Jesus is a priest forever. That’s what the writer to the Hebrews emphasizes this morning. Jesus is foreshadowed in a guy that Abraham ran across almost 2,000 years before Christ entered this world, Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God (Hebrews 7:1). Like Melchizedek, Jesus has “neither beginning of days nor end of life” (7:3) . . . Jesus comes from a line apart from the Levitical line (7:14) . . . in fact, He has become a priest not on the basis of “bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life” (7:16). Thus He is ” a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (7:16).

And what does a forever priest do?

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)

While it is true that work of atonement for sins was finished on the cross . . . that through the once for all offering of Himself, Jesus completely and fully paid the ransom for my redemption . . . I’m reminded this morning that Jesus is far from “being in retirement” . . . that Jesus’ work continues . . . a priest forever . . . always living to make intercession for those who have drawn to God through Him . . . that they might be saved to the uttermost.

Saved to the uttermost . . . that’s what I’m lingering on this morning. I am a work begun by God . . . to be completed through the Spirit of God . . . aided by the risen, ascended Son of God as He makes intercession for me.

Saving to the uttermost isn’t just about being saved forever, it’s about being saved completely . . . saved to the fullest extent . . . saved perfectly . . . the finished product being all the Maker had in mind when He began the work. At that moment I believed, I was utterly saved FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN through the work of Christ on the cross. One day, I will be utterly saved FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN when I go to be with Jesus and am removed from this world of darkness. And today, I am in the process of being utterly saved FROM THE POWER OF SIN through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the never-ending intercessory work of the One who is my Great High Priest forever as I’m transformed and conformed to His very nature.

And I’m just a bit taken aback this morning at the thought of Jesus, even now, making intercession for me. Not because I don’t think I need it . . . oh, do I need it! . . . but because of the eternal commitment He has made to those who are His. Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10) and, to that end, He has forever linked His eternal being with our feeble frame as He draws alongside through His blessed Spirit and as He intercedes before the Father as our Great High Priest.

And as such, though I stumble . . . though I struggle . . . I believe that this born again sinner will be saved to the uttermost . . . saved completely . . . saved to the fullest extent provided by the grace of God.

Saved to the uttermost . . . for my eternal blessing . . . more importantly, for God’s eternal glory.

Even so, Lord Jesus, intercede . . .