To the uttermost

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. Heb. 7:25

To come to God through faith in Jesus Christ is not only to be saved, but to be saved "to the uttermost." It is not just that he puts us in a savable position, but that he completely saves us. "To the uttermost" surely means that all our sins are completely purged and the guilt of them washed away, for we are told that, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). But if you note the argument of the writer here in the text, the point is that our Lord's priesthood is an enduring priesthood, for he "ever liveth to make intercession." In other words, "to the uttermost" also means that there will never be a time in which this salvation will be revoked, for our Lord's continual intercession for his people precludes such a possibility. It is not just that our Lord did something for us in the past (which is indeed perfect and complete) but that he also continues to present the efficacy of his finished work before the Father for the good of his people. Here we have a never-ending salvation anchored in the never-ending priesthood of Christ. What our Lord said of Peter is true of all his people for all time: "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" (Lk. 22:32). He never stops praying and interceding for them, and therefore their salvation is sure, not only now but for all eternity. Thus the apostle, exulting in the saints' eternal security, puts the intercession of Christ for his people as the pinnacle of their deliverance and salvation: "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom. 8:34). Believer, this day rejoice with the apostle that you have a high priest who saves you to the uttermost because he lives forever to make intercession for you.