SALVATION PROVIDED

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them!” (Heb. 7:25 NKJV).

Here we have a great verse about salvation. It tells us about the Christ of salvation, the character of salvation, and the coming for salvation.

Christ of salvation – “He is also able to save.” The emphasis in this verse is on Who can save. The answer is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is referred to three times in this verse – “He,” “Him,” and “He.” If we leave out the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no salvation. He is able to save. Our good works will not save us; money will not save us. Only the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save us. And He is able to save us because of the resurrection – “He always lives.” The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins; but if He had not risen from the grave, He could not be our Savior. A dead man cannot be a mediator and intercede for us. It takes a live person, and the Lord Jesus Christ “always lives” because He was resurrected from the grave.

Character of salvation – “To the uttermost.” This word "uttermost" is often misused in its application. It is common to say that the Lord Jesus Christ can save anyone even to the “guttermost” to emphasize His ability to save anyone regardless of their sin. The Lord Jesus Christ can indeed save to the “guttermost,” but the word “uttermost” here does not refer to the people who can be saved but rather to the character of salvation. The word “uttermost” is from the Greek word pantelḗs (pan-tel-ace') which means complete. The Lord Jesus Christ is able to save us completely. We need no other help. Col. 2:10 states, “And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” We do not need Mary or baptism or anything else to be saved. The Lord Jesus Christ does it all alone, for “He is able.”

Coming for salvation – “Those who come to God through Him.” Salvation is limited by our response to it. Salvation has a “whosoever” in the invitation, but we are not saved by proxy. We are saved when we personally come to the Lord Jesus Christ and commit our lives to Him. Few people are coming to the Lord Jesus Christ today. Most are running from Him. However, if we want salvation, we must come to the Lord Jesus for it.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Saving us is the greatest and most concrete demonstration of God’s love, the definitive display of His grace throughout time and eternity!”

David Jeremiah (1941 -)

American Evangelical Christian Author, Theologian and Pastor

Word Study

Food

In 1 Tim. 6:8 we read, “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (NKJV).

“Food” is the Greek word diatrophḗ (διατροφή= dee-at-rof-ay'). It is made up of two words: “diá” which means through, on account of, and “trépho” which to nourish). Thus, the word denotes food for the physical body and suggests a full supply for each day. The idea here is that which sustains, maintains, nourishes, or supports the body. It is used only here in the New Testament. The apostle Paul was not saying that it is wrong to have more, only that we cannot demand more than this. He gave the assurance that God will supply all that is truly needful. Confusing our wants with our needs goes to the heart of coveting and explains why we are so often driven by the desire for more and more. We fail to see that life’s greatest fulfillment is not found in accumulating things but in knowing God.

Did You Know…

Once brought to the palace, it took another 12 months of preparation before Esther was brought before the king - six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes (Esther 2:12).

Bible Quiz

In king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the Book of Daniel, what were the feet of the statue made of?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

David said that God’s laws are to be desired more than what? “Much fine gold” (Psalms 19:10).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

His name remembered forever (Psalm 45:17; cf. Luke 1:33; Heb. 1:8)

"I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever” (Psalm 45:17 NJKV).

In context, the Psalmist is predicting the prosperity of the marriage, and that the king would be remembered and honored throughout the nations. As applied to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, it means that His essential kingdom will be perpetual (cf. Luke 1:33). Because of His submission to His Father’s will, our Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ will be exalted throughout eternity (cf. Phil. 2:5-11). Indeed, throughout eternity, the Lord Jesus will reign, and His name will be glorified by people of every tongue, tribe, and nation (cf. Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9-13). He will be the object of praise for ever and ever.

Did You Know – Christian History

Schleiermacher Was Mourned - February 12, 1834

Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher was born November 21, 1768, in Breslau in Prussian Silesia. He was a German Reformed Theologian, Pastor, Philosopher, and Biblical Scholar.

Schleiermacher was trained by Moravians who had guided his father, a Reform pastor, to deeper faith. But Schleiermacher could not accept orthodox Christianity. His admission of this led to a break with his father, who disowned him for a time.

Schleiermacher is often called “the founder of modern Protestant theology” for combining Kant’s philosophy, Romanticism’s emphasis on feeling and emotion, and Christian faith. His theology emphasized human experience and religious feeling over rigid doctrine, making God known “in relation to us” rather than in His essence. While he saw Christianity as the highest truth, he did not equate Christ with the traditional orthodox divine person, viewing Him instead as a human with perfect consciousness of God. This led Schleiermacher’s superiors to doubt whether he was a Christian, and accused him of heresy. This did not stop his ideas becoming widely accepted among those who were looking for teachings to replace traditional Christianity.

But Schleiermacher’s popularity was not necessarily the result of his religious theories. During Napoleon’s invasions, he was an ardent nationalist and preached popular sermons in behalf of Prussia. Later he reorganized Germany’s school system on a new model. He also co-founded the University of Berlin, produced a German translation of Plato that scholars still consult, and laid the groundwork for modern hermeneutics. Schleiermacher died on February 12, 1834. His death was caused by pneumonia, which developed from a neglected cold while he was teaching and administering at the University of Berlin. On his last day, surrounded by family, Schleiermacher celebrated the Lord’s Supper.

The passing of Friedrich David Schleiermacher, the celebrated German pastor, philosopher, and professor, was mourned across educated Europe, not only for his public stature but for the profound influence his thought had on modern theology. His funeral drew over 20,000 attendees, a testament to his widespread respect. In Germany, this was a day of national and intellectual grief as Schleiermacher’s life and thought left an indelible mark on the history of religion and philosophy. His work reminded the church to honor sincere devotion while maintaining doctrinal fidelity, and his influence continues in theological and philosophical discourse.

A Little Humor

The Big Bang Theory: “God spoke, and BANG! It happened!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“We Need To Talk – God!”