession answers every accusation and secures the final salvation of the elect.
- Believers have a constant Advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the righteous.
- The intercession of Christ is the heavenly counterpart to the Spirit’s intercession within the believer.
- This ministry continues until the last of His people is safely brought to glory.
- High-Priestly Ministry – The ongoing work of the One who has passed through the heavens and appears in the presence of God for us.
- Basis in the Cross – Intercession is effective because the perfect sacrifice has already been accepted.
- Continuous and Permanent – He always lives to make intercession; His priesthood is unchangeable.
- Saving to the Uttermost – His intercession guarantees the complete and final salvation of those who draw near.
- Answer to Accusation – No charge can succeed against those for whom Christ intercedes.
- Advocacy – He is the righteous Advocate who speaks on behalf of His people when they sin.
- Union with His People – He intercedes as the Head for the members of His body, securing every blessing He purchased.
- Hebrews 7:25 – “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
- Romans 8:34 – “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.”
- Hebrews 9:24 – “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”
- 1 John 2:1-2 – “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…”
- Hebrews 4:14-16 – “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession… Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
- Hebrews 7:23-24 – “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.”
- John 17:9, 20-24 – Jesus prays for those the Father has given Him and for those who will believe through their word, asking that they may be with Him and behold His glory.
- Isaiah 53:12 – “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”
- Romans 8:26-27, 33-34 – The Spirit intercedes for the saints; God is the One who justifies; Christ is the One who intercedes.
- Hebrews 2:17-18 – “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
- Hebrews 8:1-2 – “We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.”
- Luke 22:31-32 – “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.”
- John 14:16 – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.”
- 1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
The intercession of Christ is the quiet, continuous guarantee of the believer’s security. The sacrifice has been offered once for all; the Son has sat down; and now He lives forever to make intercession for those who draw near to God through Him. No accusation can succeed, no weakness can finally overthrow, no sin can separate those for whom the risen Christ appears in the presence of God. He is able to save to the uttermost. When you falter, He prays. When you are accused, He advocates. When you draw near to the throne of grace, you come through the One who is already there on your behalf. Rest in the intercession of Christ. Your High Priest is alive forever, and He will not lose a single one of those the Father has given Him.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.