Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through to heaven, Jesus the Son of God, hold fast to your profession. For we do not have a high priest not sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one tried accordingly in all, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15)
Jesus is our great high priest who has passed through to the heavens and is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because he was a man in sinful nature, proved in all ways but without sin. If our high priest is one who sympathizes with our weaknesses then this implies he is not just a high priest for that to come, but a high priest in the heavens for us here on earth. Let us look at what it means that Jesus is our advocate, intercessor, and great high priest.
The word advocate παράκλητος (paráklētos: from pará, "from close-beside" and kaléō, "make a call") meaning I send for, summon, invite; I beseech, entreat, beg; I exhort, admonish; I comfort, encourage, console. "In times past God spoke to our fathers at different times and in various ways in the prophets but in these final days he speaks to us in the Son..." (Hebrews 1:1-3) In the new covenant, the Holy Spirit is also called an advocate, guiding us into the truth, teaching, speaking not of himself but what is heard. (John 14:16, John 14:26, John 16:13) Propitiation means appeasement/satisfaction of divine wrath on sin – properly, to extend propitiation, showing mercy by satisfying (literally, propitiating) the wrath of God on sin. God sent his Son as a propitiation for sin, not just ours, believers, but for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2, 4:10)
from which place he is able to save to the extent those drawing near to God through him, always living to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
In context, "from which place" refers to the place where Jesus sits as high priest. (Hebrews 7:23-27) From the place of high priest, he is able to save and intercede for those who draw near to God. How can we draw near? "There is an annulment of the former commandment through its weakness and uselessness (for the Law did not perfect) now the introduction of a better hope through which we draw near. (Hebrews 7:8-19) Jesus did away with the Mosaic Law and its Temple service to establish a second. Jesus continues as our advocate, intercessor, and great high priest, why? Though the war has been won the battle rages on, evil wars against our soul, there is a salvation of our soul. Jesus died and rose and sits at the right hand of God interceding for us, which implies he did not just die once and for all, and sit at the right-hand of God as if all his work is complete, he works as an advocate, intercessor, and high priest. Why do I need Jesus to be my advocate and intercede?
neither present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (Romans 6:13)
The antitype of Baptism says it now saves us, but not like the washing of dirt from the body but as a professing of good conscience to God. There are three that testify; spirit, blood, and water, and they are all in one accord. (1 John 5:7-9) We see purification of the body of sin in the testimony of water. "Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that he might purify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word," ( Ephesians 5:26) Paul equates the washing of water with the word? Jesus washed the feet of the disciples saying "if I do not wash you, you have no share in me" and "the one bathed has no need to wash, except for his feet, rather he is cleansed whole and you are clean, but not all of you." (John 13:8-10)
for a single offering, perfecting to the extent continuously, those consecrated. (Hebrews 10:14)
Now, you exist from him in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, all these righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (1 Corinthians 1:30)
we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous one, also himself is a propitiation for our sin and not just our sin only but also for the entire world. (1 John 2:1-2)
for this is my blood of the covenant that poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin. (Matthew 26:28)
A very important understanding in this verse; Jesus established a new covenant in His blood that would bring forgiveness of sin. As it is written "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:22) A covenant is a will or testament. Jesus died to establish a new covenant, "for where there is a will, it requires a death of the one establishing the will, for a will takes effect when one dies, in as much as it has no effective service as long as the one making it is alive." We receive in Christ, through the works of Christ, spiritual blessings of adoption, redemption, the forgiveness of sin. The forgiveness of sin is received by grace through faith, a gift of God, not of works lest we boast. Propitiation is different than forgiveness of sin, the former being once and for all, and the latter being once and for many who believe in Jesus.
'Behold I have come to do your will' doing away with the first to establish the second, in that will existing consecrated through the presenting of the body of Jesus Christ, once." (Hebrews 10:4-10)
The word once ἐφάπαξ (ephapax) speaks of it being a one-off payment, not once and for all like propitiation. For whom dying died to sin once. (Romans 6:10) Unlike the earthly high priest who offered sacrifices continually for their own sins and that of the people, there is no need to offer these sacrifices as Jesus did once, offering up himself. (Hebrews 7:27) And he entered once to the extent of the holiest place, not by the blood of goats and calves but through his own blood thus obtaining eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12) Offering and sacrifice God did not desire, according to the Law, but a body prepared to do his will, thus Jesus did away with the first, to establish the second covenant in that we exist consecrated through the presenting of the body of Jesus Christ, once. (Hebrews 10:10) Jesus did much like Paul said is our reasonable service and acceptable sacrifice to God, to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto holiness. (Romans 12:1) Once he died and once was offered as a sacrifice for sin, there is no need for another sacrifice for sin. Does this mean all my future sin has been forgiven and I am cleansed and purified by that one offering for all future trespasses?
