Save to the Uttermost — Chuck Smith

Well, tonight we continue our journey through Hebrews, and tonight is chapters 7 and 8, so we encourage you to read them over and join with us tonight as we gather to continue our journey through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Salvation to the Uttermost

This morning we'd like to draw your attention to the 7th chapter, verse 25 of the book of Hebrews, where the writer declares, Wherefore, he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us.

This time of the year they have set aside a day for thanksgiving to stop and just to reflect upon the blessings of God, the things that God has done for us, and a day of giving thanks to God. As we look at our world today, surely there are many things that would create despair in our hearts.

We see the hopelessness in the world around us because we are living in a world that is suffering the consequences of its rebellion against God, but as a child of God we look beyond these things and we look to God and to his word, and thus today looking to the Lord and to the word of God there are many things for us to be thankful for.

Here in our text it speaks about our salvation. He is able to save to the uttermost. Thankful for this great salvation that the Lord has provided for us. You say, well doesn't the word salvation sort of imply something that is lost?

Oh yes, man has suffered the loss of joy and peace and blessing that comes from a man knowing and living in fellowship with God. The question is, do you really know God today? Are you living in fellowship with God?

You know there are many people today who are lost and they don't even know it. They don't know what they are missing. The Bible tells us that the eye has not seen, the ear has not heard, and neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those that love him, and it's tragic.

God has prepared such wonderful things for those that love him and people don't even know, they can't even imagine what it is to live in fellowship with God. What it is to serve God. What it is to live in that consciousness of God's presence in their lives.

People are living without any real purpose or meaning for their lives today. But Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly. The things that God has prepared, the more abundant life.

God's Law Protects Rather Than Restrains

You know Satan has lied to people. He has said that God wants to put restraints on you. He's trying to hold you back from things that are exciting and would bring you pleasure. God really isn't fair in putting these kind of limitations and restraints on the things that you should be doing.

It sort of goes back all the way to the Garden of Eden when Satan came into the garden and said to Eve, can you eat all of the trees in the garden? And she said, oh yes, except that tree in the middle of the garden.

God said we shouldn't eat of that because if we do, we would surely die. Satan said, oh, you won't surely die. God knows that the fruit of that tree will give you great wisdom and understanding. You'll know good from evil and you'll be like God.

And that's why he said, don't eat it. He's trying to protect his territory. He's trying to hold you back from something that is really good because he knows that if you eat of it, you'll be like God. The truth of the matter is that God knew that within the fruit of that tree, there was a deadly bacteria that would cause a breakdown and the mutating of the body cells so that the body would not continue to just replenish itself, but there would become the deterioration of that regeneration process and slowly you would die.

And so God forbid them to eat of that fruit knowing that it had that deadly bacteria in it. The Bible tells us that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. And God in his infinite wisdom has forbidden things that he knows are deadly, things that are harmful, things that will bring you pain, things that will bring you suffering, things that will cause you great emotional distress.

And so God has forbidden us to do those things. It isn't that he's trying to hold you back from something that is beneficial. He's wanting to keep you from something that is detrimental to you. And so in his wisdom, he has put in these prohibitions for your benefit and for your good.

Tell me one good thing has God prohibited you from doing? If it is really good for you, if it is really beneficial for you, God does not prohibit it. He's only prohibited those things that can bring hurt and pain and suffering and death.

God has forbidden multiple sexual partners. When he did that, he knew that when he designed our body, he designed a marvelous immunal system so that if our body takes on a foreign substance, that the body will build up an immunity to that, to where we can tolerate it.

And thus, many of the diseases, bacteria and all that you come in contact with, you get sick for a while, but the body builds up an immune system for it so that when you get that same bug again, you're immune to its effects upon your body now.

And God knew that he designed his body to build this immune system against foreign substances that come into the body. But when too many foreign substances enter the body in a period of time, the body's immune system breaks down.

And this breakdown of the immune system is called autoimmune system. When it breaks down, it's called autoimmune deficiency, or known by its acronym AIDS. The body immune system is just broken down. It can't handle all of the foreign substances that are being introduced into the body.

And God knew that. And that's why he prohibited that. If it's good for you, if it will enhance your life, it will cause you to have a better relationship with others and bring to you lasting joy and peace, God says, go for it, do it.

And thus, the law of the Lord is perfect, if you really look at it. Paul wrote to the Philippians, finally, brethren, if it is true, if it is honest, if it is fair, if it is pure, if it is lovely, if it has a good reputation, if it is virtuous, if it leads you to praise, then think on these things.

