“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…” Jude 24
In the letter to the Hebrews we find a remarkable statement concerning the ministry of the Lord Jesus as our High Priest before God. The author of the letter, whom we believe to be the Apostle Paul, speaks of “this man” (Christ) who has an unchangeable priesthood. This truth is remarkable in and of itself. But then the author takes us further, especially as it applies to the souls of men: “…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 great reality and fact is that Christ is the priest before God for the believer on a continual, everlasting basis. His role as our High Priest is more than being the intermediary between God and man. As High Priest He is ever living to intercede for the believer before the Father. Why is this so very important? First, let us ask the question about the prayers that Jesus makes to the Father. Will they be answered? Are they according to the will of the Father? Are they aimed at the manifestation of the glory of God in the life in greatest measure, the purposes of God fulfilled in the life? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding “Yes.” It is on the basis of Christ’s position and acceptance before the Father on our behalf, that Scripture tells us, “…He is also able to save them (the believers) to the uttermost.” This declaration coincides with that of Jude when he writes, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” Christ is not only the Savior of men, but the Savior who by His sacrifice, power and authority, is able to save perfectly the sinner from sin, self, the world, and the Satan. Those who know and experience the greatness of this salvation to which they have been called, which was won for us all on Calvary, are those who have embraced Christ as their all in all, in utter dependence and faith, believing Him for His victory to be revealed, and His victorious Life to be seen, known, and heard.
Beyond the matter of Christ’s perfect, complete, and constant intercession for the believer, there is secondly the actual saving work of Christ by the Spirit in the heart and life of the believer. Let’s ask another question: Is Christ a perfect Savior? Is He Almighty God, for whom nothing is impossible? Again, the answer to these questions is the same as before, “Yes.” In Christ the believer has not only been made positionally complete in Christ, but one day will be presented spotless and without fault to the Father. Even now this is so on this earth. The believer is called to grasp the greatness of this salvation, trusting the Lord for His fulness to be revealed. What is the great issue? It is two-fold. There is lacking a vision of Christ, not only of His power to save on a daily basis, but also of His willingness to do so. Indeed, He is commited to do so. When we read in Jude that Christ is willing to present us to the Father, “…faultless…with exeeding joy,” we are struck by the fact that His joy is revealed in completing and manifesting His glory in the believer to the greatest extent and measure. So, we need a vision of Christ’s saving work on Calvary, which was not only finished, but complete and perfect in every manner. But then we must grasp His intent, will, and determination, to form His life in us. For this He must be believed, and trusted inplicitly.
Paul’s great prayer for the Thessalonians was: “…and I pray that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Father, Grant this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Amen! Jesus is willing, able and excited to save those who believe and trust in Him.