福音的重要信息：基督的代求
希伯來書七章23節至八章1節
23那些成為祭司的，數目本來多，是因為有死阻隔，不能長久。
24這位既是永遠常存的，他祭司的職任就長久不更換。
25凡靠著他進到神面前的人，他都能拯救到底；因為他是長遠活著，替他們祈求。
26像這樣聖潔、無邪惡、無玷污、遠離罪人、高過諸天的大祭司，原是與我們合宜的。
27他不像那些大祭司，每日必須先為自己的罪，後為百姓的罪獻祭；因為他只一次將自己獻上，就把這事成全了。
28律法本是立軟弱的人為大祭司；但在律法以後起誓的話，是立兒子為大祭司，乃是成全到永遠的。
1我們所講的事，其中第一要緊的，就是我們有這樣的大祭司，已經坐在天上至大者寶座的右邊，
信息分享
其次，我們有基督在天上為我們代求。羅馬書五章10節指出，我們「藉著神兒子的死，得與神和好」。但保羅接著說：「既已和好，就更要因祂（基督）的生得救了。」
這裡的「生」，不是指祂曾在地上活著，而是祂復活、升天之後，如今仍在天上活著。
說基督已完成了工作，並沒有錯；但說祂仍然在工作，也同樣正確。某人可以完成了一天的工作，回到家後，又發現有另一件工作等著他去做。
基督如今正為我們做甚麼呢？
祂正為我們做著大祭司的工作。降生的時候，祂是以先知的身份來傳遞神的信息；如今，祂已經作王，而且終有一天，必從天上再來統管全地。
如今，祂在天上以大祭司的身份為我們代求。祭司的拉丁文是'pontifex'，可解作「築橋者」。基督就是我們與父神中間的橋樑；祂可以隨時進到神的面前，不住為我們代求。我們只要翻閱約翰福音十七章，就可看到這位大祭司怎樣為我們代求。
信心讓我們回望，看見基督為我們受死。信心也讓我們向上看，看見基督為我們代求。信心更讓我們向前看，盼望基督的再來。
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL: CHRIST’S INTERCESSION
Hebrews 7:23-8:1
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.
24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Message
What help has God given us as we face temptation and the world around us? He has given us two tremendous advantages. First, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. He also has come to give us power to live for and witness to Christ.
But there is more. We have the present ministry of Christ in heaven on our behalf. Romans 5:10 speaks of our being reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Then Paul goes on to ask, 'How much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His (Christ's) life?'
What life is that? Not His earthly life, but His present life in heaven, which began with His resurrection and ascension.
It is quite right to talk about Christ's 'finished work'. But it is just as correct to speak of His 'unfinished (continuing) work'. A man can finish his day's work or complete the gardening job he has undertaken, then find when he enters his home, there is other work for him to do.
What is Christ doing for us now?
Christ is working for us as our Great High Priest. As God's prophet, He came with a message from God. As God's king, He is ruling now and will one day rule the whole world even more completely.
As High Priest, He is interceding for us. He has unlimited access to God. (So do we of course.) The word priest in Latin is 'pontifex', the bridge builder. Christ has built a bridge for us to the Father and is continually praying for us. Read John 17 again for a glimpse of His wonderful intercessory prayer for us.
FAITH looks back and sees Christ dying for us. FAITH looks up and sees Christ pleading for us. FAITH looks on and sees Christ coming for us.