What are the FRUITS of Christ's intercession?

(1.) Justification. In justification there are two things. Guilt is remitted, and righteousness is imputed. "The Lord our righteousness." We are counted not only as righteous as the angels but as righteous as Christ , having his robes put upon us! 2 Cor 5:21. But whence is it, that we are justified? It is from Christ's intercession. "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:33-34. "Father," says Christ, "these are the people I have died for! Look upon them as if they had never sinned, and count them as perfectly righteous!"

(2.) The unction of the Spirit. "You have an unction from the Holy One." This unction or anointing is nothing else but the work of sanctification in the heart, whereby the Spirit makes us partakers of the divine nature. 2 Pet 1:4. Such as speak of the philosopher's magic stone, imagine it to have such a property, that when it touches any metal it turns it into gold. Such a property has the Spirit of God upon the soul; when He touches the soul it puts into it a divine nature; it makes it to be holy and to resemble God! The sanctifying work of the Spirit is the fruit of Christ's intercession! "The Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." Christ being glorified, and in heaven, he prays to the Father and the Father sends the Spirit, who pours out the holy anointing upon the elect!

(3.) The purification of our holy things. It is Christ's work in heaven, not only to present his own prayers to his Father but he prays our prayers over again! "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne." Revelation 8:3. This angel was Christ; he takes the golden censer of his merits, and puts our prayers into this censer, and with the incense of his intercession makes our prayers go up as a sweet perfume in heaven! It is observable in Lev 16:16. "Aaron will make atonement for the Most Holy Place, because of the defiling sin and rebellion of the Israelites." This was typical, to show that our holy duties need to have atonement made for them. Our best services, as they come from us, are mixed with corruption, as wine which tastes of the cask. Our best services are filthy menstrous rags. Isa 64:6. But Christ purifies and sweetens these services, mixing the sweet incense of his intercession with them; and then God accepts and crowns them. What would become of our duties, without such a high priest? Christ's intercession is to our prayers, as the fan to the chaff, which winnows it from the grain. Just so, Christ winnows out all the chaff, which intermixes with our prayers.

(4.) Access with boldness unto the throne of grace. "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. 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." Hebrews 4:15-16. We have a friend at court, who speaks a good word for us, and is following our cause in heaven; let this animate and encourage us in prayer. Do we think it too much boldness for such sinners as we are, to come for pardon, and that we shall be denied? Surely this is a sinful modesty. Did we indeed come in our own name in prayer, it would be sinful presumption! But Christ intercedes for us in the force and efficacy of his blood! To be afraid to come to God in prayer, is a dishonor to Christ's intercession.

(5.) Sending the Comforter. "I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter." The comfort of the Spirit is distinct from the anointing . Here is sweet comfort, sweeter than the honey-drops from the honey-comb; it is the manna in the golden pot! A drop of this heavenly comfort is enough to sweeten a sea of worldly sorrow! It is called the "pledge of the Spirit." A pledge assures us of the whole sum. 2 Cor 1:22. The Spirit gives us a pledge of heaven in our hand. Whence is this comforting work of the Spirit? Thank Christ's intercession for it! "I will ask the Father, and he shall give the Comforter."

(6.) Perseverance in grace. "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name." John 17:11. It is not our prayer, or watchfulness, or grace which keeps us but it is God's care and preservation! He preserves us, that we do not fall away. Whence is it that God preserves us? It is from Christ's intercession. "Holy Father, protect them." The prayer of Christ for Peter, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail." Luke 22:31-32. This is the copy of Christ's prayer now in heaven. Peter's faith did fail in some degree, when he denied Christ; but Christ prayed that it might not totally fail. The saints persevere in believing , because Christ perseveres in praying!

(7.) Absolution at the day of judgment. Christ shall judge the world. "God has committed all judgment to the Son." Those for whom Christ has so prayed he will absolve when he sits upon his throne of judgment. Will Christ condemn those for whom he prays? Believers are his spouse will Jesus condemn his own spouse?

