HEBREWS 7
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24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
'...some going so far as to maintain that a single sin after baptism is fatal to a believer's prospects of eternal life.
If this doctrine were true, we should have to exclaim with the disciples, "Who then can be saved?" We have no hesitation in avowing our conviction that in such a case salvation would be confined to the Lord Jesus who, alone of mankind, "through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God" (Heb. ix. 14.)
For what purpose, in such a case, is it testified that he
"ever liveth to make intercession for us"? (Heb. vii. 25.) He is not priest for the world, but for his own house only. "Whose house are we," who believe, &c. (Heb. iii. 6.) If he intercedes for his house, it is because of the fact inferentially testified by John, when he says that "If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 Jno. i. 8.) It is one of the petitions the Lord himself has put into our mouths: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive them that trespass against us."
The Christadelphian, Oct 1894. p391
26 For such an high priest became us, who is [indeed-OJB] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
The italics 'who is' (present tense) do not appear justified when consulting other respected translations. That he is holy, harmless and undefiled Now, in every sense including physical nature, is self evident. But the inclusion of 'separate from sinners' informs us the context is the days of his sin's flesh.
Other Translations:
For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens [RV].
26 It was fitting for us to have such a High Priest [perfectly adapted to our needs], holy, blameless, unstained [by sin], separated from sinners and exalted higher than the heavens [AMP]
The Revised Version and Amplified versions omit the italics. The OJB has 'indeed' instead of 'who is'.
In the days of his sin-flesh the Lord was undefiled in word, deed and thought - this is what the verse is telling us. The captain of our salvation was without fault.
Being also touched with our infirmities - a representative of Adam's race - he was subject to the weakness, emotion and affections of our sin-defiled nature - but he kept his body under - perfectly. Yahweh was in his anointed (full of the brilliant radiance) reconciling the world unto himself.
If the wealthiest be impotent for the redemption of one soul, how precious must the blood of the Yahweh-Name be, seeing that it can ransom "a great multitude which no man can number!" (Apoc. vii. 9).
The blood of Jesus was the only blood of all the generations of Adam, that had not been generated by the lust of the flesh; and which had not energized a man to the commission of sin. Jesus was an unblemished man, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; for "he was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners." (Heb 7:26).
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