Saved to the Uttermost
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[a] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. -Hebrews 7:25-27
We have much to be thankful for as believers in Christ. As we looked at this text last week in our men’s and women’s bible studies, chapter 7 of Hebrews points to Jesus as our Great High Priest. The previous verses compare the priests under the old covenant to Jesus, our perfect high priest under a better covenant - a covenant that can save to the uttermost.
Uttermost in the Greek means “completely.” He completely saves us from our sin - past, present, and future. There is nothing we could do to lose this gift of salvation freely given to us, since there is nothing we have done to earn it. Verse 25 says this salvation is for those who draw near to God “through him” - that is, Jesus (John 14:6). We can only come to the Father through the Son.
The Son loves us so much that he goes before the Father on our behalf. Can you imagine that? Jesus is praying for us. If we could hear Jesus in the next room praying for us, would we ever worry about anything? Consider this - the creator of the universe cares about us and is interceding for us (Romans 8:34). What comfort that brings!
He can do that for us because he is everything we are not. Verse 26 states that he is “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” He is worthy! We have a great high priest who is perfect in every way, yet he became sin for us - so that “once for all” God’s wrath for our sin would be satisfied (2 Cor. 5:21).
This is the gospel. Because of Jesus’s death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave, God’s wrath was satisfied, and we are set free from our sin. Christian brothers and sisters, we have much reason to rejoice! Let’s share this good news with others - that they too may be saved to the uttermost.
-Andrea Shustella (Covenant Member)