Saved To The Uttermost!

In Hebrews, Chapter 7, verse 25 we learn this...

Heb 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.

The Greek term translated here as 'uttermost' includes two things: to save fully, and to save evermore — both ideas are included. In some bibles one may be put into the text and the other put into the margin; but both are included in the meaning of the original.

Jesus saves us to the uttermost from all the power of sin. He provides the greater power, enabling us to live lives where, as it is said in Titus, we can say "NO!" to all ungodliness and worldly passions.

Interestingly this is not something that the Law can do for us! We learn this in Romans, Chapter 8, verse 3.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

As it tells us in verse 3, the Law could not do this. We fool ourselves if we believe that our flesh (or human nature) is able to do what no other human (save Jesus) could, that is keep the Law and 'thereby' have eternal life.

Rather, when God's people turn to Jesus and let His grace work in their lives, He will hear all their cries, forgive all their sin and make their path in life work out. Why? Because He ever lives to make intercession for them.

By His shed blood we are saved fully and completely. A saviour who died for us achieved all of that. But a live and ever living saviour guarantees that this salvation has no end!

Christ died for our sins; but He rose again for our 'Justification', 'Sanctification' and for our 'Glorification'. He lives to continue the work whose earthly phase He finished, but whose heavenly phase continues as He intercedes for us!

On accepting His sacrifice on our behalf we are 'Justified' (declared righteous).
Through His ongoing life in us we are being 'Sanctified' (given power over sin).
Then on His return we will be 'Glorified' (given new perfect spiritual bodies).

Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Through that intercession, for instance, we have access to the 'Holy of Holies' and the throneroom of God and through our prayer, God's word and guidance from Holy Spirit we grow to be more like Jesus every day. We are to grow to say only what we hear the Father say, and do only what we see the Father doing. That is the route of 'Sanctification'.

If we check the context in Romans 8:26-27 to see why God will be so good to us, we see this...

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, and He (God) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He (the Spirit) intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

As you can see it's speaking about when we turn to God in prayer and pray in the Spirit. When we yield to 'walk in the spirit', then God actually comes down to help us and His Spirit intercedes for us and God turns all things that are up against us to our advantage; because we love Him, and our prayers are according to His will.

It's a bit like when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison and they responded to being in jail by praising God and singing hymns and spiritual songs. The next thing they know Jesus has put on His earthquake boots and jumped down to sit with them! At least that's my take on the incident! Anyway we learn that ...

Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Jesus, our Messiah, intercedes for us. And these prayers go in front of a God who loves us and who sees the blood of His Son crying out for Him to give those who have accepted that sacrifice for sin, pardon, mercy and grace.

That is what God established when He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. But not just that, to rise from the dead and be seated on the right hand of the Father on high!

God loved us first, and when we reciprocate that love; for God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, His grace and mercy and blessings are just all over us. He's a good God!

Best wishes for Grace and the Peace of Jesus.
Attlee.

Another thought...