Saved To The Uttermost! - Part Two
This devotional builds upon one I wrote a long time ago, Cities Of Refuge. Please read that first for context.
Hebrews 7:22-28 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our great High Priest. It might be helpful to read all of Hebrews 7 if you need a refresher on what it says, though the passage above is the part I will primarily be focusing on.
Jesus, the Son of God, became a Man so He could die for our sins. As the Bible reveals, He has never sinned; therefore, His one sacrifice on the cross of Calvary paid the complete penalty that was needed to forgive and remove our sins forever. And because He was tempted in all points as we are, but He has never given in to sin, He knows the struggles we face, He knows our weaknesses, and is the person most qualified to help us in our day to day struggles. He is the only person that can give us the grace and spiritual strength we need to conquer the sins and temptations we face in our own lives.
Hebrews 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 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.
One of the Old Testament types is the Cities of Refuge. If an Israelite or a stranger in their land killed another person unintentionally (ie. without premeditation or by accident), he was able to flee to the nearest city of refuge to find sanctuary until the death of the current high priest.
Numbers 35:25-28 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
Once the high priest died, the sin was wiped away and the manslayer was able to return to his own land again, safe from any further retaliation or future harm from the revenger of blood. Almost 2000 years ago, our great High Priest - our Refuge - died upon the cross, and our sins were wiped away by His shed blood, but after three days and nights in the grave, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, never to die again! Not only was our sin debt fully paid for upon the cross, now we are free forever from any spiritual revenger of blood, from the accuser of the brethren, from the guilt and penalty of our own sins, from the wrath of God - Jesus paid it all, and the proof of that fact is that He is now alive forevermore.
Romans 1:3-4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Revelation 1:17-18 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
All that the high priests in the Old Testament pictured was (and is!) fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Now He ever liveth, never to die again; therefore, not only is He the perfect Refuge, He is forever our own High Priest, who is able to intercede for all His spiritual brethren, all those believers who have placed their faith in His finished work of redemption.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines uttermost as: Extreme; being in the furthest, greatest or highest degree; as the uttermost extent or end; the uttermost distress.
Strong's Concordance gives this definition for the word uttermost: from G3956 and G5056; full-ended, i.e. entire (neuter as noun, completion).
Strong's 5056: from a primary τέλλω téllō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination (literally, figuratively or indefinitely), result (immediate, ultimate or prophetic), purpose); specially, an impost or levy (as paid).
Strong's 5055 (a related word) is defined as such: to end, i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt):—accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, go over, pay, perform.
We can see this last word used in John 19:30, in the phrase, "It is finished!"
From the uttermost and to the uttermost - that's from the farthest reaches to the furthest extent. As some have stated in the past: from the guttermost to the uttermost. Not only did He save us and blot out our sins forever, He gave us an inheritance in Him, a relationship with Him, a home in His presence for all eternity. What more could we ask for? To the uttermost!
...He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him...
October 26, 2024
Jerry Bouey
Jerry Bouey