Sin, Death, and the Good News of Christ

But we are lost because of trespasses and sins. And the bad news is that we have all sinned. We've all come short of the glory of God. There is none that is righteous, no, not one. And the wages of sin is death.

And thus, we are all under the sentence of death because we have all sinned. And of course, the cemeteries are filled with mute evidence of the fact that sin brings death. But the good news is that Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost.

Paul in 1 Timothy writes, this is a true saying, it's worthy of everyone accepting it, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And we're thankful that Jesus came and is able to save to the uttermost.

What is meant saved to the uttermost? Billy Sunday was a famous evangelist of yesteryear. Before he was saved, he was a falling down drunk. And when he accepted Christ, his life was transformed. He became this famous evangelist, especially through the middle part of America, held these wonderful campaigns and many people came to Christ through his evangelism and his efforts.

And he used to translate saved to the gutter most, because he said the Lord took him out of the gutter and put him in the pulpit. And thus he is able to save to the gutter most, all who will come into God by him.

This is a true saying, no man is beyond the power of God to save. Paul wrote to the Philippians being confident of this thing, that he is able, who has begun a good work in you, to perform it to the day of Jesus Christ.

But to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, I am the least of the apostles. I'm not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church. Writing to Timothy, he said, this is a faithful saying, Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the chief.

You might think that you're beyond redemption, you're beyond salvation, that your sin and what you have done is so terrible that God cannot forgive wrong. He's able to save to the uttermost. But in saving to the uttermost, it is more than just saving the worst of men.

But it is saving you completely, the uttermost being complete. He that has begun a good work in you will perform it to the day of Jesus Christ. Or as we read in Hebrews chapter 12, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.

What he has begun in you, he will complete. He will save to the uttermost. I'm thankful that whatever the Lord has started, he will always finish. And thus he is able to save to the uttermost all who will come unto God by him.

Salvation Through Christ Alone

Now we are living in a tragic day in which men are seeking to broaden the gate that leads to eternal life. Even within the church, we are hearing voices that suggest that there may be other approaches to God through other religions, through other means, that there are many doors and all roads lead to God.

But it is Jesus who said, straight is the gate, narrow is the way that leads to eternal life, and few there are that find it. But broad is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go into that gate.

Jesus said, no man can come to the Father but by me. The Bible says that there is only one God and one mediator between God and man, and that is the man Christ Jesus. And the cross of Jesus Christ offends people because the cross of Jesus Christ declares to us that there is only one way by which our sins can be forgiven and we can be accepted by God, and that is through the cross.

You remember that when Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, the night in which he was betrayed, the night before he was hanging on the cross the following morning, that he was praying and being in great agony, his sweat turned, as it were, great drops of blood falling to the ground as he prayed, Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not what I will, thy will be done.

If it is possible, if what is possible? If it is possible that man's sins can be forgiven, that man can be cleansed from his sin, that man can be redeemed from his sinful state, let this cup pass from me.

What is the cup? It's the cross. It's his death upon the cross. And Jesus is praying to the Father if there is another way by which man can be saved, if man can be saved by his good works, if man can be saved by being religious, if a man can be saved by just being good, then let this cup pass from me.

And the very fact that Jesus went to the cross declares that there is no other way by which a man can be saved. There is no other way by which you can be redeemed from your sinful state. There is no other way that you can come to the Father, but by Jesus Christ.

He is able to save to the uttermost all who will come to God by him. The cross tells us there's no other way. But the cross becomes an offense to people, and the Bible speaks about the offense of the cross.

And even in some churches today, they have removed from the hymnal all of the songs concerning the cross of Jesus, or all of the songs that deal with the blood of Jesus. And they say, well, the cross offends too many people, or talking about the blood of Jesus, that sort of offends people.

And so, we've taken out such hymns as, What Can Wash Away My Sins, Nothing But the Blood of Jesus, because that seems narrow, and that seems rather bigoted. And so, we've removed those from our hymnal.

Christ's Intercession for Believers

We don't sing those bloody songs anymore, seeing, he said, that he ever lives, speaking of Jesus, to make intercession for us. God is able to save to the uttermost all who will come to God by Jesus, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us.

Paul writing to the Romans chapter 8, asks the question, who is he that condemneth? And then he answers his question by declaring, not Jesus, he died, yea, rather is risen again, and is at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us.

That's what the book of Hebrews tells us here, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for us. Interceding, that's praying for us. You know, to me, it's a great comfort to have the knowledge that Jesus is praying for me.

I'm very confident in the prayers of Jesus. You know, Jesus said to Peter, Peter, Simon, Satan has desired you that he might have you. He wants to sift you like wheat, but I've prayed for you. Oh, think of what that would mean, for Jesus to say, I've prayed for you.

