Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. | Hebrews 7:25
Sin is powerful. Even after salvation, it often feels like a foe that is constantly winning the battle for our soul. Is Christ really a powerful Savior? Can he rescue me when the darkness threatens to overcome me? Let’s unpack this verse.
“Consequently, he is able to save…”
Sinful people need saving. We are broken. Wayward. Separated from God. Dead in sin. Under the dominion of the enemy. Confused. Our situation as a person without Christ is incredibly dire.
The question is… are we too lost, too wretched, too guilty that Christ cannot save us? A good surgeon can restore a sick person by his skill. But some cases are so far gone that even the best doctor can do nothing.
In Mark’s Gospel, a father brings his son to Jesus. The boy is possessed by a demon. The spirit caused him to have seizures, foam at the mouth, commit self harm with fire, or draw him to water to drown him. It has been this way for years. The father asks Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us,” (Mark 9:22).
Jesus responds, “If you can! All things are possible for the one who believes.”
In this specific instance, the man questions if the famous teacher is able to save. Knowing there is no restriction to heal this boy, Jesus turns it back on the man. ‘There is no lack of power in me,’ Jesus says, ‘but is there lack of faith in you?’
Jesus is able to save.
“To the uttermost those who draw near to God through him…”
Jesus is able to save completely.
He is not a partial savior, where we have to do half the work; he is not weak, where there are some sins too strong for him to overcome. There are no sins too ugly or bad that he can’t forgive them.
If Jesus has saved you, then you are saved forever. If your name is in God’s book, if Christ has covered your sins, if you have been born of God, if Christ has presented you holy and blameless before the Father, if he has given you his Holy Spirit, then what can separate you from God? God has moved heaven and earth to make you his. Can anything negate that?
Christ is a powerful savior. He will not allow you to be finally overcome by your sin. He will not allow Satan to take you back. He will not allow you to fall away.
Do you ever doubt this? Do you ever wonder if Christ has given up on you because you just keep on sinning? Sin is more powerful than you, since you are completely unable to overcome it. In fact, you are often overcome by it. However, do not underestimate that Christ’s blood has overcome even your worst sins, if you belong to him.
He can save to the uttermost. He can save completely. He can keep you near to God, even when your sins condemn you.
Now for you, maybe the question isn’t ‘is Jesus powerful enough to save me’? That isn’t your worry. Your concern is that your sins are so bad that maybe Jesus doesn’t want you anymore. That he has been patient with you and waited for you to be faithful and you haven’t so he’s ready to be done. You aren’t worried that his hand is weak, but that his heart toward you may grow cold.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
“Since he always lives to make intercession…”
Jesus is our High Priest. A high priest’s job is to represent the people before God. He offers sacrifices, but he also offers prayers.
Jesus offered his own body as a sacrifice once and for all for sins. But his work as the High Priest of God’s people didn’t end there. What is Jesus doing right now in heaven as your High Priest? He is interceding for you. He is praying on your behalf before the Father.
Christian, Jesus is praying before the Father for you even now. He lives forever to do so. That is his heart and his delight: to sit enthroned as the victorious Priest and King and ask of the Father on your behalf. Even when you are not praying for yourself as you should, Christ is. And God always hears and answers the prayers of his Son.
The fact that Jesus lives forever to intercede for you should convince you that Christ’s heart for you is undying, faithful love. He can save you to the uttermost, because he prays always. Moreover, it is because of Christ’s continual intercession that he can keep you from falling away. His heart is for you even now. He can save to the uttermost. He is willing and able.
Christ, your forever High Priest, will not rest until you enter his rest.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who is indeed interceding for us.” | Romans 8:34
Take heart. Your Savior upholds you.
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