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He is Able to Save Forever
Hebrews 7:25
What number do you dial in case of an emergency? "911" is the number that you
would call in many communities across the United States. We have witnessed
countless dramatizations of rescues on TV which were carried out because of a
series of actions which began with a phone call. It is thrilling to watch a
successful
rescue from a life-threatening situation. Several times I have shed a tear or
two upon seeing the immense gratitude of parents when it had been their child
who had been saved. I can identify with that.
How I wish that more people would place more importance on their children's souls, as well as their own souls, with more care given in saving them and in keeping them saved. We would not think too highly of a parent who, upon having their child rescued from a raging, swollen river, allowed the child to return to the river's edge to play.
The most horrible experience anyone will ever endure is that of leaving this world unprepared to meet God. We will sink and die in sin unless we are rescued. Jesus said that it would be "better" for us to drown in water than to drown in sin and be lost; and that it would be "better" to lose a hand or foot or eye than to have these things and be lost forever (Mark 9:42-48). Not many view life in that perspective today. Many would say that to believe such a thing is crazy. But this is what Jesus said, and He has seen the whole picture. He knows what eternity is like. He knows better than us the eternal consequences of sin. He knows how important it is that we be saved from a fate that truly is "worse than death."
Have you been rescued? Have you seen your loved ones pulled from the flames by Jesus? Are they safe? If so, shed a tear of joy and thank God that He has responded to our need in such a wonderful way. Make sure you do what you can in word and action to ensure that your loved ones stay safe in His care.
If your loved ones are still in need of rescue, let them know of the danger and
that there is one who is willing to save them. He is able to do for them what no
other can do. He is willing and able to save them forever!
"Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him,
since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25).
HE IS ABLE
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or think,
according to the power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
(Ephesians 3:20,21). Every child of God needs to possess a strong confidence in
Jesus' ability. It is so pathetic to see members of His body filled with doubts;
always struggling but never growing. Its as if Jesus' hand is extended to help
them, but they insist on floundering about in the water until they drown.
The Greek word translated "able" in our text is "dunatai." This means to have the power to do something. It is the same word used by the father of the possessed boy who came to Jesus and begged "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" Jesus responded, "If you can!' All things are possible to him who believes." The boys father replied, "I do believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:19-27).
Jesus is able to save us forever. He is able to make us into what we ought to
be. To sit back in unbelief and ignore His strength is foolishness. If we fail
to enter
heaven, it will be because of our own foolishness. Do you believe that Jesus is
able? Then live like it!
TO SAVE FOREVER
"But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have
faith to the preserving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39). The Greek word for
"forever" is "panteles" and means "complete, perfect, absolute." In the context,
the absolute nature of the salvation has to do with time. It is forever. Once we
enter into heaven, we will have been rescued forever. The dangers, all of them,
will be over. The struggles we have endured will be a thing of the past. The
future will be guaranteed. "...but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give
him shall never thirst; but the water I shall give him shall become in him a
well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:14).
THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR TO GOD THROUGH HIM
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near
unto God and He will draw near unto you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and
purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:7,8). Drawing near to God
requires submission unto Him as well as resisting the devil. It involves turning
from sin and becoming focused on our first priority. To continue in sin will
cause us to be lost; but please notice that to allow things of this world to
detract us from the spiritual will do the same. If we are trying to serve two
masters we will fail. Jesus said we cannot serve both God and mammon. Jesus
knows we cannot be "double-minded." Too many members of the church are trying to
serve both.
The Hebrew writer uses the Greek word "prosercomai" which means "to approach."
We can walk with God as we have our access unto Him through Jesus. He is our
only mediator and approaching God is impossible apart from Him (John 14:6; I
Timothy 2:5). Certainly it is wise to remove those obstacles from our lives
which interfere with our walk with God.
HE ALWAYS LIVES
"...Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was
dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and
Hades."
(Revelation 1:17b-18). Our hope lives because Jesus lives. The same power by
which Jesus arose from the grave is available for us. The Scriptures state;
"...who was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from
the dead, according to the spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans
1:4). His
resurrection gives hope to all those who share in His resurrection. This is
something in which you are to share right now.
Of course, there is the physical resurrection of the future for which we must wait; but there is also a spiritual resurrection from spiritual death unto spiritual life. The Scriptures explain that when we are led by our faith to be baptized into Christ's death that we become united with Him; "Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died has been freed from sin." (Romans 6:4-7).
Jesus is able to save forever those who draw near to God because He is alive.
When we are raised with Him from baptism, we are to walk in a new way. The Bible
simply does not talk about Jesus being the Savior of those who continue in sin,
unrepentant and will not obey Him (Hebrews 5:9; 10:26-31).
TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM
"...who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who
was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us."
(Romans 8:34). As Christians, we will find ourselves in the minority when it
comes to our perspectives on life, morality and righteousness. Some will mock
and ridicule. There will be false charges leveled (see to it that charges of
evil against are not true - I Peter 4:12-16). Never forget that our intercessor
will outlast our detractors. He
always lives to make intercession for us. He will come again.
There has been no greater rescue than that which was undertaken to save us from our sins. Jesus is our redeemer. It was He who gave no thought to His own safety and comfort, but responded to bring hope to the hopeless. How shall we then react to His mercy?
Jon W. Quinn
From Expository Files 2.8; August, 1995
