Jesus Is Able

January 15th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore [Jesus] is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

One vital lesson from this section is a phrase from Hebrews 7:19 which concerns drawing near to God. Since God is holy, and man is sinful, it is impossible for man to draw near to God unless God grants some avenue through which to approach Him. This He does, accomplished through His Son Jesus Christ, the Priest-King who alone mediates between God and man (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5). Drawing near to God is basic to Christianity—the Christian’s highest endeavor, greatest experience, and ultimate purpose. Those who believe that coming to Christ is simply a way to avoid hell and gain heaven cheat themselves out of all that God has in store for them on this side of eternity. The Apostle Paul speaks to this in Ephesians 3:17-19:

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God (italics mine).

Though not often quoted, the essence of the gospel permeates Hebrews 7:25. In it, we see that Jesus “is able to save forever.” The term “forever” (Gr. panteles) not only means eternal, it implies fullness and perfection. Whereas the old priesthood merely symbolized sin’s removal, Jesus’ priesthood guarantees the actual and eternal removal of all sin in all believers—leaving them without condemnation. Verse 25 answers five vital questions with regard to salvation:

What is the basis for man’s salvation? Answer: Jesus is the believer’s eternal Savior and Priest. By His very existence, He is able to save and mediate for us forever.
What is the power behind man’s salvation? Answer: Christ’s ability, for “He is able.” The OT priests were not able to save anyone. The sacrifices they mediated for Israel merely covered, or atoned for, sins. Jesus “is able” to cleanse all sin as Priest. As Jesus Himself said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6; cf. Acts 4:12).
What is the nature of salvation? Answer: bringing believers “near to God.” Salvation entails justification (Rom. 3:28)—being declared righteous by God through faith in Christ. With sin atoned for, believers can draw near to God. From the standpoint of the past, a believer has been freed from sin’s penalty; from the standpoint of the present, we are freed from sin’s power; from the standpoint of the future, we shall be freed from sin’s presence. So, the nature of our salvation is being near to God now and forevermore.
Who are the objects of salvation? Answer: “those who draw near to God through Him,” that is Christ. This is not limited to any people group; it is available for all. Jesus said, “The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). But for those who refuse to come to Jesus in faith, they will be the objects of God’s eternal wrath.
What is the security of our salvation? Answer: Jesus Himself, who “always lives to make intercession” for believers. In other words, Jesus is praying for us—always! Since we as believers cannot maintain our own salvation but remain weak in our flesh, Jesus prays for us—always. “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Rom. 8:34, italics mine). When we sin, Jesus prays to the Father—the nails in His hands and feet constantly paying the penalty for our sins. As a result, through the work and priesthood of Jesus Christ, believers are able to “stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy” (Jude 24).