“Wherefore he is
able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
I was privileged to grow up under the
sound of Holy Spirit anointed Bible preaching. I used to hear some of these men
of God expound on this text and assure their hearers that God was able to save
to “guttermost,” as well as the uttermost. I agree with this elaboration on the
term “uttermost,” and have been witness to the reality of it down through the
years. But, if I might, I’d like to use it as an instrument of assurance for
the future of God’s saints. I think I can legitimately do this, using the text
itself and by comparing the word in other places in Scripture.
Starting with the second, in the Bible,
the word (uttermost), indicates the farthest point: distance, not depth. You’ll find the uttermost side or edge of
something, or the uttermost part or parts of a camp, cities, the earth, sea, or
heaven, etc. It’s not as low as you can go, it’s as far as you can go. To me,
the text is saying that God is not only able to save the worst sinner (however you want to judge that), but all sinners, young, old, sin-dreading or
sin-devoured, and save them forever,
to the uttermost, to the farthest distance of time and eternity. This would be
a good place to say, “Amen!”
In addition, the second phrase in this
verse tells us the reason God is able to make this unfathomable promise of
longevity. The price for our redemption was the death of His Son, but the
condition for its perpetuity was His Resurrection. We like to say that the
Blood of Christ shed on Calvary paid for our sins, past, present, and future.
But it would seem to me from this verse that the ongoing assurance of sins forgiven is based on the intercessory work of
Jesus Christ on our behalf. The verse says He lives to do! And — wait for it! —
He “ever liveth.” He will never die again; and as long as He lives, so
will we. He told the Father that He wants us to be where His is (Jno. 17:24);
and He will not be denied. He paid the price for it. This is why you and I can
confidently pull back the curtain of the future and know that our place in
Heaven is secure. Our salvation will go the distance; we’re saved “to the
uttermost.” Rejoice and never doubt it!
For All Who Come to
God by Him – A.M. Toplady
Awake, sweet
gratitude and sing the ascended Savior’s love;
Sing how He lives
to carry on His people’s cause above.
For all who come to
God by Him, salvation He demands;
Points to their
names upon His breast, and spreads His wounded hands.
His sweet, atoning
sacrifice gives sanction to His claim;
“Father, I will
that all my saints be with me where I am.”
Eternal life, at
His request, to every saint is given;
Safety on earth,
and after death, the plentitude of heaven.
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