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.

Hebrews 7:25

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In the movie, Titanic, the audience hears the story of a young couple meeting and falling in love on the ill-fated ship.   Their backgrounds and upbringing  were very different.  Jack,  a care-free poor young man who made his living drawing.  To him, life was an adventure.   The young woman of the story (Rose)  comes from “new money” wealth and is soon to be married to a wealthy narcissistic man from Pittsburgh.

But, as we all know, the Titanic sank and so did their young love.  Rose survived the cold water and went on to live a long life, just as Jack said she would.  As Rose takes us through the story of their few days on the ship, she ends with this statement,

“He saved me, in every way a person can be saved.”

What did that mean?  How is this statement similar to Paul’s statement in Hebrews 7:25, when he said, that Jesus is “able to save us to the uttermost“?

Salvation is more than most people think or are taught.  Salvation is at the heart of the gospel, but what are people saved from and how can we know we have salvation?

Jesus is able to save us in every way a person can be saved.  It is a salvation that is more than the saving from the death on a sinking ship.  There is more.  He is able to save us after we get to the safety of the shore because the shore has dangers as well.

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The First “P” in salvation is that Jesus saves us from the Penalty of Sin.

It was Jesus’ mission to come to this world and “save” sinners

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…”

1 Timothy 1:15

We are all sinners.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

Not only have we sinned, but we fall short of God’s standards.

There are none born into this world that has not sinned nor meet God’s standards.  The payment for this sin is death.

For the wages of sin is death

Romans 6:23

We did not come into this world by choice.  Our parents made  it for us.  We were given the gift of life,  which is priceless in so many ways.  But, because of the sin of Adam and Eve, our bodies (originally meant to live forever) are now subject to death.  It is a disease possessed by everyone.

…just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

Romans 5:12

As hard as we may try at being good and not sinning, we will always fall short of the “glory of God.”  Because we came into the world with the seed of sin and rebellion and  unrighteous from the start, we can never claim to be righteous on our own.

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one

Romans 3:10

I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

Psalm 51:5

Because of this reality, each one of us is born rebellious, sinful, narcissistic, prideful, and sinful.  Our destiny is to live a short life and then die.  That is our payment.

But, God knows this and he made a way out for the planet in rebellion.  This  plan of salvation was made known to Adam and Eve from the beginning.

“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

Genesis 3:15

These words were spoken directly to the Serpent that deceived Eve.  Read it closely.  This is both symbolic and prophetical.  The first part talks about “enmity” (hostility and hatred)  between Satan and the woman, which we find out later in scripture to be God’s followers or church.  So there will always be ” enmity” between Satan and Jesus’ church. But, also enmity between our carnal nature and the spiritual nature given us when we are reborn.

In the 2nd part of God’s declaration in Genesis 3 is about a “He” (Jesus) that will “bruise” Satan’s head and Satan’s bruise of the heel of the “He” (Jesus)

The injuries to the heel would not lead to eternal death (the cross), but bruises to he head of Satan will lead to his eternal death.  Here is the beginning prophecies of the Messiah and the enmity that would exist between Jesus and His followers and Satan and his followers… even to this day.

“When Satan heard that enmity should exist between himself and the woman, and between his seed and her seed, he knew that his work of depraving human nature would be interrupted; that by some means man would be enabled to resist his power. Yet as the plan of salvation was more fully unfolded, Satan rejoiced with his angels that, having caused man’s fall, he could bring down the Son of God from His exalted position. He declared that his plans had thus far been successful upon the earth, and that when Christ should take upon Himself human nature, He also might be overcome, and thus the redemption of the fallen race might be prevented.”

“Heavenly angels more fully opened to our first parents the plan that had been devised for their salvation. Adam and his companion were assured that notwithstanding their great sin, they were not to be abandoned to the control of Satan. The Son of God had offered to atone, with His own life, for their transgression. A period of probation would be granted them, and through repentance and faith in Christ they might again become the children of God.”

Patriarchs and Prophets Page 66

The plan of salvation was revealed to Adam and Eve. They taught it to their children and hoped that each child born would be the promised one.

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The plan involved a substitutionary death for sins and required faith in the plan.

The sacrificial system began with this new family.  But, God was particular in how and what was sacrificed because in the sacrificial system, it was to teach of the coming Messiah and a life of faith.  Cain did not sacrifice accordingly and the first death in the Bible is recorded.  It was motivated by jealousy and a self-serving attitude.