How wonderful it is to know that he is praying for us. In John chapter 17, and this afternoon, I want you to read John 17. Therein is the prayer of Jesus for you. So do read that over this afternoon. The 17th chapter of John, that you might know what Jesus has prayed for you.

Because it will give you great blessings to know that he is praying for you, and know what he is praying for you. In Isaiah, he prophesied concerning Jesus. He said he has poured out his soul unto death.

He was numbered with the transgressors, and he bore the sin of many. And he made intercession for the transgressors. You remember while he was hanging on the cross, he prayed, Father, forgive them. They know not what they do, praying for the transgressors, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us.

In John's gospel, he speaks of Jesus, not just as an intercessor, but also as an advocate. And I'm so thankful that I have Jesus as my advocate. He's my attorney. And I'm thrilled that he is my advocate, because he has never lost a case.

And so, when I commit my case to him to defend me, he's never lost one yet. I have confidence, and I am thankful to have him as my advocate. You can represent yourself before God if you please, or you can ask Jesus to be your advocate, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for us.

At this Thanksgiving season, I'm so thankful that I've been saved to the uttermost. I have that confidence that that which he has begun in me, he's going to complete and finish. I'm thankful that I have an advocate with the Father, and that he intercedes on my behalf.

And I'm confident that the Father hears his prayers and will surely answer them. And in John 17, I'm going to leave out a lot of the details, but these are the things that he is praying for you that you might like to know.

He said, I pray for those who you have given me. Holy Father, keep them through your power, those that you have given me. Keep them, Lord. Let them be one as we are one. Let them have my fullness of joy.

Keep them from evil. Set them apart from the world through your truth. Let them be one as you are in me, and I am in them, that they may be one in us, Father. Father, I will also that those whom you have given me will be with me where I am, that they might behold my glory which you gave to me, that the love that you have given to me may be in them, and I in them.

What a beautiful prayer. Read it over. Meditate on it this afternoon. A good cause for thanksgiving when you realize that Jesus is ever living to make intercession for you, and to know what he is asking the Father for you.

The Invitation to Come to Christ

How blessed we are that we have such salvation through Jesus Christ, saving to the uttermost all who will come to God by him. He has not rejected anyone yet. No matter how deep and ugly and horrible your sin, he has not rejected any.

He said, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest. Promise this to you, if you will just come to me, I will in no wise cast you out. And so you don't need to fear that, oh, he's going to reject me.

Friends have rejected me because of what I've done. And that fear of rejection keeps many people from coming. But you don't have to have that fear. When you come to Jesus, he knows all about you. He knows what you've done.

He died for you, that he might be able to forgive you of those things. And if you will just but come to him, you can know his wonderful love and forgiveness today. And as a result, go your way with Thanksgiving filling your heart.

And this Thanksgiving Day will be a special day because you've come to know the one who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you could ask or think. He is able to redeem you from your sin.

If you'll just but come. Father, thank you for the open door. Thank you for the invitation. Thank you for such a Savior who is praying for us and who is representing us there before your throne. Thank you, Father, for your son and for his gift of eternal life that we receive today.

The forgiveness of sins which we receive today. That strength and power over sin which we receive today. The new life of fellowship with you that we receive today as we receive the son. For he who has the son has life.

Thank you, Lord, for that super life. That abundant life that is ours in Jesus Christ. May others come to know the joy, the peace, the blessings of having Jesus as their advocate. Having Jesus interceding for them.

Thank you, Father, in Jesus' name, amen. Shall we stand? The pastors are down here at the front to pray for you today. If you have not yet accepted Jesus, time has come. The world is in a mess. You need the Lord.

You need the Lord to survive. So we would encourage you to come on down to the front and talk to the pastors that are here. Just ask them to pray for you. They'll be happy to. It could be that you're going through financial problems this Thanksgiving.

And maybe even you're sort of dreading the day because you don't even have the money to buy the turkey and that's just upsetting you. Well, we can take care of that. If you don't have money for your turkey, see Brian Broderson, the one who led the responsive reading.

The church would like to buy you a turkey for your turkey dinner this Thanksgiving. If you're not going to come here and you need a turkey, let us know. We'd be happy. But the Lord will provide much more than that.

I mean, all we can give you is a turkey, but He can give you eternal life. And so whatever your need, though, come on down. These men are here to pray for you today. And the Lord told us if we will draw near to Him, He'll draw near to us.

And so it's a step to draw near to Him. And you can be assured, He'll in turn draw near to you. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His face, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.