This
is the sum
“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have
such an High Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens.” Hebrews 8:1
The conclusion or sum of all scripture, the final word and conclusion
of the gospel which declares God’s eternal purpose of grace in the Lord
Jesus Christ in His redemptive work for chosen sinners is this - “We
have such an High Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne
of the Majesty in the heavens.” In this passage we see our divinely
appointed Great High Priest, having finished His work in time, now seated
in regal glory representing His elect forever as decreed by God from
all eternity. The accomplishment of Jesus Christ is majestically revealed
in His exalted position having satisfied the demands of infinite justice
forever as He is His people’s Substitute. The Lord Jesus Christ, being
God incarnate, could not fail in any aspect of His divinely appointed
work. Neither could He be where He is now apart from what He accomplished
as the God-man - “…being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above
every name” Php 2:8. The sum of what we preach is JESUS CHRIST
- His person and His work! If the center and circumference of the message
which we preach and believe is not THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, then our preaching
is in vain and our faith is in vain. If the accomplishment and success
of Christ our Lord is not declared then there is no good news for sinners
at all. This is what is missing in most of the preaching of our day
- THE SUM! Our Lord’s glorious position now is proof that He alone “obtained
eternal redemption for us” Hebrews 9:12. It is not enough
to preach what He did; we must make it crystal clear (as does the Word
of God) that what He did is completely sufficient to secure the salvation
of all for whom He did it. If this is not our message we will lead men
to believe that salvation is ultimately by works and not by the grace
of God, which is misnomer. Our Lord’s exalted position is definite proof
that “IT IS FINISHED”!
Tommy
