28. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten T he application of all; offering some encouragements for weak believers, drawn from Christ's intercession as found in Hebrews
7:25.To conclude this discussion, I will provide a brief application of encouragement, particularly suited to the smallest faith of the weakest believer, who cannot express any act of assurance and is also discouraged from approaching Christ. I will limit myself to what those most comforting words, as any in the book of God, reveal, which the apostle has spoken concerning Christ's intercession, the topic at hand: "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." These are words I have frequently referred to in this doctrinal section more than any other, as they greatly clarify many aspects of intercession. I would also recommend and leave these words with humble believers, to turn to for their comfort, as a sufficient source of
consolation for their souls, and as a universal remedy against all discouragement and doubts of spirit whatsoever.
In these words, observe:
1. A definition of faith by its smallest acts, for the comfort of weak Christians.
2. Encouragements for such a faith, countering all doubts and discouragements whatsoever.
1. A definition of faith; one that will suit the weakest believer. It is an approach to God through Christ for salvation.
(1.) It is an approach to be saved. Do not let the lack of assurance that God will save you, or that Christ is yours, discourage you, if you have but a heart to approach God through Christ to be saved, even though you do not know whether he will yet save you or not. Remember that the believers of the New Testament are described here as those who approach God through Christ; such as step out of themselves, and rest in nothing within themselves, do approach God through Christ for salvation, even with trembling.
(2.) It is an approach to God. For he is the ultimate object of our faith, and the person with whom we interact in believing, and from whom we are to receive salvation, if we ever obtain it.
(3.) It is an approach to God through Christ; a phrase used in this Epistle, alluding to the worshippers of the Old Testament, who, when they had sinned, were directed to approach God through a priest, who with a sacrifice made atonement for them. Now Christ is the great and true high priest, "through whom we have access to the Father," Ephesians 2:18. The word is προσαγωγὴν, a leading by the hand. Do you not know how to
appear before God, or to approach him? Come first to Christ, and he will take you by the hand, and go with you, and lead you to his Father.
(4.) It is an approach to God through Christ for salvation. Many a humble soul is prone to think that in approaching God by faith, it must not aim at itself, or its own salvation. Yes, it may, for that is here made the purpose or business which faith has with God in approaching him or which it approaches for; and this is subtly implied in these words, for the apostle, speaking of the very aim of the heart in approaching, he therefore purposely mentions Christ's ability to save: "he is able to save."2. Secondly, here are many encouragements for such a faith that has not yet matured into assurance of salvation.
(1.) Here is the most suitable object proposed to it, namely Christ as interceding, which work of intercession because it remains for Christ to do for a soul that is to be saved, and which he is doing for us every day; therefore it is particularly suited to a faith of reliance. For, when such a soul comes and casts itself upon Christ, that aspect of Christ which must necessarily most suit that kind of act is that which is yet to be done by Christ for that soul. Now for that soul to come to Christ to die for it, and offer up himself a sacrifice (as sinners used to come to the high priest to sacrifice for them), this would be pointless, for (as it is in Hebrews 7:27) he has "once done that" already. And as for what is already past and done, such a believer's faith is often greatly puzzled about what kind of act to express towards Christ. For example, when it is about to approach God, and it hears of an election of some unto salvation from all eternity made by him; because this is an act already passed by God, the soul knows it is pointless to cast itself upon God for election or to approach him to elect and choose itself. And so, similarly, when the soul considers Christ's death, because it is
done and past, it does not know how to accept it in believing, when it lacks assurance that Christ died for it, even though it should approach Christ to be saved by virtue of his death.
But there is this one work that remains still to be done by him for us, and which he is doing daily, and that is interceding; for he lives forever to intercede or to pray for us, in the strength and merit of that his sacrifice once offered up. This therefore is more directly and particularly suited to a faith of reliance, or of approaching Christ; the proper act of such a faith (as it is distinguished from faith of assurance) being a casting of oneself upon Christ for something it would have done or achieved for one. Hence intercession becomes a suitable object for the aim and purpose of such a faith in this its approach to Christ, as also "to be saved" is; it being a thing yet to be achieved and accomplished for me by Christ, is therefore a suitable target for such a faith to aim at in its approach to Christ. Those acts of God and Christ which are past, faith of assurance does more easily accept: such a faith takes in with comfort that Christ has died for me, and risen again, and does now intercede for me, and so I shall certainly be saved; but so cannot this weak faith do. Approach therefore unto Christ, as to save you through his past death, and by the merit of it, so for the present, and for the future, to take your cause in hand, and to intercede for you. It is a great relief to such a faith (as cannot express acts of assurance, that what has been done by Christ has been done for it), that God has left Christ this work yet to do for us. So as the intercession of Christ may provide matter for such a faith to throw itself upon Christ, to perform it for us, and it may set work to do it.
