Heb 7:25 ...He is...able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him...
We see two things here: a) The Savior's Ability and b) The Savior's Efficiency
* The Savior's Ability: "He is...able to save to the uttermost"
The word "uttermost" could also be translated as completely or fully to the very end. The Savior is able to save to the uttermost, completely, fully to the very end.
There is no sin so dark, guilt so great, force too strong, a thing so big, a height so high, a pit so deep, a difficulty so insurmountable that can hinder, oppose and thwart the saving ability of the Lord Jesus.
In all these things, He is able to save completely, fully, to the very end, to the uttermost. He is not a Savior who saves at the beginning and then leaves you mid-way, unable to carry it out to the very end. No, He is a Savior who is able to save to the uttermost, completely, fully to the very end. What He begins, He is able to finish and complete.
* The Savior's Efficiency: "...He is...able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him..."
He is able to save sinners but only those sinners who come to God through Him in faith. The sinner's sole responsibility is to come to the able Savior in faith. His efficiency comes into work if you put your trust in Him.
He is completely able. Are you willing?
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #244
A Picture Of Spiritual Salvation
Lu 7:14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."
15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak....
The Man's Physical Condition
* Dead (He had no life in him)
* Disabled (He was unable to do anything to make himself alive)
* Down (He's down in a coffin)
The Messiah's Philanthropic Compassion
* He drew close to him (He came near and made contact)
* He declared consciousness into him (He gave him life)
Applying this to spiritual salvation:
The Sinner's Condition
* Dead (He is spiritually dead, separated from God)
* Disabled (He is powerless to save himself)
* Down (He is spiritually down and out)
The Savior's Compassion
* He drew close, He came down and made contact by becoming a Man Himself
* He declares life to anyone who will put their trust in Him for salvation.
Lu 7:14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."
15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak....
The Man's Physical Condition
* Dead (He had no life in him)
* Disabled (He was unable to do anything to make himself alive)
* Down (He's down in a coffin)
The Messiah's Philanthropic Compassion
* He drew close to him (He came near and made contact)
* He declared consciousness into him (He gave him life)
Applying this to spiritual salvation:
The Sinner's Condition
* Dead (He is spiritually dead, separated from God)
* Disabled (He is powerless to save himself)
* Down (He is spiritually down and out)
The Savior's Compassion
* He drew close, He came down and made contact by becoming a Man Himself
* He declares life to anyone who will put their trust in Him for salvation.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #243
Objections To The Gospel
#8 "The Bible does not exactly say that salvation is by faith ALONE."
Answer:
True, we can not read the exact terms "salvation by faith alone" in the Bible but the idea is exactly and clearly there.
Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast.
"SaveD through faith...not as a result of works." Notice we can receive the whole package through faith.
If Paul said: "By grace you have been 50% saved through faith", one might conclude that salvation is not by faith alone, the other 50% must be attained by works, since the exercise of faith can only result in 50% salvation.
But if through faith a sinner is saveD (note the past tense, implying the whole package of salvation 100%) then salvation is by faith alone.
Question: "Is faith enough to receive full and complete salvation according to the verse? Yes, absolutely! Look at the verse. If by exercising faith you have received full and complete salvation, then salvation is by faith alone. If by faith you have received the whole package, is there anything else you must do to receive it? None! So it is by faith alone.
To emphasize the point further the apostle Paul said: " "By grace you have been save*D* through faith...NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS."
It is as clear as the noonday sun.
#8 "The Bible does not exactly say that salvation is by faith ALONE."
Answer:
True, we can not read the exact terms "salvation by faith alone" in the Bible but the idea is exactly and clearly there.
Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast.
"SaveD through faith...not as a result of works." Notice we can receive the whole package through faith.
If Paul said: "By grace you have been 50% saved through faith", one might conclude that salvation is not by faith alone, the other 50% must be attained by works, since the exercise of faith can only result in 50% salvation.
But if through faith a sinner is saveD (note the past tense, implying the whole package of salvation 100%) then salvation is by faith alone.
Question: "Is faith enough to receive full and complete salvation according to the verse? Yes, absolutely! Look at the verse. If by exercising faith you have received full and complete salvation, then salvation is by faith alone. If by faith you have received the whole package, is there anything else you must do to receive it? None! So it is by faith alone.
To emphasize the point further the apostle Paul said: " "By grace you have been save*D* through faith...NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS."
It is as clear as the noonday sun.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #242
Objections To The Gospel
#7 "What?!!? All one has to do is to do the small thing of intellectually believing in the Savior and that's that, a sinner will then be saved?"
Answer:
The word "believe" in the Bible in relation to salvation does not mean intellectual belief. It means deeper than that. It means to trust, to rely, to depend, to entrust yourself entirely to another, namely the Savior.
Trusting, relying, depending and entrusting yourself entirely to another is no trivial thing. It could spell disaster on your part if you are trusting, relying, depending and entrusting something precious to another who is unstable and unreliable.
If you entrust 5 dollars to someone as investment money, the risk of losing that money might be there, but since 5 dollars is just a modicum amount, a pittance, you can afford to shrug it off as nothing if the investment hits rock bottom.
But the situation is entirely different, infinitely serious, when we are dealing with the salvation of your soul and where you will spend eternity. With this issue in mind, it is no small thing to be asked to trust, rely, depend and entrust entirely your soul's salvation to another.
If that another turns out to be unreliable and incompetent, you are doomed forever! This is what the Bible means when it says: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" to be saved.
It is saying: "Trust, rely, depend and entrust your soul's salvation entirely to Him and what He did on the cross." This is an absolutely risky thing to do if He turns out to be incompetent and unreliable.
But know that there is absolutely zero risk if you commit your soul's salvation entirely to Him. He is the appointed and approved Savior of the world, the Son of God, who is able to save any sinner who will come to Him in faith.There is no question that stepping into a ship to go to some place is simple. The issue is the great implication that accompany that simple step into the ship. Though stepping into that ship is simple, it is no small thing for it implies that you are willing to entrust your life and safety into that ship.
#7 "What?!!? All one has to do is to do the small thing of intellectually believing in the Savior and that's that, a sinner will then be saved?"
Answer:
The word "believe" in the Bible in relation to salvation does not mean intellectual belief. It means deeper than that. It means to trust, to rely, to depend, to entrust yourself entirely to another, namely the Savior.
Trusting, relying, depending and entrusting yourself entirely to another is no trivial thing. It could spell disaster on your part if you are trusting, relying, depending and entrusting something precious to another who is unstable and unreliable.
If you entrust 5 dollars to someone as investment money, the risk of losing that money might be there, but since 5 dollars is just a modicum amount, a pittance, you can afford to shrug it off as nothing if the investment hits rock bottom.
But the situation is entirely different, infinitely serious, when we are dealing with the salvation of your soul and where you will spend eternity. With this issue in mind, it is no small thing to be asked to trust, rely, depend and entrust entirely your soul's salvation to another.
If that another turns out to be unreliable and incompetent, you are doomed forever! This is what the Bible means when it says: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" to be saved.
It is saying: "Trust, rely, depend and entrust your soul's salvation entirely to Him and what He did on the cross." This is an absolutely risky thing to do if He turns out to be incompetent and unreliable.
But know that there is absolutely zero risk if you commit your soul's salvation entirely to Him. He is the appointed and approved Savior of the world, the Son of God, who is able to save any sinner who will come to Him in faith.There is no question that stepping into a ship to go to some place is simple. The issue is the great implication that accompany that simple step into the ship. Though stepping into that ship is simple, it is no small thing for it implies that you are willing to entrust your life and safety into that ship.
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