Intercession: Principles

Romans 8:34 Romans 8:34 (SS Series)

Pastor Albert N. Martin expounds Romans 8:34, focusing on Christ's intercessory work. He establishes the fact and pattern of Christ's intercession, then details four qualifying principles: it adds nothing to the atonement's worth, it is not coercion of the Father, it conforms to the Godward direction of the priestly function, and it aligns with Christ's exalted state. Martin applies these truths by urging believers to honor Christ as their interceding High Priest for greater comfort and worship, and by challenging unbelievers to recognize their desperate need for a mediator in light of God's holiness and their sinfulness.

3 illustrations in this sermon

Principle 1: Intercession Adds Nothing to the Atonement's Worth

compare analogy

Conqueror and Ransom Price

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the first qualifying principle: Christ's intercession does not supply any defect in His atonement but rather applies the virtues and accomplishments already…

A city conquered, its mayor negotiating a million-dollar ransom for its thousand inhabitants. The money is gathered (atonement's worth) but must be presented to the conqueror (intercession) to secure release. This illustrates that intercession applies what atonement purchased, adding nothing to its intrinsic worth.

And I feel that responsibility. Here's a city that has been taken over by a conqueror. There are a thousand inhabitants. And during the conquest, the mayor of that city has fled.

17:46 - 17:59 Read in full sermon

Principle 3: Intercession Conforms to the Priestly Directional Structure

lightbulb example

Husband, Father, Church Member Roles

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that the priestly function is Godward, not manward, meaning Christ's intercession is directed from men, for men, to God. This distinguishes it from the prophet's…

A man trying to fulfill multiple roles (husband, father, church member) simultaneously and getting frustrated. This contrasts with the Lord Jesus, who perfectly fulfills all His roles (prophet, priest, king, administrator) without weariness or confusion, highlighting His divine capacity.

You and I get confused at any given point in time just trying to fulfill the two or three roles that we have. Maybe you're a husband and your wife has got a legitimate complaint and you ought to hear her out. But at the same time one of the kids is hollering, Daddy, will you come and help me with this? And at the same time you're turning in your mind the fact that you've got some responsibility to the church that is unfulfilled and you get hopelessly frustrated just trying to fulfill a few roles as husband, father, and church member.

32:08 - 32:36 Read in full sermon

Application for Unbelievers: The Desperate Need for a Mediator

compare analogy

Merchant Seeking Pearls

The point: If this sermon has been boring and irrelevant, it could be that God brought you here to show you how far off the beam you are from truly knowing where you stand in the presence of a holy God. Seek an interest in the Lord…

A merchant who finds a pearl of great price and sells all his other pearls to obtain it. This illustrates how, once an awakened conscience recognizes the awfulness of sin and God's holiness, Jesus Christ, the mediator, becomes supremely valuable, the 'pearl of great price'.

You'll be like that merchant man who was hunting around all his life for pearls and had quite a goodly collection but one day he found a great pearl and he took his whole collection and he said I'm selling the whole shooting match I've got to get this one and Jesus said so is the kingdom of heaven like unto a man seeking goodly pearls who when he found one pearl of great price sold all to obtain it. My friend when you begin to feel the pangs of an awakened conscience the pangs of the awfulness of judgment in hell that are your certain portion then Jesus Christ will become the pearl of great pr...

44:36 - 46:06 Read in full sermon

headphones Listen to full sermon