Some wonder what our Lord is doing today when we fall to temptation. The Scriptures provide three words that describe what the Lord is doing for us.
First, the Lord Jesus is our intercessor. Intercession is the act of intervening, particularly the act of praying or pleading to God on behalf of another person. The Lord who died for sinners and wants to save them does not quickly give up on them. Jesus faithfully remained on the cross until He died. It is with that same determination and commitment to His followers that He intercedes today.
Paul explains how the Lord's love and grace work: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom. 8:32-34).
The Levitical high priests were compassionate during their lifetime, but they were prevented by death from continuing: "but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:24-25). The One who died for us has maintained vigilance for His people without interruption.
Our merciful Father is willing to forgive His people. David sinned, but God forgave him when he confessed and repented. David wrote: "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust" (Ps. 103:8-14).
Second, the Lord Jesus is a mediator. A mediator settles a disagreement or restores a relationship between two people or groups. Jesus is uniquely qualified to mediate. Since He is both God and man. God's desire has always been for people to be saved and know the truth. The purpose of forgiveness is reconciliation. Paul declares, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Tim. 2:3-6).
When Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth, he reminded them, "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). The blood of Jesus not only forgives us but also redeems and reconciles us to God. Forgiveness and reconciliation of the world take place when God in Christ is no longer counting their trespasses against them (2 Cor. 5:19). We are forgiven when we are baptized (Col. 2:12-13), but we are also forgiven and reconciled when we sin as Christians, if we confess our sins, repent of them, and ask God's forgiveness (Acts 8:22-24; 1 John 1:9).
Third, the Lord Jesus serves as our advocate with the Father. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2). The Lord Jesus, our Savior, is in heaven at this time pleading our case before the Father.
The Lord Jesus is our advocate, the one who has been called alongside to help the Christians when they sin. Though Christians may not want to sin, they do sin and need forgiveness. Because Jesus is a sinless and righteous high priest, He can approach the Father on our behalf and plead for our atonement. The sacrificed offering became the advocate for our sins. God listens to Jesus Christ, the righteous, because He (Christ) offered Himself.
The Lord Jesus was indeed the atoning sacrifice or propitiation for our sins. Propitiation properly signifies the removal of wrath by the offering of a gift to atone for offense. Isaiah 53:10-11 reveals, "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied" (Is. 53:10-11).
Micah proclaims the ongoing pardon of the Lord for His people: "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again; He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Mic. 7:18-19). If God would forgive the iniquities of the remnant of Israel, sure He will also forgive the sins of penitent Christians.
The Spiritual Sword April 2026