The Great High Priest

"Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Hebrews 7:23-25

 The book of Hebrews was written to religious Jews. They were living under the old covenant of the levitical priesthood. But Jesus came to change the covenant. His was a new one that did not require the old priests to offer blood sacrifices for the people any longer. He became the sacrifice offered once for all people. We understand this easily because most of us have never participated in the Jewish religious traditions. But there is a great truth in the scripture above that is important for us to understand. 
     First, we must understand that the sacrifice that Jesus made, offering up his own life for us, has saved us completely. There is no remnants of unforgiveness left. When God says that we are completely forgiven by the death and resurrection of Jesus, he means it. We are completely saved. The only thing that can remain is guilt, and this is not from God. Guilt is a tool of the enemy. It is a lie to believe that you are not forgiven or cannot be. All sin is covered under the covenant of Christ's work on the cross. So we must be free from guilt. If we ask, God will take it away and free us from the entanglement that keeps us from receiving everything God has for us. 
    Jesus intercedes for all who have come to God through him. Do you understand the impact of that statement? Jesus prays for us. He talks to the Father about us. He continually reminds God that we have right-standing with him because of Jesus' blood. He tells him that our sins no longer are counted against us because he took them, bore them on the cross, and then gave us his righteousness instead. This gives us absolute confidence to approach God knowing that he will receive us. When we received Jesus, we were justified before God. This means simply that now it is, just as if we had never sinned. Sin is completely forgotten and we live in fellowship with God. 
    Today, if you continue to struggle with the guilt of past sin, understand that you have been saved completely. It is forgotten by God. You cannot remind God about something that has never happened. In God's mind, what you did before you knew him never happened. It is just as if you had never sinned. Be blessed by the truth that Jesus himself is interceding for you. He is praying for you, covering you with his own blood. As the Holy Spirit also prays, you are covered completely, clothed with the forgiveness of God himself. YOu have a great High Priest. He is not a man. He is the One who overcame, lived an earthly life, died for you, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, reminding him about how perfect you are. Never doubt your salvation again. Jesus is the great High Priest.