Use one: Of INSTRUCTION.

(1.) See here the constancy of Christ's love to the elect. He not only died for them but intercedes for them in heaven. When Christ has done dying , he has not done loving . He is now at work in heaven for the saints, he carries their names on his bosom, and will never stop praying, until that prayer be granted. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." John 17:24.

(2.) See whence it is, that the prayers of the saints are so powerful with God. Jacob, struggled with God, and prevailed. Moses' prayer tied God's hands. By his prayers he held God bound as if by chains! "Let Me alone!" Exod 32:10. Whence is this? It is Christ's prayer in heaven, which makes the saints' prayers so prevalent. Christ's divine nature is the altar on which he offers up our prayers, and so they prevail. Prayer, as it comes from the saints is but weak and languid; but when the arrow of a saint's prayer is put into the bow of Christ's intercession it pierces the throne of grace!

(3.) It shows that a Christian when he prays, must chiefly fix his eye on Christ's intercession. We are to look up to the mercy-seat but to hope for mercy through Christ's intercession. We read in Lev 16 that Aaron made atonement by the incense, as well as by the blood . So we must look to the cloud of incense, namely, the intercession of Christ. Christian, look up to your Advocate, one to whom God can deny nothing. A word from Christ's mouth, is more than if all the angels in heaven were pleading for you! If a man had an important suit in the Court and had a skillful lawyer to plead, it would much encourage him. Christ is at the court appearing for us, "For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Advocate!" Heb 9:24. He has great power in heaven, which should much encourage us to look up to him, and hope for audience in prayer. We might indeed be afraid to offer our petitions, if we did not have Christ to present them!

(4.) See the dreadful condition of an unbeliever. He has none in heaven to speak a word for him. "I do not pray for the world." As good be shut out of heaven as shut out of Christ's prayer! Christ pleads for the saints, as Queen Esther did for the Jews, when they would have been destroyed. "Let my people be spared at my request."When the devil shows the blackness of their sins Christ shows the redness of his wounds! How dreadful is the condition of that man for whom Christ will not pray, nay, against whom he will pray! Then Queen Esther petitioned against Haman, and he grew pale with fright, and was led away to execution. It is dreadful when the law, and conscience, and the judge shall be against the sinner and no friend to speak a word for him; there is no way, then but for the jailer to take the prisoner.

(5.) If Christ makes intercession, then we have nothing to do with other intercessors. The Church of Rome teaches that the angels intercede for us and they pray to them! But Christ alone can intercede for us! God has consecrated him as high priest. "You are a priest forever." Christ intercedes by virtue of his merit in the virtue of his shed blood. He pleads his merits to his Father; but the angels have no merits to bring to God, and therefore cannot be intercessors for us. Whoever is our advocate must be our atoning sacrifice , to pacify God. "But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous One. He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 2:1-2. The angels cannot be our atoning sacrifice , and not therefore our advocates .

Use two: Of TRIAL. How shall we know that Christ intercedes for us? They have little ground to think Christ prays for them who never pray for themselves! Well but how shall we know?

(1.) If Christ is praying for us, his Spirit is praying in us. "He has sent forth his Spirit into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." The Spirit helps us with sighs and groans; not only with gifts but groans. "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts, knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will." We need not climb up the skies, to see if the sun is there; we may see the beauty of it upon the earth. Just so, we need not go up into heaven to see if Christ is there interceding for us; but let us look into our hearts, if they are quickened and inflamed in prayer, and we can cry, "Abba, Father!" By this interceding of the Spirit within us, we may know Christ is interceding above for us.

(2.) If we are given to Christ, then he intercedes for us. "I pray for those whom you have given me." It is one thing for Christ to be given to us; it is another thing for us to be given to Christ.

How do we know that we are given to Christ?

