He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him. (Hebrews 7:25 ESV)
There are some single words in sacred Scripture that bring eternal encouragement beyond what can be expressed in several sentences. “Uttermost” is certainly one of those words. To know that Jesus is able to save to the uttermost is to know everything needed in both this life and the next. Uttermost is a word of cosmic comfort, consolation, and challenge for every child of God . . . and that includes you and me today.
The great hymn writer John Newton (best known for “Amazing Grace”) once wrote, “Take an estimate of all our sins, all our temptations, all our difficulties, all our fears, and all our backslidings of every kind, still the word ‘uttermost’ goes beyond them all.” To put this beautiful phrase in my simplistic terms: You simply cannot out-sin your Savior. Every sin — past, present, and those still to come — have been nailed to the cross, washed in the precious blood of Jesus, and cast away from us as far as the east is from the west. How unshakable is the power of Jesus, who is able to save to the uttermost.
To be saved to the uttermost is to be saved not only from the penalty and the power of sin, but from its pleasure too. And this only begins to plumb the depths of our salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ! You see, the divine power that saves us is the same power that sanctifies us. Grace does not save us and then leave us to stumble through the rest of life in our own feeble strength. Sin no longer reigns, but it still remains, and we need our ever-present Savior to strengthen us in our faith and grow us up to maturity.
To know that we have been saved to the uttermost is to know we have be set free from the chains of bondage to sin, Satan, and death. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us, which means we have the power to say “No!” to the things we ought to say No to and “Yes!” to the things we ought to say Yes to.
Jesus is able to save to the uttermost, and He has given us everything we need to live a life that is pleasing and acceptable in His sight. When we mess things up, as we inevitably will, over and over again, let the word uttermost remind you that you have an unshakable Savior who forgives you to the uttermost and loves you to the uttermost. May that truth comfort us and challenge us to live a life for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom, regardless of the cost or circumstance.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 