Christ Our Savior

Part IV – final installment in this series

by A.B. Simpson

From the book “The Best of A.B. Simpson” Compiled by Keith M. Bailey

What the Bible says about Salvation

1.) It is called God’s salvation. It was not invented by man. God alone is the author of it, and He is the only Savior.

2.) It is also called “your own salvation,” because we ourselves must appropriate it.

3.) It is called “the common salvation,” because it is free to all who will accept it.

4.) It is called a “great salvation,” because it is full and infinite in its provisions. It is large enough for all our needs.

5.) Christ is called the “mighty to save,” because no matter how weak or how wicked we sinners may be, He is able to save us to the uttermost.

6.) It is called a near salvation. “Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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” (Romans 10: 6-9).

We do not have to get up into some exalted state to find Christ, or down into some profound and terrible experience. We can find Him everywhere we are. Salvation is at our door. We can take it as we find Him very near to us. No steps were allowed to God’s ancient altar, for then some poor sinner might not be able to get up to it. Jesus is on the very plane where we are this moment. We can take His salvation here now. We can take Him as we are, and He will lead us into all the experiences we need.

Why it is called the good news

1. It is called good news because of its value. It comes laden with blessings to us who receive it.

2.) It is called good news because of its freedom. It may be taken without money and without price.

3.) It is called good news because of its availability. It is easy of access, being on the level of the worst sinner.

4.) It is called good news because of its universality. Whosoever will take it and live.

5.) It is called good news because of the security of its blessings. They are given forevermore. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation” (John 5: 24).

6.) It is called good news because of the eternity of its blessings. The sun will have burnt itself into ashes, the earth will have been destroyed be intense heat, the heavens will be changed when salvation has only begun. Then a thousand times ten thousand years shall pass, and we shall have only begun a little to understand what salvation means. Blessed be God for the gospel of Christ’s salvation.

Why we should receive and share this salvation

1.) Every man’s salvation hinges upon his own choice and free will. It is an awful thing to have the power to take salvation and to throw that opportunity away. And yet it is left to our choice. We are not forced to take it. We must voluntarily choose it or reject it.

2.) The salvation of our soul is a tremendous responsibility for which we are held accountable. God has put salvation into our hands as a jewel of inestimable value, and He will hold us to a strict account for the way we treat this precious thing. If we destroy it, how fearful will be our doom when we meet the Judge of all the earth, and hear the stern question from His lips, “Where is thy soul?”

3.) Guilt will rest upon us if we neglect and despise the precious blood of Christ shed for our salvation. To neglect it is to throw it away. He has provided a great salvation. If it is worth so much to a man, if it has cost God so much to provide it, what can be thought of him who makes little of it? Jesus suffered intensely to bring salvation to us, and shall we stumble carelessly over it? Oh, let us be more concerned than we are, both for the salvation of our own souls and for those around us who are not saved.

4.) The little word “now” is always linked with salvation. Salvation must be taken now or never. The cycle of life is very narrow. We do not know how soon it will end. “Behold, now is the day of our salvation.”

5.) Salvation’s issues are for eternity. The decisions there are not reversible. We cannot come back from death and have another chance to secure salvation. When once the Master has risen up and shut the door, we will find we have been left out forever. The cry will then be, “I have lost my chance; it is too late.” God’s Word holds out no second chance.

6.) if salvation is missed there will be no excuse for it. Not one thing has been left undone in presenting salvation to men. God’s best thought and Christ’s best love have been given to it. All has been done that could be done. Salvation has been brought down to our level. It has been placed where we can reach it.

God has provided all the resources, even the grace, repentance and faith, if we will take them. If we lack anything, God will put His arms around us and lift us up to Him, breathing His faith into us, and carrying us Himself until we are able to walk. Salvation is brought to every sinner. If we are lost it is because we have neglected and defied God’s love.

Although we proclaim this salvation, eternity will be too short to tell it all. We must take it and then go out and gather others in to share it. We will receive glorious crowns, but the best of it all will be that men and women will be saved.

Hanging expensively framed in a New York city living room, is a little bit of paper – a telegraph form. On it is just one word: SAVED!

The cablegram was framed by the lady of that mansion, because it is dearer to her than all her works of art. One day when the awful news came to her through the papers that the shi on which her husband had sailed was wrecked, that little message came to her door and saved her from despair. It was the message of that rescued man, and it meant to two hearts all that life is worth.

Oh, let such a message go up today to yonder shore. The Holy Spirit will flash it hence while I am drawing the next breath. The angels will echo it over heaven, and there are dear friends there to whom it will mean as much as their own very heaven.

I have seen another short sentence in a frame, too. It came from one who had been rescued from a ship where friends and family had all perished. Those dear little ones were in the slimy caves of the cruel sea. Those beloved faces had gone down forever, but he was saved, and from yonder shore he sent back this sad and weary message: SAVED ALONE!

So I can imagine a selfish Christian entering yonder portals. They meet him at the gates. “Where are your dear ones?” “Where are your friends?” “Where is your crown?” “Alas, I am saved alone.” God help you, reader, to so receive and give, that you shall save yourself and others also.

Must I go, and empty handed,

Must I thus my Savior meet,

Not one soul with which to greet Him, Lay no trophy at His feet?