Tag: certainty

Saved to the Uttermost

Our position as God’s children has been given to us as a gift, regardless of our lacking deservedness. So where we were once enslaved we are free, where we were in danger we are now safe, where we were dead in our trespasses we have been healed, where we were in decay from sin we have been kept and where we were broken we are now whole again.

 Jesus is our guarantee (Hebrews 7:22) and He abides forever (Hebrews 7:24). ​​ Therefore, we read in​​ Hebrews 7:25, “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”.

 Notice the words forever and always in the above scripture! ​​ When needing encouragement, there is no better place to look than in the truth of God’s word. ​​ We often do not place enough weight on the finality of our salvation. ​​ It is difficult to imagine the completeness of our forgiveness when we continue to fall short. ​​ We naturally live on a conditional basis. ​​ If someone is kind to us then we are kind to them; if we​​ are given a smile then we are approved, if we are helped then we feel loved and if someone calls then we are remembered. ​​ We could go on and on with this list.

 We cannot treat our relationship with Christ the same as any earthly relationship. ​​ Although our thinking falters, His is perfect. ​​ Our actions are lacking, God’s love is complete and unconditional. ​​ Why is this important to embrace? ​​ Because regardless of how we feel or what we have done, His love for us remains the same. ​​ Those He has chosen to be His children are His children, never disowned. ​​ Yes, we will always be undeserving if resting upon our own abilities, but in Christ we are 100% justified. ​​ God’s love is fully complete based on His perfect holiness. ​​ There is nothing we add, there is nothing needed. ​​ Hebrews 7:25 says, “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him”. ​​ 

 To be saved means we​​ have been​​ delivered, we​​ are​​ protected, we​​ are​​ healed, we​​ are​​ preserved, and we​​ are​​ made whole. ​​ There is no question. ​​ Our position as God’s children has been given to us as a gift, regardless of our lacking deservedness. ​​ So where we were once enslaved we are free, where we were in danger we are now safe, where we were dead in our trespasses we have been healed, where we were in decay from sin we have been kept and where we were broken we are now whole again. ​​ This is marvelous! ​​ There truly are no words to express the magnitude of Christ’s gift to us.

 We cannot miss the time extension of salvation. ​​ Forever. ​​ This literally means full-ended or entire – to the uttermost. ​​ We don’t lose God’s gift, it does not end when we fail or until the next time we falter. ​​ Salvation is given beyond the most extreme human understanding of time. ​​ Never to run out. ​​ Never to be used up. ​​ We are completely saved from the guilt, the power and the eternal consequences of sin.

 But, you say, there must be something expected to obtain this marvelous gift! ​​ There is no condition upon God’s employ of it but there is an action of our will, a response to His​​ call. ​​ Salvation is for “those who draw near to God through Him [Christ]”. ​​ Have we come near the throne of Jesus? ​​ Do we worship Him? ​​ Are we in agreement with our need of His salvation? Do we live for Him? ​​ The challenge is to take these questions a step​​ further.​​ How have I come near the throne of Jesus? ​​ How do I worship Him? How are these applications seen in my life? ​​​​ 

 The answer to the first set of questions are either yes or no. ​​ Jesus did not die for our convenience, just to be sought when we are desperate. ​​ He committed His life for ours, continuously extending grace. “He is able to save, from the power, guilt, nature, and punishment of sin, to the uttermost, to all intents, degrees, and purposes; and always, and in and through all times, places and circumstances” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary).​​ 

 We are saved, we are safe, and we are blessed, because of Christ. ​​ At all times and in all circumstances, we can be encouraged and we are to be joy-filled. ​​ Romans 5:9-11 says, “Much more then, having now been​​ justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath [of God] through Him.​​ For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be​​ saved by His life.​​ And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

 Be encouraged, my friend! ​​ If you have responded to Christ’s call, you are saved to the uttermost. ​​ There is incredible joy in this truth no matter what circumstances may surround you. ​​ The world may seem scary and man’s message is full of uncertainty and sinful vices, but in this scary world God’s truth gives peace and erases doubt. ​​ His power overcomes the control of a sinful nature. God’s hand is over all things. ​​ Nothing is surprising to Him and He is certainly big enough to handle all concerns, problems and actions of man. ​​ And through all things, He holds His children, He will not lose them nor forsake them. ​​ His love for you has no end and no limits.

 Focus Heavenward with me to the praise of His name alone, Sharyn.

Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?​​ He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also​​ with Him freely give us all things? 

 

Salvation Hope

Ps 119:166-168 I hope for Thy salvation, O LORD, and do Thy commandments.167 My soul keeps Thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. 168 I keep Thy precepts and Thy testimonies, for all my ways are before Thee.

Look back a few verses in Psalm 119.  David loves God’s word (v.163); this leads him to praise God (v.164); which produces peace through difficulties and no worries that he might stumble (v.165).  There is hope and strength in God to keep going in a way that glorifies Him!

What is hope?  It is the expectation that something will happen.  Hope in the world is based on chance, like wishing for something.  We can be optimistic and full of hope that something will turn out well but there are no guarantees.  Hope in the biblical sense is absolute when placed in the hands of God.  Hope is certain confidence in God!

How do we get hope?  By faith – believing that God is who He says He is and will do what He claims.  True faith is trusting in God’s plan alone for the future.  Years ago I had a sign in my kitchen that said, “I placed all my eggs in one basket and gave the basket to God”.  This is contrary to the world in which diversity is encouraged.  Diversity is the idea that if one area fails you haven’t lost everything, there is still a chance for success in other areas.

The world doesn’t know God!  God will not fail.  Our best investment for our future is to place all our hope in God’s plan.  This is the hope our Psalmist is speaking of in Psalm 119:166.

