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Drawing Near (Part 4) |
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By Ralph I. Tilley
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Uttermost Salvation William Kirkpatrick (1838-1921) was a prolific poet and hymn writer, as well as an accomplished church organist. Of his many published songs, there is one I remember often singing, especially during the formative years of my Christian journey: "Saved to the Uttermost." I can still hear the refrain of this song ringing in my ears now many years later: Saved, saved, saved to the uttermost!
The theme of Kirkpatrick's song is taken from a word found in Hebrews 7:25. For the purposes of this part in our "Drawing Near" series, let's place that verse in its context
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 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.[2]
God is Able What does the writer mean by the phrase "he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him"? First, let's take a look at the phrase "he is able." The truth of this phrase has brought great blessing to the people of God across the ages. The omnipotence of God is wrapped up in this powerful affirmation. The New Testament writers provide a host of examples and promises concerning God's infinite, multifaceted abilities as they relate to believers. For example . . . • Abraham believed "God was able to do what he had promised." • Nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." • To the generous Corinthians: "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." • Paul concludes his prayer in Ephesians 3 with these reassuring words: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, . . ." • To the tempted: "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." • To those who fear they might fail to finish the Christian race: "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, . . .”[3] It has now been over forty-five years since I first read the following words from the pen of one of English Methodism's saintly preachers and educators. In a book that is now taped and held together by a rubber band, Thomas Cook (1859-1913) said of God's promises: ". . . every promise is built upon four pillars, each one as strong as the pillars of heaven—God's justice or holiness, which will not suffer him to deceive; His grace and goodness, which will not suffer Him to forget; His truth, which will not suffer Him to change; and His power, which makes Him able to accomplish.”[4] Oh, the immensity and intensity of the promises of God given to thirsty-hearted believers! How can we ever doubt them; how can we ever doubt him? Do we really believe "he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him"?
God is Able to Save The Hebrews' writer declares: "he is able to save." Speaking to the bewildered Joseph, the angel announced, "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”[5] The Greek word for Jesus (Iēsous) in Hebrew is Yeshua،/Yehoshua (Joshua), meaning "Yahweh saves." The first Joshua was a prototype of the second Joshua, the Lord Jesus Christ. As the successor to Moses brought great deliverance and victory to Israel, so the second Joshua—the "Long Expected Jesus"—brought salvation to Adam's entire race. The second Joshua came with the express purpose to seek and to save the lost. He came to save the prodigals and the profligates; the self-righteous and the unrighteous. The Lord Jesus welcomed the enquiring, astute Nicodemus as well as the tormented demon-possessed Gadarene. He sought out the educated, blasphemous Saul of Tarsus as well as a Samaritan woman who had gone from one marriage to another. Jesus came to save—no matter our past or present. Jesus is able! God is Able to Save Completely The writer says Jesus "is able to save to the uttermost." The Greek phrase translated "to the uttermost" by the English Standard Version and King James Version is rendered as follows by other versions: • "completely" - New International Version, Revised English Bible;
• "absolutely—New English Bible; • "forever" - New American Standard Bible; • "once and forever" - New Living Translation.
What shall we make of this phrase? The question asked by Bible students of this verse is, Should this phrase be understood in a temporal or qualitative sense? In other words, does the writer have in mind salvation as it relates to time or extent? The ESV Study Bible suggests that it can mean either or both: " 'To the uttermost' does not specify whether completeness in time ('forever') or completeness in extent ('completely') is intended; the Greek eis to panteles can mean both. Since a 'complete' salvation would endure for all time, and since a salvation 'for all time' would eventually include every aspect of life, perhaps the author intends readers to hear both senses. “[6] I wholeheartedly agree with the above "perhaps" — only I would be inclined to drop the "perhaps." New Testament scholar Craig Koester similarly agrees with the ESV Study Bible while wording it differently. He notes: "In a temporal sense panteles can mean 'for all time' so that it is synonymous with 'forever' (7:24b), 'always' (7:25b), and 'to all eternity.' In a qualitative sense the word can mean 'complete-ly' so that it refers to 'complete salvation.' “[7] We can then logically conclude that God's plan of salvation, as revealed in his written Word, includes salvation in the sense of completeness as to its extent ("completely"): salvation from sin's guilt and from sin's pollution. It also includes salvation in the sense of completeness as to time ("forever"): an eternal salvation which ultimately results in the deliverance from the very environment of sin. As to salvation in the sense of completeness in extent, note this example (we need go no further than Hebrews): ". . . how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”[8] As to salvation in the sense of completeness in time, note this example: "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, . . .”[9]
Our Permanent Priest One of the reasons the writer of Hebrews gives for Christ's ability to save his people completely and forever is because his continuing, perpetual, and permanent priesthood, in contrast to the mortal priesthood under the Old Covenant: The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save . . ."
