“Wherefore, He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 7:25
His is never piecemeal, partial or incomplete; it always brings to perfection.
God’s Salvation.
So often we see this as simply walking an aisle, praying a prayer, being baptized and joining a church. Then, somehow we think we should “live happily ever after.”
But, such is not the case, is it, Pilgrim?
Not hardly.
In fact, such a caricature of Christianity is a counterfeit interpretation of what it means to be “born again” (Jn. 3:3, 5-8)—for, in reality, the call to follow Christ is an invitation to come suffer and die with Him (Lk. 9:23-26; Gal. 2:20).
Now, we know that God’s Salvation is both a point-in-time and a process.
When the “seed” of God’s Word finds lodging in one’s “fertile heart of faith,” spiritual conception or “the new birth” occurs (I Pet. 2:23; Mt. 13:23). This was likely preceded by many months or years of conviction (“spiritual pregnancy pains/a pricking in the conscience”—Acts 2:37; 9:5) whereby one finally “came to himself and said ‘I will arise and go to the Father’” (Lk. 15:17-19).
And, it is at this point of conception/conversion that we are “justified by faith, saved from God’s wrath and freed from the curse of the Law as we’re saved from the penalty of sin” (Rom. 5:6-11; Gal. 3:10, 13). This is Justification.
Pardoned. Adopted. Forgiven. Cleansed. Forever. Hallelujah!!
Then, the “Journey of Faith” begins, which is called “Sanctification,” in which the Holy Spirit works within us to “convict of us sin, the need of righteousness and Judgment to come” (Jn. 16:8-11) as He continues that “good work that God began within us as He transforms us more and more into the likeness of Christ” (Phil. 1:6; I Thess. 5:23-24). This is our being saved from the power of sin.
Finally, the Day will come when we’ll be “glorified”(Glorification)—i.e., be “changed” (I Cor. 15:35-54; Phil. 3:20-21)—and finally be free from the presence of sin. And, won’t that be a wonderful Day, dear Pilgrim, as we “receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls” (I Pet. 1:9)?
Most assuredly it will. Glory!!
Yes, when the Lord Jesus saves us, He “saves us to the uttermost (Grk. ‘panteles’—‘full-ended, complete, entire, nothing lacking, conclusion, etc.’).” That’s why we should refrain from looking through the “microscope of misery,” which focuses upon an isolated segment of the whole; instead, we should continually look through the “telescope of triumph” that stays fixed upon “Jesus, the Author AND FINISHER of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). That way we’ll not be give in to doubt and despair; instead we’ll remember “He is able”—and that’s all that matters.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated February 16, 2011
