Reflections on Revival and Reformation, Part 2 of 3 - Secrets ...

The book of Hebrews makes it crystal
clear that we can come to God through
Jesus, our intercessor, because He lived a
righteous life:
“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. For such a High Priest was
fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and has become
higher than the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:25)
Finished at the Cross?
There is this idea in Christendom that
Jesus finished everything at the cross.
This can be a dangerous half truth if not
understood properly. It is true that by His
life and death Jesus made perfect provision
for the salvation of the entire human
race. But, as we have seen, this provision
must be personally and individually
claimed. If the work of Jesus was finished
at the cross, what has He been doing in
heaven for the last two thousand years?
Let’s be absolutely clear: When Jesus
said: ‘It is finished’ on the cross, He had
lived for all and died for all! Penitent
sinners could be accepted in the beloved
through the benefits of Christ’s perfect life
and death. In other words, a perfect oncefor-all
provision had been made for the
salvation of every person on earth. But the
ministry of Jesus in the holy place applies
those benefits to penitent individuals. In
this sense his intercession in heaven is as
indispensible as His death on the cross. It
is within this context that we must understand
the following misunderstood statement
by Ellen G. White:
“The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf
in the sanctuary above is as essential
to the plan of salvation as was His death
upon the cross. By His death He began
that work which after His resurrection He
ascended to complete in heaven. We must
by faith enter within the veil, ‘whither the
forerunner is for us entered.’ Hebrews 6:20.”
The Great Controversy, p. 489
Summarizing
• In the camp, Jesus wove a spotless robe
of righteousness for all people by his
perfect obedience. Every act of obedience
was a thread added to the robe.
Salvation is by grace through faith in
Christ’s perfect righteousness, not ours.
• In the court, Jesus then suffered a oncefor-all,
unrepeatable death for the sins
of the entire human race.
• As Intercessor or Advocate in the holy
place he now applies the benefits of his
perfect life and death to individuals who
come to him in repentance and faith
• This was the present truth message that
was to be proclaimed by the apostles to
the churched Jews and the unchurched
Gentiles.
Apostasy
Shortly after the conclusion of the apos-
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