In context, "from which place" refers to the place where Jesus sits as high priest. (Hebrews 7:23-27) From the place of high priest, he is able to save and intercede for those who draw near to God. How can we draw near? "There is an annulment of the former commandment through its weakness and uselessness (for the Law did not perfect) now the introduction of a better hope through which we draw near. (Hebrews 7:8-19) Jesus did away with the Mosaic Law and its Temple service to establish a second. Jesus continues as our advocate, intercessor, and great high priest, why? Though the war has been won the battle rages on, evil wars against our soul, there is a salvation of our soul. Jesus died and rose and sits at the right hand of God interceding for us, which implies he did not just die once and for all, and sit at the right-hand of God as if all his work is complete, he works as an advocate, intercessor, and high priest. Why do I need Jesus to be my advocate and intercede?
my little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin, but if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one. (1 John 2:1-2)
Jesus lived a righteous life and died once for sin. If we use the meaning of sin as missing the mark of God's righteousness, then redemption, the forgiveness of sin is salvation from that of the sinful nature. From the one act of Adam, all fell into this sinful nature, but from the one righteous act of Jesus, many will receive justification and life. Received through redemption, the forgiveness of sin, through his blood, through faith. But we see in the scriptures we need Jesus as an advocate and intercessor for trespass or sin done in the body. Paul states these laws exist; that sin dwells in our body and evil is near us. Peter writes of the goal of faith being the salvation of our souls.
I will ask of the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you because you love me and believe that I came forth from God (John 25-27)
Jesus sits in the heavens, if we ask in his name he will ask the Father on our behalf. Surely we need help. Though a new creation in Christ, we live in a body in which sin dwells, thus what made the Law weak and useless is still there as believers, and evil uses this weakness to war against our mind and bring us into captivity to sin in the flesh. Yes, we fight from victory but nevertheless, there is a fight for our souls. Victory comes through faith thus there is the good fight of faith which brings about the goal of faith, saving our souls, which we separate from spirit and body. There is a completeness, fullness to come, redemption of the body, and we await salvation.
"The Spirit is one of adoption, marking us for a day of redemption of the body, "we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies." (Romans 8:23) Full adoption is the redemption of the body, thus we await a day of full adoption, as Paul writes we are sealed with the Spirit, the guarantee of our inheritance vouching for God’s redemption of his possession. (Ephesians 1:14) We are also awaiting the fullness of our salvation, "in this way Christ having offered once to bear the sin of many, provides for the one awaiting him, without reckoning of sin, but to the extent of salvation." (Hebrews 9:28)"*
Yes, we are of the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of Christ is in us and we do regard ourselves as of the flesh, but we do not ignore sin done in the body. We will give an account to Jesus for what we do. (Romans 14:10–13) We can not ignore sin done in the body though we have been redeemed and forgiven. This is why John writes we have an advocate if we do sin and if we say we are without sin we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7-10, 1 John 2:1) This implies that Jesus continues as our advocate, a further cleansing of sin in regards to sin done in the body. It implies we must confess such sin.
As we walk in the Light we have fellowship with each other and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 7-8)
The attitude that Jesus has forgiven all my future sin and I can just ignore and not confess is not biblical. This need also speaks of how Jesus continues as a high priest as we work our salvation with fear and trembling. We see other scriptures that support this, as Paul writes some have fallen sick and some died because they failed to examine sin done in the body when they took communion. (1 Corinthians 11:29-30) John writes we are to pray for brothers in sin asking God to give them life. (1 John 5:16) Ask God to give life to a brother who is in sin, why? Because he could die because of sin done in the body? John also said there is sin that leads to death. Say I do sin, then I walk in darkness, what do I do? have I lost my salvation? does Jesus die again for the forgiveness of that sin? No, so is my future sin covered? or did he die once but continues as my high priest? In regards to my consciousness being defiled by sin done in the body, there is further cleansing.
the antitype of Baptism which now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the body but as to professing a good conscience to God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:20-21)
Look closely at this verse in Greek, especially the word continuously, which means perpetually, constantly. Most translations imply by a single sacrifice he has perfected and sanctified us for all time.* Look at the Old Covenant of the Law that was a shadow, he consecrated a people, a sign of that was circumcision, but there were further services performed by the high priest for sin. Jesus offered a sacrifice once and sat down at the right-hand of the Father as our great high priest, no other sacrifice for sin is needed, but he intercedes for us. So we are sanctified, consecrated through His offering and he is perfecting continuously, those consecrated.
In Him, he became from God all these righteousness and sanctification and redemption. But the scriptures tell us it is not yet complete. We have seen we await full adoption, redemption, and salvation. There is a fullness in Christ in which we are being filled to, to the praise of His glory, which will not be complete until all things are made new. This includes a fullness of righteousness in regards to having a glorified body, "for we spiritual from faith await the hope of righteousness." (Galatians 5:5) This is part of why Paul counts all as loss in order to gain Christ, to be found in Him, not having a righteousness of his own but the righteousness of God to the extent of faith. (Philippians 3:8-9) The righteous live by faith. We are spirit, soul and body. We know we are born into the kingdom by a Spirit of adoption, and we know we are awaiting the redemption of the body, which leaves our soul, the salvation of our soul, the goal of faith, Peter writes.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each of you learns to win mastery over his own vessel in holiness and honor. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
Yes, the scriptures speak of further cleansing, call it what you may, training for godliness, holiness, sanctification, it all has the goal of the salvation of our soul. It is perfection where God is "Faithfully Reproducing the Original," conforming us to the image of Christ.* In this Jesus is an advocate to the Father on our behalf. "In whom we have boldness and confident access through the faith of Him." (Ephesians 3:12) He is a great High Priest who is continually interceding on our behalf, one who sympathizes with our weaknesses, though he was without sin. "Therefore let us approach with confidence the throne of grace so that we receive mercy and find grace in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) We have the confidence to approach him through the testimony of Spirit and blood, for the purification of our bodies in regards to sin. "Approach with a true heart in assurance of faith, of hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22) In regards to a clear conscience, and a pure heart we approach our advocate, "if we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)