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Uttermost


 

Hebrews 7:25 says this of Jesus: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

 

The Greek word that is translated uttermost only appears one other time in the Bible, and that is in Luke 13 where Jesus heals a woman. Luke, himself a physician, said the woman had a disabling spirit that rendered her unable to fully straighten herself, but “he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight (v.13).” 

 

The word means completely, not halfway. Jesus did not heal this woman until she could stand up a little bit straighter, but until she was fully erect. When Jesus heals, He heals to the uttermost. 

 

But the author of Hebrews tells us that when Jesus saves, He saves to the uttermost. He does not forgive some of our sin, make us a little better, and help us break some bad habits. No, He goes all the way, making us God’s children, bringing us fully into the family, and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. 

 

Sometimes halfway is ok. Sometimes pretty good is good enough. Last week when I got out the blower and cleared leaves out of the driveway, the goal was not to remove every single leaf.

 

But sometimes halfway is not ok. 

 

The Louvre would not display a half-painted Mona Lisa. 

The IRS would not stand for you paying half your taxes.

You would not move into a house that is half built. 

 

No, halfway is not enough. Most is not enough. 

 

You can’t be half saved,

You can’t be half forgiven,

You can’t be made half holy,

You can’t go halfway to heaven. 

 

Halfway is not enough,

Don’t settle for just close;

Jesus is the better priest 

Who saves to the uttermost.

 

Call out to Jesus today if you never have, and let Him heal you and save you to the uttermost. 

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