If you are a believer, then you are one given to Christ and he prays for you. Faith is an act of recumbency. We rest on Christ as the stones in the building rest upon the corner-stone. Faith throws itself into Christ's arms; it says, "Christ is my priest, his blood is my sacrifice, his divine nature is my altar, and here I rest!" This faith is seen by its effects; it is a refining work and a resigning work. It purifies the heart, there is the refining work; it makes a deed of gift to Christ, it gives up its love to him, there is the resigning work of faith. They who believe are given to Christ, and have a part in his prayer. "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony." John 17:20.

Use three: Of EXHORTATION. It stirs us up to several duties.

(1.) If Christ appears for us in heaven then we must appear for him upon earth. Christ is not ashamed to carry our names on his bosom, and shall we be ashamed of his truth? Does he plead our cause, and shall we not stand up in his cause? What a mighty argument is this to stand up for the honor of Christ, in times of apostasy! Christ is interceding for us. Does he present our names in heaven, and shall not we profess his name on earth?

(2.) If Christ lays out all his interest for us at the throne of grace, we must lay out all our interest for him. "That Christ may be magnified." Trade your talents for Christ's glory; there is no man but has some talent to trade one learning, another estate. Oh, trade for Christ's glory! Spend and be spent for him. Let your heart study for Christ, your hands work for him, your tongue speak for him. If Christ is an advocate for us in heaven we must be agents for him on earth; everyone in his sphere must act vigorously for him.

(3.) Believe in this glorious intercession of Christ ; that he now intercedes for us, and that for his sake God will accept us, as in the text, "Who makes intercession for us." If we believe not, we dishonor Christ's intercession. If a poor sinner may not go to Christ as his high priest, believing in his intercession, then we are Christians in a worse condition under the gospel than the Jews were under the law. When they had sinned they had their high priest to make atonement; and shall not we have our High Priest? Is not Christ our Aaron , who presents his blood and incense before the mercy seat? Oh look up by faith to Christ's intercession! Christ did not only pray for his disciples and apostles but for the weakest believer.

(4.) Love your Intercessor. "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed." I Cor 16:22. God's kindness, invites our love. Had you a friend at court, who, when you were questioned for delinquency or debt, should plead with the judge for you, and bring you off your troubles, would you not love that friend? How often does Satan put in his bills against us in the court! Now Christ is at the judge's hand; he sits at his Father's right hand, ever to plead for us, and to make our peace with God. Oh, how should our hearts be fired with love to Christ! Love him with a sincere and superlative love above your possessions, and your family. Our fire of love should be as fire on the altar never to go out. Lev 6:13.

Use four: Of COMFORT to believers. Christ is at work for you in heaven; he makes intercession for you. "Oh! But I am afraid Christ does not intercede for me. I am such a sinner! For whom does Christ intercede?" "He made intercession for the transgressors." Did Christ open his side for you, and will he not open his mouth to plead for you? "But I have offended my High Priest, by distrusting his blood, abusing his love, grieving his Spirit! Will he ever pray for me?" Which of us may not say so? But, Christian, do you mourn for unbelief? Be not discouraged, you may have a part in Christ's prayer. "The congregation murmured against Aaron;" but though they had sinned against their high priest, Aaron ran in with his censer, and "stood between the dead and the living." If so much affections in Aaron, who was but a type of Christ, how much more affections are in Christ, who will pray for those who have sinned against their High Priest! Did he not pray for those who crucified him, "Father, forgive them"? "But I am unworthy. What am I, that Christ should intercede for me?" The work of Christ's intercession is a work of free grace. Christ's praying for us is from his pitying us. He looks not at our worthiness but our wants . "But I am followed with dreadful temptations." But though Satan tempts, Christ prays; and Satan shall be vanquished. You may lose a single battle but not the victory. Christ prays that your faith will not fail; therefore, Christian, say, "Why are you cast down, O my soul?" Christ intercedes. It is man who sins, it is God that prays. The Greek word for advocate signifies comforter . It is a sovereign comfort that Christ makes intercession.