“…Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Genesis 4: 2-8

The Lord tried to intervene in Cain’s anger and depression by encouraging him to do well.  But, Cain was determined to do bad. Our God is always trying to intervene when we are going down the wrong road.  He draws us to himself and away from the bad we would do.  If only we would only yield to this pull, we would find salvation from doing sin.

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

John 12:32

Moses and the Prophets taught of the coming Messiah and the plan of salvation.  Moses formalized the plan under the direction of God himself.  The years and years of the sacrifices and ceremonies found in the Old Testament were the school master to teach those before the cross about the mission of Jesus so that by believing in Him they could have eternal life and escape the penalty of sin (death)

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3: 24, and 25

Many try to make Galatians about the 10 commandments, but it is clear that Paul is talking about the law that was added after sin came into the world.  It was a sin when Cain slew Abel even though it would be years before God would formalize the 10 traits of His will on stone.  The law that was added because of sin and was appointed by angels whereas the 10 commandments were written by God’s own finger.

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Galatians 3:19

He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone,written with the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18

The lessons taught by the sacrificial system ended when Jesus became its fulfillment.  Jesus’ death did not end the 10 commandments, which is an eternal law.  The  ceremonial and sacrificial law given to teach those on the other side of the cross about Jesus was temporary until type met anti-type.

See the difference in their descriptions and mortality in the following verses.

 First, the sacrificial law is demonstrated to end at the death of Jesus on the cross as recorded by the events of that day.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;

Matthew 27: 51

This veil separated the holy place where the priest minister daily and offered sacrifices and incense before the curtain.  On the other side of the curtain was the Most Holy Place.  Because of the death of Jesus for our sins we have direct access to God without priests or bloody animal sacrifices.  This system met its fulfillment in Jesus and is no longer needed.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4: 15, 16

But as to the 10 commandment laws, the principles found therein did not end when Jesus came and died for He said,

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 17-19

Heaven and earth have not passed and neither has the 10 commandments

Lying, murdering, coveting, adultery, dishonoring parents are just as much as sin today as it was during the days of those before the cross.  It is also still a sin to have other God’s and to take the Lord’s name in vain…to make images and bow down to them…to forget the Sabbath.

John exclaims that sin is defined as breaking the law:

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

1 John 3:4

James tells us that if we break one of the 10, we have sinned.  He goes on to tell us that we shall be judged by this everlasting law that liberates:

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

so speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2: 10-12

Jesus  mission was to save us by paying the debt we owed which was death for transgressing the law of God (defined as sin)

Those in the Old Testament are saved from the Penalty of the law (death) just as we are in the days of the New Testament.  It is by faith in the one who died for our sins.

Those of the Old Testament looked forward by faith to the cross of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins.  We look back to the  cross for the same reason.  Both are saved by grace through faith and not works.

There was never two methods of salvation e.g. one by works and one by faith.  In fact, in Hebrews 11, there is the “Hall of Faith” that hangs the pictures and models of faith. They are all Old Testament people.  Here is an example:

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous…”

Hebrew 11: 4

Did you catch that?  Abel was made righteous by faith! But it came by doing the will of God.  Faith requires action and obedience.  This action “obtains witness” or demonstrates righteousness.

This is what James meant when he said,

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James 2:18

We can never work our way into righteousness, but without obedience/works we do not have a “witness” that we have faith.  It is all talk, if we talk of faith without the works.

James shows us the results of salvation and the relationship of works from a changed heart, while Paul shows us the method of salvation.  It is by faith without works

“For by grace are you saved not of works…”

There is no contradiction only a deeper understanding.

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So in summary, we have all sinned and will die unless we choose to yield to the pull of God’s pulling and knocking.  When we do, we place our faith in Him that He has forgiven us.  Then we pass from the sentence of death to the promise of eternal life.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

John 5;24

When we hear God’s word and believe Jesus to be all He claimed to be, we have experienced the first “P” of salvation.  We are saved from the Penalty of Death.  But, Jesus also saves us from the Power of sin.  This we will discuss next time.

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I leave you with this thought from one of my favorite books called Steps to Christ. If you want a copy, let me know.

“It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Job 14:4; Romans 8:7. Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness.”

Steps to Christ, Page 18