Hebrews 7:25
SAVED TO THE UTTERMOST
Intro: We live in a day of rampant confusion concerning spiritual matter. It
seems that very few people understand the truth about God's way of saving
the human soul. In fact, asking a dozen different people will often produce
as many ideas regarding what saves and what doesn't. For instance:
1. Ask an Atheist and he will say, "There is no God and there is no need
to be saved."
2. Ask a Moralist and he will say, "Be a good person and do good for
others and you will be saved."
3. Ask a Religionist and he will say, "Do what your church tells you, be
a good person and you will be saved."
4. Ask a Legalist and he will say, "Keep this set of rules and do as you
are commanded by your Pastor and you will be saved."
5. Ask a man by the name of Paul, who used to fit into three of the above
categories, but who is now saved by grace and he will say, "Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."
6. Ask God and He will say, "Ye must be born again!"
This verse tells the truth about God's plan of salvation. It tells us how
it works and what it does for the sinner and the saint. It sets the record
straight and it teaches a truth that we must not miss! This verse teaches us
that those who grasp the truth about how God's plan of salvation works are
"saved to the uttermost!" That is what I want to preach about for a while
this morning. Let's think together about that glorious thought: Saved To
The Uttermost!
I. GOD'S PLAN TO SAVE
"Them...that come"
A. A Costly Plan - Mark 10:45 - Heaven's glory came to this earth in
the form of a servant, Phil. 2:5-8, then He went to a cross where He
paid the ransom price in blood that sinners might be saved, Isa.
53:4-6; 1 Peter 1:18-19.
B. A Completed Plan - John 19:30 - This plan, devised by God needs
no revision. It does not have to be updated like your software,
wardrobe and automobile must be. It will never have to be revised,
redone or repaired, it is complete and finished forever, Heb. 9:12. It
is perfect and it is complete and it will bring salvation to all those who
receive it by faith! (Note: This is a very simple plan! So simple in
fact that many people stumble right over it! It is as simple as
believing and ans easy as trusting, Rom. 10:9; John 6:47. It is so
easy that it stands as a stumbling block to many - 1 Cor. 1:18, 23-24!)
C. A Controversial Plan - John 14:6 - This plan is so controversial
because it is a very narrow plan. In fact, it is so narrow that God
only knows one way for sinners to be saved, and that is through the
sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ! Ill. Acts 4:12! There is no plan B.
There is no alternative. There is nothing else for those who believe
differently. There is one plan for all men and if you go to Heaven,
you will go through this plan! (Note: God doesn't care how good you
may be. Salvation is not merited by works, Eph. 2:8-9. God isn't
impressed by your sincerity! Salvation does not come to those who
mean well, Ill. The Pharisee and the Publican - Luke 18! God
doesn't care if you are black, white, red, yellow or brown. He doesn't
care if you are Muslim, Hindu, Baptist, Mormon, or Catholic. He only
knows one plan of salvation for all men!)
II. GOD'S POWER TO SAVE
"He is able..."
A. He Has The Power To Call You - John 6:44 - He has the power to
reach into the darkness of the human soul and show the sinner his
or her need of a big God! You see, people don't just wake up one
day and decide to get saved! Salvation is a result of God's power
being exerted on your behalf since before the foundation of the
world! He provided a Savior, Rev. 13:8. He sent His Spirit into the
world to do the work of conviction, John 16:7-11. He loved you
when you were unlovable, Rom. 5:8. Like He did with Lazarus, John 11:43-44! He has the power to come to you in the tomb of
your sin and cry "Come forth!" When He does, you will come to
Him! That's the kind of power that redeems sinners!
B. He Has The Power To Cleanse You - 1 John 1:7 - When God's
plan is received, His power moves in the heart and does a cleansing
work whereby every stain and blemish of sin is forever removed from
your life. It is a brand new birth! You get a fresh start. Yesterday
with all its pain, failures, sins and shortcomings is gone forever,
having been washed whiter than snow in the precious blood of the
Lamb, Rev. 1:5; Psalm 103:12; Isa. 38:17; 43:25; Jer. 50:20;
Micah 7:19!)
