Saving Souls
Isn’ Hit Or Miss
With Jesus
So far we’ve described several saviors of the human variety and established that the efforts of Jesus does not repeat or conflict with those of all the human saviors. Jesus might help them but He doesn’t take over. We’ve also mentioned the one thing Jesus said He would do: save souls, which no one else can do.
Now we need to talk about how effective His work is compared to that of humans.
- Jesus saves your soul only once
If a lifeguard saves you from drowning on one occasion, there is no guarantee he or she won’t have to do it again.
If you are pulled from burning highway wreckage on one occasion, you can’t be sure you won’t need that help a second or more times in the future.
And in any case, you will eventually die anyway. The salvation human saviors offer is short lived.
Jesus, however, promises to save you now, immediately, and keep you saved forever. His words:
Verily, verily I say unto you, the person that hears my word and believes on Him that sent me has (present tense) everlasting life and will not come into condemnation (ever) but is past from death unto life. John 5:24
Jesus used several positives to make His point.
- Positive 1: “has” – present tense, immediate result.
- Positive 2: “everlasting life” – implies the life never ends.
- Positive 3: “will not come into condemnation” – the result cannot be reversed.
- Positive 4: “is past” – implies complete resolution.
- Positive 5: “from death unto life” – final, nonreversible outcome.
And that’s not all. Paul said:
. . . Nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, 39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:38-39
In other words, once saved always saved. Sounds good to me. I’m happy about that.
- Jesus is readily available
He is even referred to as a “personal Savior.”
Not every lifeguard or paramedic can reach you in time. Sometimes they aren’t aware you need help. Lifeguards and paramedics will try to help anyone within reason but they claim to be no one personal savior. That is never the case with Jesus.
Paul made the point that God is not far from any person (Acts 17:27) and Has made it possible for everyone to find Him. And once we do find Him Jesus said:
I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 15:5
He was making a promise not being sentimental. He is letting us know that even though He won’t do everything for us, He is close by and intends to stay that way. Jesus isn’t going anywhere.
He won’t get frustrated and give up when you fail. He won’t get His feelings hurt and walk away when you disregard His good wisdom.
He is our chief encourager. No one understands us, accepts us or wants us to succeed more than Jesus and it is His example that helps us understand what it means to be a friend.
A friend isn’t someone who finds you compatible. A friend is someone who stays by your side even when you aren’t so agreeable. You can’t be wrong enough to drive a friend away. They love you because they love you not because you happen to be comfortable or safe.
Logistics is never a problem for Him. You don’t find Jesus, you recognize Him.
Next post: Jesus is willing to save all.
THINK!AboutIt
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