Chapter 61—Christ is Priest Upon the Throne
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews
4:14
.
In the temple in heaven, the dwelling place of God, His throne is
established in righteousness and judgment. In the most holy place is His
law, the great rule of right by which all mankind are tested. The ark that
enshrines the tables of the law is covered with the mercy seat, before which
Christ pleads His blood in the sinner’s behalf. Thus is represented the union
of justice and mercy in the plan of human redemption....
As a priest, Christ is now set down with the Father in His throne. Upon
the throne with the eternal, self-existent One, is He who “hath borne our
griefs, and carried our sorrows” (
Isaiah 53:4
), who “was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin” (
Hebrews 4:15
).... “If any man sin, we have
an Advocate with the Father” (
1 John 2:1
). His intercession is that of a
pierced and broken body, of a spotless life. The wounded hands, the pierced
side, the marred feet, plead for fallen man, whose redemption was purchased
at such infinite cost.
The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as
essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross.... Through
defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and
he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is
constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry
that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf
His wounded hands, His bruised body; and He declares to all who would
follow Him: “My grace is sufficient for thee” (
2 Corinthians 12:9
).... Let
none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to
overcome them.
We are now living in the great day of atonement.... All who would have
their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining
days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and
true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart.
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