C. He Has The Power To Change You - 2 Cor. 5:17 - Thus far we
have talked about God's power as it worked in the past and as it
works in the hidden recesses of the heart. But, His power also
manifests itself in a person's life. You see, you cannot enter into a
relationship with Jesus Christ and remain the same! Ask the blind
man in John 9. Ask the adulterous woman in John 8. Ask
Bartimaeus, ask the lepers, ask His disciples, ask the woman with
the issue of blood, ask Mary Magdalene! Ask any of the millions
who have met Him over the passing ages and they will all testify to
the fact of His life changing power! Wait, just ask anyone around
you and, if they are saved, they can testify to the life changing power
of the Lord Jesus Christ!
III. GOD'S PROMISE TO SAVE
"To save"
A. The Promise In The Word - Save! - This word means "to save, to
keep safe and sound; to rescue from danger and destruction."
That is what Jesus does when He saves a soul! He saves them
from:
1. The deadness of their sins - Eph. 2:1
2. The wrath of God - Rom. 5:9 and the torments of Hell!
3. A wasted life that ends in tragedy - Luke 16:19-31
4. Self-destruction and self-deception - Pro. 16:25
When God saves a soul, He does it right! They are safe and sound.
They are delivered. They are saved!
B. The Promise In His Work - 1 John 2:2 - The Bible tells us that
Jesus Christ is our Intercessor! That is, He stands in for us in
Heaven! The word literally means, "to fall in with." It is a picture of
One Who comes alongside another to help in times of distress and
trial. Jesus is our Man in Heaven! He is the perfect representative
of the human race. He occupies His place at the Father's right hand
to ensure that we have the resources we need to make it through
the journey down here! (Note: This should not be taken to mean that
Jesus is continually praying for us or that He is continually offering
His blood for us. His presence in Heaven is our prayer and it is the
answer too! The blood was applied once for all and never needs to
be repeated again!) His presence in Heaven as our Advocate gives
the saints absolute assurance that they too will be there some day, Col. 3:3!
C. The Promise In His Will - John 6:37-40 - The Bible tells us that He
is "able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by
Him." The word uttermost means "Completely, perfectly, utterly
and forever!" It gives the image of eternal salvation! In fact, Jesus
Himself told us that it was the Father's will to get us all Home, John
6:37-40. Jesus also said that the same was His will also, John
17:24. What I am trying to get you to see is that if you are truly
saved, then you are saved to the uttermost! You are heaven bound
and nothing can stop it, 1 Pet. 1:5; John 10:28. (Note: Here is
where many people find fault with Baptists. We talk about our "eternal security" and use it as a license to commit sin! Friends,
that ought never be! When we are saved, we are to make an
intentional break with the world and all its allurements. A so-called
Christian who walks in open sin and claims an eternal relationship
with God is a liar!) (Note: This verse is often misquoted. People will
say that we are "saved FROM the uttermost." Well, I am thankful
for all the God saved me from, to think of it is wonderful! However,
I am even more thankful for what He saved me to! I am saved to "be His son"; to "Walk with Him"; to "go to His heaven." I am like
Paul, I want to leave the past behind me and reach forward to all
that God has for me in my tomorrow, Phil. 3:13-14. I am ready to
forget the past and live for the future!)
Conc: What is the conclusion of the whole matter? God's plan of salvation
has the power to save to the uttermost everyone who comes to Him through
Jesus Christ! You see, the whole point of this portion of Hebrews is to show
how the Lord Jesus, as our Great High Priest, is absolutely superior to the
Old Testament priesthood. Here is how:
1. The Old Testament priesthood was only temporary. A man could only
serve until he died. Jesus has already gone through death and He will
never die again, Rev. 1:18.
2. The Old Testament priest could save no one. Our text verse told us that
Jesus is "Able to save to the uttermost". He has power that no earthly
priest can ever have. He possesses the power to save souls!
3. The Old Testament priest was never finished with his work. Jesus
finished His work on the cross and sat down at His Father's right hand, Heb. 10:12.
4. The Old Testament priest could only enter the presence of God once per
year and then only with the blood of a sacrificed lamb. Jesus Christ
continually abides in His Father's presence as the representative of the
redeemed!
Since all this is true, the question you need to answer today is this: What
have you done about God's plan of salvation? Are you saved to the
uttermost this morning? Do have the assurance that all is well within your
soul today? If there is a need, there is a High Priest named Jesus Who can
and will meet that need right now.
