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Quote:Heb 7:25 KJVR 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.
This is not merely getting saved from the world. It is SALVATION TO THE UTTERMOST. Hebrews is about OUR LIFE that CAN ENJOY the HOLIEST OF ALL. Heb 6 focuses on the entire theme of the book by saying we can enter the most holy place. And as we read Hebrews, entering the most Holy Place is actually living in such transcendent power and victory, that so many believers never experience, let alone KNOW ABOUT IT.
Note verse 25 above. The only way this makes sense is to realize that people can come to GOD -- TO THE UTTERMOST -- BY HIM NOW because HE IS ACTIVELY INTERCEDING FOR THEM NOW.
We all understand our advocate picture. Like a lawyer actively pointing to the once shed blood to appeal for anyone who trusts in the cross, JESUS ACTIVELY AND PRESENTLY STLL INTERCEDES.
Quote:1Jo 2:1 KJV My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
He did not DIE to act as intercessor, but HE EVER LIVETH to make intercession. Death did not accomplish that. An unending LIFE does this. Don't focus on the death, here, but THE LIFE.
People WHO COME TO HIM NOW are able to be saved to the uttermost BECAUSE HE LIVES NOW AS INTERCESSOR for them. If He was only intercessor for them at his death, we would not read of Him EVER living to make intercession, and we would not read that this is the reason people who COME TO HIM NOW can be saved to the uttermost!
Saving us to the uttermost is going FAR PAST salvation from sin. It is saving us to such a degree that we overcome sin everyday of our lives! And we read at the end of Hebrews 6 how Jesus has entered for us into the holiest, past the veil, as forerunner. He is in there now, seated as King and High Priest. And when we truly believe Him for all He is there for us to experience, we have this victory over sin. And that is spiritually saying we entered with Him into the Holiest. Having total victory, so as not to turn back, as many of the Hebrews had, and others were in danger of doing, is spiritually called dwelling in the most holy place.
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I think I understand the jist of what Elder Blume is trying to say but I'm still not sure if I can accept it all as he has presented it... Elder, you seem to over-emphasizing the term "save them the uttermost" in your exegesis ... as if it is the center point of your argument.
In the KJV, we find this translation "
uttermost" ... but what does it really mean? Are we adding to it's original meaning? Are we looking at the context of this verse as it relates to the original thought expressed by the writer? This does not negate the focus of your argument, perhaps but:
The NAS translates this verse as:
Therefore He is
able also to
save forever * those who
draw near to
God through Him, since He
always lives to
make intercession for them.
The Greek reads:
Before I bring your attention to the phrase highlighted in the verse 25...
In context, verses 23 states that the former priests did not continue forever but that they died. Verse 24 says Jesus, on the other hand, continues forever and holds his priesthood forever ... clearly because of His resurrection.
with this said the writer then states in verse 25
because He lives now he can forever and completely intercede for us that draw nigh to God:
oqen kai swzein (5721) eiv to pantelev dunatai
THEREFORE ABLE TO SAVE FOREVER [COMPLETELY]
ogen, therefore .... shows this verse is consequent to his previous statements.
dunatai, or dunamis ... shows he is able ... or has the power to
eiv ... is eis ... which here as in
Acts 2:38 is to ... but, obviously not in a causal form.
swzein ... is soso ... meaning to save
pantalev, or pantales ... means
completely, perfectly or utterly.
Strongs 3838
- all complete, perfect
- completely, perfectly, utterly
I believe that the writer is stating He completely, perfectly saves us because he, the perfect Lamb, lives always as mediator between God and us.
This may be in line w/ what you have stated ... I just wanted to make sure we are not adding to what uttermost means here.
Clearly, the salvation the writer speaks of here deals w/ our sins past, present and future. We need His death as we need His resurrection BOTH.