The main theological topic addressed by Don Fortner in “He Is Able to Succor Them That Are Tempted” is the nature and role of Christ as a High Priest who mediates between God and humanity, particularly in light of temptation and sin. Fortner argues that mankind, due to the effects of sin, exists in a state of estrangement from God, creating an insurmountable gulf that neither party can cross without divine intervention. He highlights Hebrews 2:17-18, which states that Christ was made like His brethren in order to serve as a merciful and faithful High Priest capable of making reconciliation for sins and succoring those who are tempted. The doctrine emphasizes the necessity of a Mediator—the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by taking on human flesh, becomes able to both identify with human suffering and accomplish the work of atonement. This has significant implications for believers, assuring them that they have a compassionate Savior who helps them overcome temptation and grants them access to the grace of God.
Key Quotes
“Unless there is a daysman found who can stand between the holy Lord God and sinful man, we are all without hope.”
“Blessed be God such a Priest has been found; He is Jesus Christ our Lord the Son of God.”
“The Lord Jesus Christ became a man so that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest such as we need to reconcile us to God.”
“In Christ the God of glory reveals himself as a just God and a Savior.”
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. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. - Hebrews 2:17-18“He is able to succor them that are tempted”
A Great Gulf
Fallen man, because of sin, has been banished from the presence of God. God will neither speak to man, nor allow man to speak to him. God will neither approach man, nor allow man to approach him. Sin has separated man from God. By reason of sin, there is a great gulf fixed between God and man, which neither God nor man can cross.
The holy Lord God, in and of himself, in his essential Being as God, because he is righteous, just and true, can never span that great gulf and come down to sinful man. Neither can he bring sinful man up to himself. And sinful man, because of his sin, can never span that great gulf and arise to God. Neither can we bring God down to us.
Depraved, helpless and condemned, all men and women by nature are banished from God in this world, and must be banished from God forever in the world to come, unless a holy man can be found who is equal to God himself and able “able to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”
A Daysman Needed
Unless there is a daysman found who can stand between the holy Lord God and sinful man, we are all without hope. Unless there is a Mediator found, who can lay his hand upon the holy God and upon guilty sinners to bring God and man together, we all must be forever banished from the presence of God in hell. Unless there is a priest found who can fully satisfy the justice of God by making an effectual atonement for sin, sinful man must forever die.
A Ransom Found
Blessed be God, such a Priest has been found! He is Jesus Christ our Lord, the Son of God. “Wherefore (because he laid hold on the seed of Abraham to save them) in all things it behooved 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. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became a man so that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest such as we need, to reconcile us to God and enable us to overcome temptation. Now, the Lord God can be gracious and declares, concerning all his elect, “Deliver them from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” In Christ, the God of glory reveals himself as “a just God and a Savior.”
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