Many people know of the ministry of Jesus on earth and that His death on the cross, burial and resurrection were the only means by which man could be forgiven and restored to fellowship with the Father. However, how many of us realise that He still has a ministry now as a High Priest on our behalf in the Presence of God? Pastor Edward Evans opened up our understanding to this from the book of Hebrews where the writer talks of Jesus as being 'called by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek' (Heb 5v10), that is a high priesthood that will not be discontinued through death (Jesus, raised from the dead, can no longer die), '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'. (Heb 7v25). Isn't it wonderful to know that Jesus is for ever representing us before the Father, making intercession for us and that because of His ministry, we can be confident that we will be saved to the uttermost.....'He who has begun a good work in you will complete it...'. Philippians 1v6!

The writer to Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the 'Mediator of a better covenant' (contrasting it with the old covenant) because it is 'established on better promises' (chapter 8 v6). There are many ways in which this covenant is better, however Pastor Edward focused on two main areas: firstly that in the new covenant every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God and also that in the new covenant we have a revelation of the righteousness of God to all and on all who believe and have put their faith in Jesus.

In the Old Testament, the Spirit came on, not in, people, and only those ordained to perform the roles of priest, prophet or king. In the New Testament, the Spirit comes to reside on the inside of all believers, 'working in us to will and to do God's good pleasure'. Philippians 2v12-13 and to assure us that we are God's children and need never have an orphan spirit . 'I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.' (John 14 v18). 1 John 4v4 says: 'Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.' It is God living in us that will enable us to prevail, that will strengthen our wills to do His will and to walk closely with Him. Thank God it's not about how well we think we can do or can't do!

In the Old Testament, the blood of animals covered the sins of the people so that God could overlook them, but in the New Testament, the blood of Jesus removes our sin so that it ceases to exist or even be remembered by God the moment we repent of it. In addition, our spirits are made new: the Bible says we become new creatures (2 corinthians 5v17), 'for He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.' (2 Cor 5v21). We are spirit, soul and body. When we are born again, our soul (mind, will, emotions) do not change immediately (as we yield to God's word on a continual process, we allow His word to change us in our mind, will and emotions over time and this process is called sanctification), but the moment we are born again our spirits are made new, often called the new man in Scripture, 'created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness'. (Ephesians 4 v24). Now if we sin, 1 John 1v9 says: 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' In other words, when we run to God to confess our sin, we are once again perfectly restored to God's righteousness. When the enemy comes in to accuse us, which he does on a daily basis, if we are careful to run to God every time we miss it and to confess our failure to Him, we can be assured of this: 'no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is from me,' says the Lord (Isaiah 54 v17).

Let us take advantage of this New Covenant we have with God: because He dwells in us and has made us the righteousness of God in Christ and because Jesus is ever standing before the Father on our behalf, 'let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,' 'let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.' (Heb 10 v22-25) Amen!

We meet every Sunday at Emmanuel Gospel Church, Station Road, Manorbier, at 10.30 am, and our web address is emmanuelgospelministries.org or 'phone 871975. All are most welcome!