Dr Paul Allen

If you’re old enough to read this, you are an experienced veteran of sinful temptation, having encountered it every day of your life since you began to discern right from wrong. As an experienced veteran, you’ll surely agree that we need all the help we can get when sinful anger begins to boil, or when we find our eyes pulled toward a forbidden desire, when indulging laziness looks very appealing, or when some icy fear of death draws us in a faithless direction (more on this in a moment). The good news is that strong help is available: Jesus is a “merciful and faithful high priest” who is “able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:17–18). We could say he is mercifully eager and faithfully able to help us. But what exactly does this mean? How does Jesus’s ministry as our high priest help us in the heat of a tempting moment? How Our High Priest Helps Us The author of Hebrews addresses this question in Hebrews 2:14–18: Since . . . the children share in flesh and blood, he himse...

Jesus in Pray (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Did you realize that Jesus makes continuous intercession for all believers? Hebrews 7:25, echoing Paul’s thought in Romans 8:34, says, “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Jesus’ ongoing intercession on our behalf guarantees our salvation “forever”—literally, to the uttermost. How does Christ pray on our behalf? Surely what He prays is similar to the great high priestly prayer recorded in John 17 . He prays for our security (Jn. 17:11–12). He prays that we might be in the world but not of the world (vv. 14–15). He prays that we might be kept from evil (v. 15). He prays for our sanctification (v. 17). He prays that we will be one with Him, one with the Father, and one with one another (vv. 21–23). In short, He is praying that we will be kept in the faith, that we might “never perish,” and that no one would snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28). Will th...

Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to be an example of a charismatic religious leader. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) John 17 “ Holy Father , keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one” ( v. 11b ). According to  Matthew 18 , we can see how the church is to exhibit pastoral concern, guard the church’s holiness, and readmit to communion all those who, though they have broken fellowship, turn from their sins and seek restoration. However, we need to look at the nature of the church in order to understand why discipline and forgiveness are needed to preserve the purity of the church. John 17 , which records the longest prayer in the New Testament , provides some of the most important teaching on the church. As we can see in this chapter, Jesus is concerned with the unity of His people, praying for His disciples and all those who come after them to be one in purpose and mission even as He and His Father are one ( vv. 11b , 22–2...