HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOR!
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (NASB)
HALLELUJAH! “Praise (ye) the Lord!” The Psalmist proclaims: “Our God is the God of salvation” (Psalm 68:20); to which we fully agree, declaring “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NKJV).
WHAT A SAVIOR! In Christ, we have a three-fold salvation: 1.) Eternal salvation that is already in place; 2.) Salvation as an on-going experience; and 3.) Salvation that will find its ultimate expression when we take up residence in our “house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (II Corinthians 5:1).
THERE IS SALVATION FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN!
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NKJV
IN THIS SENSE WE ARE SAVED! Consider:
“God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.” 2 Timothy 1:8b-9 (NASB)
THERE IS SALVATION FROM THE POWER OF SIN!
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
IN THIS SENSE WE ARE BEING SAVED!
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:12-14 (NKJV)
Deeply embodied under this heading is Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (NKJV)
THERE IS SALVATION FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN!
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11 (NKJV)
IN THIS SENSE WE SHALL BE SAVED!
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2 (NKJV)
CONCLUSION:
Philip P. Bliss, the outstanding hymn writer whose whose was cut short at 38, captured these great truths in the hymn “Hallelujah, What a Savior!” written and published in 1875.
“Man of sorrows” what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah, What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood,
Sealed my pardon with His blood,
Hallelujah, What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we,
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah, What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished,” was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high,
Hallelujah, What a Savior!
When He come, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing,
Hallelujah, What a Savior!
To which we only can add: “AMEN and AMEN!”
