Last night I was reflecting on the second stanza of the hymn, O Thou, Before the World Began (no. 189 in the current [1985] LDS hymnal), which reads as follows:
Thy off’ring still continues new before the righteous Father’s view.
Thy self the Lamb for ever slain; thy priesthood doth unchanged remain.
Thy years, O God, can never fail, nor thy blest work within the veil.
This struck me as it perfectly captures the current work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf: His intercessory work.
I have discussed this topic and how it soundly refutes Reformed theology and the like, including 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Tim 2:4, and the relevant section in this article on John 19:30, for instance. However, let us quote some of the relevant texts from the Scripture that speaks of Christ’s intercessory work and His presenting His sacrifice continually before the Father to allow for the forgiveness of our sins:
New Testament:
Who is he that condemnth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Rom 8:34)
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (Heb 2:17)
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:24-25)
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 o the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For ever high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat to offer. (Heb 8:1-3)
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of the things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, not to appear in the presence of God for us. (Heb 9:22-24)
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lam as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (Rev 5:5-6)
Book of Mormon
Wherefore, he is the first fruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him, shall be saved. And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement. (2 Nephi 2:9-10)
And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men--having ascended into heaven the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice. (Mosiah 15:8-9)
Doctrine and Covenants
Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him-saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life. (D&C 45:3-5)
Such shows the personal nature of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He continues to labour on our behalf as our Great High Priest and our intercessor. We should not think that Christ’s work was, reverently speaking, “done and dusted” 2,000 years ago—instead, it continues and will continue, as we read in the Doctrine and Covenants, “until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work” (D&C 76:106).
