"I saw you..."
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If you have been in church for any length of time you have probably heard the word intercession. And more than likely, the context in which it was used had something to do with prayer. I was recently studying a passage in Hebrews when “intercession” took on a whole new meaning and solidified the truth of what living “Christ as Life” looks like for the Christian. I grew up hearing the message that my salvation was based on my behavior and if I messed up or didn’t obey, I could lose my salvation. You can imagine the self-effort and striving it took to try and live a perfect life. It was EXHAUSTING!!! Let’s look at this passage (with a little word study) and see how it brings assurance of salvation and an end to self-effort and striving for Christians.
“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” Hebrews 7:25 (ESV).
“able to save”- in this verse the word save speaks specifically of salvation from eternal death. By implication, to give eternal life.
“to the uttermost”- in the New Testament this word is used adverbially and means wholly, entirely, as referring to time.
“always lives to make intercession for them”
Notice the word “always” in this sentence. It means exactly what it says. Always, at all times, on all occasions.
Intercession in Greek is the word “entugchano” and it is the combination of two words:
en- primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time, or state); preposition meaning in, on, at, by any place or thing with the primary idea of rest; remaining in place.
tugchano- to make ready or bring to pass, attain, or secure; affect; to happen.
Oxford Languages defines intercession as “the action of intervening on behalf of another”. If you look up intervening it means “come between so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events”. A synonym for intervening is “step in” and it means to “become involved in a difficult situation, especially in order to help”.
“Intercessors make requests, counsel, discuss, risk, sacrifice, and make war on issues relating to the weaker ones”.
Can you see that intercession is so much more than prayer? Christ as our intercessor intervenes on our behalf as He steps in and alters our course from death (as unbelievers) to life (as believers). Then, because he lives in us, He is always interceding on our behalf by making requests, urging, and discussing with the Father our difficult situations in order to help. Christ AS Life is always going to war for us. “The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent”. Exodus 14:14 (NASB). Christ AS Life is our REST!! Christ AS Life is our salvation, not just one time but eternally, always, at all times, on all occasions. Christ AS Life is just that—Christ AS Life!!
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20 (KJV).