Hebrews
4:14-16 —
14 Therefore,
since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold
firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high
priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one
who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Romans
8:26, 27 —
26 In the same way, the
Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray
for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words
cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the
mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in
accordance with God’s will.
I
Timothy 2:1-6 —
1 I urge, then, first of
all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for
everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we
may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This
is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be
saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is
one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6
who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in
its proper time.
The
intercession of Christ is as a golden chain fastened to the throne of
God. He has turned the merit of His sacrifice into prayer. Jesus prays,
and by prayer succeeds (MS
8, 1892). (7
Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary – 914)
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. 7:25.
What
does intercession comprehend? It is the golden chain which binds finite
man to the throne of the infinite God. The human agent whom Christ has
died to save importunes the throne of God, and his petition is taken up
by Jesus who has purchased him with His own blood. Our great High Priest
places His righteousness on the side of the sincere suppliant, and the
prayer of Christ blends with that of the human petitioner. (That
I May Know Him – 78)
We
must not only pray in Christ’s name, but by the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit. This explains what is meant when it is said that the Spirit
"maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be
uttered." Rom. 8:26. Such prayer God delights to answer. When with
earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ,
there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to
answer our prayer "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think." Eph. 3:20. (Christ’s Object
Lessons – 147)
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. 1 John 2:1.
God’s appointments and grants in
our behalf are without limit. The throne of grace itself is occupied by
One who permits us to call Him Father. . . . He has placed at His altar
an Advocate clothed in our nature. As our Intercessor, Christ’s office
work is to introduce us to God as His sons and daughters. He intercedes
in behalf of those who receive Him. With His own blood He has paid their
ransom. By virtue of His merits He gives them power to become members of
the royal family, children of the heavenly King. And the Father
demonstrates His infinite love for Christ by receiving and welcoming
Christ’s friends as His friends. He is satisfied with the atonement
made. He is glorified by the incarnation, the life, death, and mediation
of His son.
In Christ’s name our petitions
ascend to the Father. He intercedes in our behalf, and the Father lays
open all the treasures of His grace for our appropriation, for us to
enjoy and impart to others. . . . (That I May
Know Him – 76)
  
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