What does our Psalmist hope for?  Salvation.  God’s deliverance, His aid, His victory, His prosperity.  In other words, all things that are good and for my welfare come from God.  We can have hope for now – that God will continually guide and help us – and for the future of our salvation.

Re 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

Ps 130:5-7  I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. 6 My soul [waits] for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; [Indeed, more than] the watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption.

What action is taken while hope is deferred?  Obedience. The Psalmist says he follows God’s commandments.

Matthew Poole’s Commentary says, “Thus performing the condition which thou hast required, I justly and confidently hope for thy mercy promised”.

Ps 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.

Ps 24:3-5 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

First, we must have faith.  Then we have certain hope of God’s salvation as we obey His commands.  The gift of God’s salvation produces a desire to please Him and follow His words.  As we consistently seek to do God’s will, we are assured of our relationship with Him – obedience is evidence of our certain salvation.

“This is the true posture in which all the servants of God should desire to be found — hoping in his mercy, and doing his commands. How easy were it to demonstrate the connection between the mental feeling here recognized, and the obedience with which it is here associated! It is the hope of salvation which is the great and pervading motive to holiness, and it is the consciousness of obedience to the will of God which strengthens our hope of interest in the divine mercy.” —John Morison, in The Treasury of David

Where is your hope?  Are you absolutely certain of your salvation in Christ?  Are you living in obedience to His commands?

Moving on to the next verse in our group, we are caused to look carefully at the description the Psalmist uses of himself in keeping God’s commands.

Ps 119:167 My soul keeps Thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.

My soul – that very part of us that makes us a being; our body, our heart, and our mind.

In other words, my spirit is in accordance with God’s plan.  My desire lines up with God’s commands.  If I obey in action but my thoughts and words are not supportive, I am a hypocrite.  If I think right without taking action, I have not witnessed for God.  If I use the words that sound pleasing to God but have no evidence in my life, my words are empty.

Picture the ingredients to make brownies on the kitchen counter.  All items needed to make something gooey and delicious are available in separate bowls ready to work together.  If I leave something out while mixing, the brownies will not be as yummy as they could be.  Each part needs to be included to make the whole recipe complete.  Also recognize that unless I make some effort to use the ingredients, they will remain on the counter and not be transformed.

When David says his soul keeps God’s testimonies, he is saying in effect that he is completely saturated in his desire to obey God.  There is nothing he is holding back, and nothing he has kept out.  He is immersed in God’s love.

Consider for a moment all the wonderful pleasures God has allowed in your life.  Family, friends, a place to live, activities, involvement, and on and on.  These blessings are for us to enjoy, however none of these things is more important than obeying God’s word. Is obedience to His commands first in your life?

Joh 15:9-11 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full.

We keep God’s testimonies because we love them!  In Psalm 119:167, David says he loves God’s testimonies exceedingly.  Our failures and imperfections are not the measure of our love for God.  It is our soul, our desire to follow after all His commands, and our sincere efforts to live a life pleasing to Him in obedience.

“Let not our consciousness of daily failures make us shrink from this strong expression of confidence. It is alleged as an evidence of grace, not as a claim of merit, and therefore the most humble believer need not hesitate to adopt it as the expression of Christian sincerity before God. David aspired to no higher character than that of a poor sinner: but he was conscious of spirituality of obedience, “exceeding love” to the divine word, and an habitual walk under the eye of his God — the evidences of a heart (often mentioned in the Old Testament)” perfect with him.” —Charles Bridges, in The Treasury of David

In Psalm 119:167 we read that David loves God’s testimonies exceedingly.  Think of the words intense, vehement and diligent.  These three words are included in the Hebrew adjective describing this word.  Consider something or someone that you love with such strength and energy that you know your love will persevere regardless of difficulties.  This is the love described for us that David has toward God’s testimonies.  His love for God is extreme and it shows in his life.  What consideration can we make for ourselves from this example?

Moving on the Psalm 119:168, we read:

Ps 119:168 I keep Thy precepts and Thy testimonies, for all my ways are before Thee.

We have looked closely at the word keep several times beforehand in our study of Psalm 119.  The definition of keep means to protect.  The picture given is a hedge with thorns preserving what is valuable.  We are to take utmost care to preserve God’s truth in its entirety.  Our understanding of God’s commands and our representation of God’s commands speak of our carefulness to uphold the Word.

As we have moved through this section of scripture, we have seen the Psalmists confidence in God’s Word, his obedience toward God’s Word and now his careful attention to follow God’s Word.  When you consider paying careful attention to something, it requires intent study, effort, and understanding.  This certainly would work to David’s benefit but more important is his love for God and desire to honor Him.

“For all my ways are before Thee”.  God sees all that we do and understands our motivation.  God is omniscient. Every area of our life is known by Him.  We need to pay attention that each decision we make, and every word we say or think, is in accordance with honoring God.

Picture a closet in your home.  The areas we see may look organized and picked up.  What about the corners, the areas way in the back recesses where things get stashed or are rarely used?  It is easier to address what is directly in front of us.  But those things that are hidden we can readily ignore.  God sees all.  Is it time for a thorough closet cleaning?

Pr 5:21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths.

Ps 139:3 Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways.

Jer 23:24 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

God sees our heart.  Do we live accordingly?  Does the certainty of our salvation cause us to rejoice in doing all that God commands?  Does our love for God lead us to obey His Word?  Does our understanding of God’s omniscience motivate us to carefully honor Him in all things?

Be encouraged!  God knows we are unable to live effectively for Him on our own.  As we call upon His strength and grace, we are able to honor Him with our lives.

2Th 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.