GOD'S standard of His salvation is perfect, and perfect not according to human thoughts, but according to God's thoughts. Man proposes a salvation which depends in part or wholly upon himself, God brings to man a salvation absolutely of His own plan and work.
"I am saved today"
was the reply of a man, whom we believe is a Christian, to the enquiry about his trust in Christ. “But why do you say today?" he was asked, and his answer was, “Because I do not know what may happen tomorrow." Such a salvation as secures the soul for today, and leaves out the future is imperfect. Our Savior "is the same yesterday, today, and for ever," and if our friend had had better thoughts of Jesus the Savior he would not have replied as he did. He told us he did not know what might be the case on the morrow, as he might fall or do something which should forfeit his salvation. But " by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9).)
We are taught by God that Salvation is eternal.
If we had to hold it or maintain it, after we received it, it would not be everlasting, for we should assuredly forfeit it. But it is eternal, because it is linked with its divine Author. The Lord Jesus having died for our sins, and being risen again, is perfect as Savior. He has finished the work God gave Him to do, and God has raised Him from the dead. Hence Jesus is perfect as the Savior whose work is done, and He is the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him (Heb. 5:99And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9)).
Mark this. It is necessary that you obey Him. Those Jews in ancient days, who brought their daily sacrifices to the temple, and sought in their priests mediators between God and man, were not obeying Jesus. They were obeying the voice of their church, as we should express it. True " they had a zeal of God," but "being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, they had not submitted to the righteousness of God " (see Rom. 10:1-41Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:1‑4)). They left out, indeed they rejected Jesus the Savior. They did not obey Him.
The salvation God brings to man is His own, and it is worthy of Himself. It is of God, but for man. It is termed the "salvation of God." (Acts 18:2828For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:28).) Never surrender this truth Salvation is divine.
Jesus the Son of God and man is the Savior, and none less than He can save. To attach salvation to saints and angels is profanity. The redeemed from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” ascribe “salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9, 109After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9‑10)).
The blessed Mary, the mother of Jesus, says, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in GOD MY SAVIOUR."
(Luke 1:46, 4746And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:46‑47).) The holy apostle Peter declares of the Name of Jesus, " Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NONE OTHER NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved " (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)), and the apostle Paul speaks in like manner, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15).)
The divine Savior came into the world to save sinners; there is none other Savior but He; the holy and the true exalt Him as Savior; and in glory the saints ascribe salvation to God, and to the Lamb. In no sense ' is salvation of man; in every sense it is for man.
God Himself describes in His word His salvation as great salvation.
It would seem that some men conceived of it as a small salvation, and one requiring the addition of their efforts to render it finally available. We have lived to see the revival of pilgrimages from our own land, and of a system, of penances and pains, which sufferings are supposed to assist in salvation. When a lifeboat breasts the storm, the people on shore do not attempt to contribute to the salvation it goes forth to accomplish, while the people on the wreck are only too grateful to be saved.
In the salvation effected by the Lord Jesus, God came forth and witnessed by signs and wonders, and miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost (Heb. 2:44God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:4)), to its glory and its greatness. The sick were healed, the lepers cleansed, the dead raised, and these attendant miracles were divine witnesses to the salvation the Lord first spoke of. God would have men recognize the glory of the salvation His Son brought in. There is a huge religious machinery set up on, earth to supplement or to destroy the reality of God's great salvation, the simplicity of which lies in the fact that it is ours through Jesus only. And this is the word of faith, “that if-thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved; for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:9, 109That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9‑10).)
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Hearing and Doing
“My mother and My brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it “(8:21).