HE IS ABLE TO SAVE FOREVER
Hebrews 7:25

By Jon Quinn

     What number do you dial in case of an emergency? "911" is the 
number that you would call in many communities across the United 
States. We have witnessed countless dramatizations of rescues on TV 
which were carried out because of a series of actions which began 
with a phone call. It is thrilling to watch a successful rescue from a 
life-threatening situation. Several times I have shed a tear or two 
upon seeing the immense gratitude of parents when it had been their 
child who had been saved. I can identify with that.

      How I wish that more people would place more importance on 
their children's souls, as well as their own souls, with more care 
given in saving them and in keeping them saved. We would not think 
too highly of a parent who, upon having their child rescued from a 
raging, swollen river, allowed the child to return to the river's edge 
to play.

     The most horrible experience anyone will ever endure is that of 
leaving this world unprepared to meet God. We will sink and die in 
sin unless we are rescued. Jesus said that it would be "better" for us 
to drown in water than to drown in sin and be lost; and that it would 
be "better" to lose a hand or foot or eye than to have these things 
and be lost forever (Mark 9:42-48). Not many view life in that 
perspective today. Many would say that to believe such a thing is 
crazy. But this is what Jesus said, and He has seen the whole picture. 
He knows what eternity is like. He knows better than us the eternal 
consequences of sin. He knows how important it is that we be saved 
from a fate that truly is "worse than death."

     Have you been rescued? Have you seen your loved ones pulled 
from the flames by Jesus? Are they safe? If so, shed a tear of joy and 
thank God that He has responded to our need in such a wonderful 
way. Make sure you do what you can in word and action to ensure 
that your loved ones stay safe in His care.

     If your loved ones are still in need of rescue, let them know of the 
danger and that there is one who is willing to save them. He is able 
to do for them what no other can do. He is willing and able to save 
them forever!

     "Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to 
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for 
them." (Hebrews 7:25).

HE IS ABLE

     "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all 
we ask or think, according to the power that is at work within us, to 
Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations 
forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20,21). Every child of God 
needs to possess a strong confidence in Jesus' ability. It is so pathetic 
to see members of His body filled with doubts; always struggling but 
never growing. Its as if Jesus' hand is extended to help them, but 
they insist on floundering about in the water until they drown.

     The Greek word translated "able" in our text is "dunatai." This 
means to have the power to do something. It is the same word used 
by the father of the possessed boy who came to Jesus and begged 
"But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" Jesus 
responded, "If you can!' All things are possible to him who believes." 
The boys father replied, "I do believe; help my unbelief."  (Mark 
9:19-27).

    Jesus is able to save us forever. He is able to make us into what we 
ought to be. To sit back in unbelief and ignore His strength is 
foolishness. If we fail to enter heaven, it will be because of our own 
foolishness. Do you believe that Jesus is able? Then live like it!

TO SAVE FOREVER

     "But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of 
those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39). 
The Greek word for "forever" is "panteles" and means "complete, 
perfect, absolute." In the context, the absolute nature of the salvation 
has to do with time. It is forever.

    Once we enter into heaven, we will have been rescued forever. 
The dangers, all of them, will be over. The struggles we have 
endured will be a thing of the past. The future will be guaranteed. 
"...but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never 
thirst; but the water I shall give him shall become in him a well of 
water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:14).

THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR TO GOD THROUGH HIM

     "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from 
you. Draw near unto God and He will draw near unto you. Cleanse 
your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-
minded." (James 4:7,8).  Drawing near to God requires submission 
unto Him as well as resisting the devil. It involves turning from sin 
and becoming focused on our first priority. To continue in sin will 
cause us to be lost; but please notice that to allow things of this world 
to detract us from the spiritual will do the same. If we are trying to 
serve two masters we will fail. Jesus said we cannot serve both God 
and mammon. Jesus knows we cannot be "double-minded." Too many 
members of the church are trying to serve both.

     The Hebrew writer uses the Greek word "prosercomai"    which 
means "to approach." We can walk with God as we have our access 
unto Him through Jesus. He is our only mediator and approaching 
God is impossible apart from Him (John 14:6; I Timothy 2:5). 
Certainly it is wise to remove those obstacles from our lives which 
interfere with our walk with God.

HE ALWAYS LIVES

   "...Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; 
and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the 
keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:17b-18).  Our hope lives 
because Jesus lives. The same power by which Jesus arose from the 
grave is available for us.  The Scriptures state; "...who was declared to 
be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, 
according to the spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 
1:4). His resurrection gives hope to all those who share in His 
resurrection. This is something in which you are to share right now.

     Of course, there is the physical resurrection of the future for 
which we must wait; but there is also a spiritual resurrection from 
spiritual death unto spiritual life. The Scriptures explain that when 
we are led by our faith to be baptized into Christ's death that we 
become united with Him; "Therefore, we have been buried with Him 
through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from 
the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in 
newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the 
likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His 
resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, 
that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no 
longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died has been freed from sin." 
(Romans 6:4-7).

     Jesus is able to save forever those who draw near to God because 
He is alive. When we are raised with Him from baptism, we are to 
walk in a new way. The Bible simply does not talk about Jesus being 
the Savior of those who continue in sin, unrepentant and will not 
obey Him (Hebrews 5:9; 10:26-31).

TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM

     "...who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, 
rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also 
intercedes for us." (Romans 8:34). As Christians, we will find 
ourselves in the minority when it comes to our perspectives on life, 
morality and righteousness. Some will mock and ridicule. There will 
be false charges leveled (see to it that charges of evil against are not 
true - I Peter 4:12-16).  Never forget that our intercessor will outlast 
our detractors. He always lives to make intercession for us. He will 
come again.

     There has been no greater rescue than that which was 
undertaken to save us from our sins. Jesus is our redeemer. It was 
He who gave no thought to His own safety and comfort, but 
responded to bring hope to the hopeless. How shall we then react to 
His mercy?

Contact the writer:
JWQuinn@AOL

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