The most glorious and comforting message to those who find themselves in captivity and without strength, is that there is ONE, who is not only willing to save them but is mighty to perform the task of their deliverance, and does in fact procure their salvation from all that would destroy them. That which masquerades as the gospel in the present day is a message which presents a savior who is willing enough to save men, yet does not actually save any, but merely makes it possible for them to be saved if they fulfill certain requirements.
This sort of salvation is not any different from the Law which was presented to the Jews which promised them life, health, and blessings if they would fulfill its requirements, yet which ultimately brought them under condemnation. We are certain that this Law never delivered any of those blessings to the children of Israel. “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” (Gal 3:21) Yet the inability of the Law to bring life to those under it is not a fault in the Law nor because it demanded an unholy principle. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh.” (Rom 8:3)
Paul plainly points out that the failure of the Law to secure blessings to the sons of GOD was due to the inability of men to keep it in its jot and tittle. If a man keeps the law in every point but one, he is still a lawbreaker and is as guilty before its just sentence as if he had broken every one of those commands. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)
It is impossible for a man to keep the Law because all men are by nature the children of wrath, born in sin, under its curse, and willing slaves to their own lusts. The LORD summed up the Law in two principles, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Only an ignorant fool would confess that he has ever done either perfectly.
A man might in honesty (according to his natural reason) consider that there are some men who do keep the Law in its jot and tittle, but no man, unless he is totally deluded, could ever consider in his heart of hearts that he (himself) has not broken this law. The rich young ruler declared that he was indeed such a law-keeper until the LORD removed the scales from his eyes and revealed to him the true demands of that Law and the affections of his heart. Then he went away sorrowful, fully aware that he could never meet those demands.
Paul testifies that when he was walking among the Jews as a Pharisee of the Pharisees, claiming to adhere to the Law, he was yet ignorant of what that Law’s demands fully entailed and the depths of his own corruption and rebellion against that Law. When, by the grace of GOD, the LORD opened his eyes to see the Law in its stark reality, he found himself without hope. “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Rom 7:9) He could then see the corruption of his own sinful flesh and was slain by that which he at one time thought would be his deliverer.
There is no hope for a lost sinner in any action which he thinks he has the ability to perform. There are multitudes who think that they have within themselves the ability to believe the gospel whenever they feel like it. Therefore, they can take some measure of comfort in a salvation which depends on a cooperative effort between them and the LORD. There is no shortage of those who preach such a message which has a part for man to do and a part for the LORD to do in order for a man to be saved.
The truth is that a man does not know his lost condition and utter bondage if he thinks that he has the power and ability to deliver himself by participating in his own salvation. The man who thinks that it is his own faith that saves him is yet deluded and unacquainted with the corruption of his own heart and the fact that he is dead in trespasses and sins. Apart from the gift of faith being granted by the grace of HIM who is mighty to save, a man will never approach unto the LORD for mercy, let alone be granted a conscience which is void of offence. True faith is the manifestation of the grace of GOD and is given only to those which the SAVIOR came to redeem. “As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” (Act 13:48)
So, it is true that those who are truly lost, undone, and in total captivity to their own sin, need a Mighty DELIVERER if they are to ever be set free from that captivity and live as free men. This is exactly what the LORD JESUS CHRIST came into the world to perform. HE is indeed a MIGHTY SAVIOR who is perfectly suited for HIS people’s needs. “For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”(Heb 7:26-27)
A MIGHTY SAVIOR possesses the necessary strength to accomplish HIS purpose. “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isa 63:1)
A MIGHTY SAVIOR is one who depends upon HIS own strength and not that of any other. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom 5:6)
A MIGHTY SAVIOR will not fail to accomplish HIS purpose. “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Eph 4:8) “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col 2:13-15)
A MIGHTY SAVIOR will rejoice in the spoils of HIS victory. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isa 53:10-12) “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev 19:16)
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