(2.) Now if such a soul asks, but will Christ, upon my approach to him for salvation, be set to work to intercede for me, and undertake my cause?I
answer it from those words, "He lives to intercede for those who approach God through him." He lives on purpose to perform this work; it is the purpose of his living, the business of his life. And as he received a commandment to die, and it was the purpose of his life on earth, so he has received a command to intercede, and to be a common high priest for all that approach God through him. God has appointed him to this work by an oath, "He swore, and would not repent, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek," and this is the purpose of his life in heaven. That as in the old law the high priest (Christ's type in this) "ought to offer up the sacrifice" of everyone that approached God through him (as in Hebrews
5:5), in the same way Christ; for it is his calling, as you have it in Hebrews 5:6. Otherwise, as that woman said to Philip, when she approached him for justice, and he put her off, Then cease (says she) to be a king. So if Christ should deny any such soul to take its cause in hand, he must then cease to be a priest. He lives to intercede; he is a priest called by God, as was Aaron,
Hebrews 5:6. Therefore he ought to do it, in that it is his office.
(3.) And if your soul yet fears the difficulty of its own particular case, in respect of the greatness of your sins, and the circumstances thereof, or any consideration whatsoever, which to your view makes your salvation a hard case to obtain; the apostle therefore further adds, "He is able to save completely," whatever your cause may be, and this through his intercession.
That same word, "completely," is a good word, and well placed for our comfort. Consider it therefore, for it is a far-reaching word, and extends so far, that you cannot look beyond it.Let your soul be set upon the highest mount that any creature has yet been set upon, and that is enlarged to take in and view the most expansive prospect of sin and misery, and difficulties of being saved that any humble soul has yet considered within itself. Yes, add
to these all the objections and hindrances to your salvation that the heart of man can suppose or invent against itself. Lift up your eyes and look as far as you can see, and Christ by his intercession is able to save you beyond the horizon and furthest reach of your thoughts, even "completely" and in the worst case the heart of man can suppose. It is not your having been long in sin, long under terrors and despairs, or having sinned often after many enlightenings, that can prevent you from being saved by Christ. Do but remember this same word, "completely," and then put in what exceptions you will or can, lay all the obstacles in your way that are imaginable; yet know that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against you."
(4.) Again, consider what it is that Christ, who has by his death done enough to save you, does yet further for you in heaven. If you thought you had all the saints in heaven and earth jointly promoting your salvation, and pleading to God in constant and unceasing requests and prayers to save you, how would you be encouraged? Shall I tell you? One word out of Christ's mouth (who is the King of saints) will do more than all in heaven and earth can do; and what is there then which we may not hope to obtain through his intercession?
And would you know whether he has undertaken your cause, and begun to intercede for you? In a word, has he put his Spirit into your heart, and set your own heart to work to make unceasing intercessions for yourself "with groans unutterable" (as the apostle has it in Romans 8)? This is the echo of Christ's intercession for you in heaven.
(5.) And finally, if such a soul shall further object, but will he not stop pleading for me? May I not be cast out of his prayers through my unbelief?
Let it here be considered that he lives "forever" to intercede; and therefore, if he once undertakes your cause, and includes you in his prayers, he will
never leave you out, night or day. He intercedes forever, until he has accomplished and finished your salvation. People have been cast out of good and holy men's prayers, as Saul out of Samuel's, and the people of Israel out of Jeremiah's, but never out of Christ's prayers; the "smoke of his incense ascends forever," and he will intercede completely, until he has saved you completely. He will never stop, but will humble himself for you, or he will perfect and procure your salvation.
Only while I am thus raising up your faith to him upon the work of his intercession for us, let me speak a word to you for him, so to stir up your love to him, upon the consideration of this his intercession also. You see you have the whole life of Christ, first and last, both here and in heaven, dedicated to you. He would not have come to earth but for you, he had no other business here. "Unto us a Son is born." And to be sure, he would not have died but for you. "For us a Son was given;" and when he rose, it was
"for your justification." And now he is gone to heaven, he lives but to intercede for you. He makes your salvation his constant calling. O therefore, let us live wholly unto him, for he has and does live wholly unto us. You have his whole time among you; and if he were your servant, you could desire no more. There was much of your time lost before you began to live to him; but there has been no moment of his time which he has not lived to, and improved for you. Nor are you able ever to live for him but only in this life, for hereafter you shall live with him, and be glorified by him. I conclude all with that of the apostle, "The love of Christ should compel us," because we cannot but "judge" this to be the most equal, that "those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them, and rose again," and (from the text I also add) "sits at God's right hand;" yes, and there "lives forever to make intercession for us."