The Jewish historian Josephus estimated there were a total of eighty-three high priests who served from Aaron to the destruction of temple worship in 70 A.D.[10] In addition to the high priests, there were thousands of other priests who performed lesser duties. Every one of these priests died; therefore he was prevented from continuing to exercise his priestly duties. Not so with Jesus: "he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever." Think of it: "permanently," "continues forever"! Yes, our High Priest continues forever— Drawing Near Through the Interceding Jesus Who is it that Jesus is able to save completely and forever? — "those who draw near to God through him, . . ." With all due respect — and I mean this sincerely and charitably — to my Roman Catholic friends, the writer does not say that Jesus is able to save completely and forever those who draw near to God through Mary the mother of Jesus, nor through any other of the saintly dead who have gone on to their reward. While it is the privilege for all Christians to intercede for others, it is only one Mediator who sits in the presence of God the Father who makes all other intercessions effective — Jesus the crucified, risen, and ascended Lord and High Priest. In the words of the apostle: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, . . .?”[11] This is no ordinary Mediator and Intercessor. F. F. Bruce, a British New Testament scholar noted: "He is a unique Mediator between God and man because He combines Godhead and manhood perfectly in His own person; in Him God draws near to men and in Him men may draw near to God, with the assurance of constant and immediate access.”[12] What a timely encouragement this would have been for these first century believers when they heard this read to them. Christ died once in order to purchase, provide, and secure our complete salvation: "he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”[13] Christ is able to completely and forever save his people "since he always lives to make intercession for them." Let me say this reverently: The atoning death and resurrection of Christ were insufficient events in and of themselves to sustain our salvation. In the wisdom of God he deemed it necessary for His Son to perform a continuing ministry of intercession for his church in order to ensure complete and final salvation for all true believers. The atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will never be repeated; they were once-for-all salvific events. However, the intercessory ministry of the Lord Jesus as our High Priest will continue until the Church Militant becomes the Church Triumphant: "until all the ransomed church of God are saved to sin no more”[14] — and no doubt even then the Church Triumphant will still be in need of their continuing Intercessor. There is one particular encounter during Jesus' earthly ministry that helps us to understand his current intercessory ministry. We have an account in Luke 22 where Jesus foretold Simon Peter of the disciple's imminent three-fold denial, But with his prediction, Jesus provides Peter with a wonderful word of encouragement: ". . . but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.”[15] Peter would fail — and fail miserably — but his failure would not be final: "I have prayed for you." In commenting on this text, Bruce says, "If it be asked what form His heavenly intercession takes, what better answer can be given than that He still does for his people at the right hand of God what He did for Peter on earth? . . . ." As to the mode of Jesus' intercessions, Bruce cites H. B. Swete's insightful comments: Jesus "is not to be thought as an orante, standing ever before the Father with outstretched arms, like the figures in the mosaics of catacombs, . . . but as a throned Priest-King, asking what He will from a Father who always hears and grants His request.”[16] In the words of one of Christendom's most highly regarded hymnists: He ever lives above
Yes, it is the continuing intercessions of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Christian's high Priest at the Father's right hand, which secures and sustains our salvation. Without the prayers of Jesus, Peter's failure would have been total and final. And without the heavenly prayers of the Lord Jesus, each of us likewise would live defeated lives and finally fail and be lost forever. But — Hallelujah! — "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." While pondering the richness of this truth, is it any wonder William Kirkpatrick ended each line of his refrain with an exclamation point? Saved, saved, saved to the uttermost!
— Soli Deo Gloria —
1. Taken from "Saved to the Uttermost" by William J. Kirkpatrick.
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