Jesus Saves HIS People (Pt 6)

> [!title|noicon] **Jesus Saves HIS People (Pt 6)** ^top   [< Part  1](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%201).md)   [2](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%202).md)   [3](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%203).md)   [4](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%204).md)   [5](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%205).md)  &nbsp6 **Scriptural Warning** Salvation is only of God, Christ does all of the work in saving His people. If we claim even the slightest contribution, such as having made the free-will decision or through water baptism or whatever, then we have a different gospel than that of the Bible which does not lead to eternal life. This warning is carried out in the Old Testament where a man picked up a few sticks on the sabbath day and was stoned to death for doing so. The Old Testament sabbath day was a picture of the complete *rest* we have in Christ for our salvation. God had worked six days in creating the heavens and earth and rested on the seventh day, illustrating that He has done all the work required and then we rest completely in Him. Thus, the Old Testament Israelites were to observe the sabbath day in a figure by resting, by not doing any type of labor. God Himself says that this was a sign pointing to the fact that He sanctifies us, and the Israelite who did not observe this was to be put to death: >*Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths you shall keep: for it [is] a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that [you] may know that I [am] Jehovah that does sanctify you. You shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it [is] holy unto you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever does [any] work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh [is] the sabbath of rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever does [any] work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual covenant. It [is] a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for [in] six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.* (Exodus 31:13-17) This is how insistent God is that we do not attribute even the slightest bit of effort on our part toward our salvation, we must rest completely and fully in Him having willed and worked on our behalf. In Hebrews 4, God again equates the seventh-day sabbath of the Old Testament with the rest we have in Christ alone for salvation: >*For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.* (Hebrews 4:4-10) So, in the passage that follows, we see the man picking up a few sticks on the sabbath day was stoned to death: >*And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And Jehovah said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp. And all the congregation brought him outside the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as Jehovah commanded Moses.* (Numbers 15:32-36) This is a picture of those who attempt to mingle their works into their salvation plan instead of resting completely in Christ alone. No matter how small the attempt, they shall perish forevermore. They do not truly believe that "Jesus Saves" according to the Biblical teaching. If God has elected and saved us, we will give God *all* of the glory and praise for our salvation. As we harmonize the Scriptures we see that it is all of God, it is "not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy." It might initially appear to our natural thinking that we responded to the Gospel call of ourselves if we have become saved because God does *cause* us to see our sins, to realize we're in trouble with Him (heading for eternal judgment) through the Word, and to cry out to Him for salvation. But as we search the Scriptures, we understand that He is the One who draws us to Himself, giving us the understanding, the will, the desire, the ability -- the newborn spiritual life -- to respond even as Lazarus responded when Christ resurrected him to come forth from his tomb. This teaching is highly offensive to many because, by nature, we do not want to face that we are that destitute and sinful that only God alone can change our situation. It rubs us completely the wrong way, it's against our ego and desire for self-respect and our shallow estimation of the nature of sin. And we want to have some control over our destiny. But only God can open our spiritual eyes and ears through the hearing of the Gospel and give us the spiritual understanding to perceive the depths of our sinful condition. Only then can we see that we are on our way to eternal destruction so that we repent and cry out to Him, pleading for His mercy and grace: >*And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift us so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.* ([Lk 18:13](Luke%2018.md#^13)) If we dispute this, [Romans 9:18](Romans%209.md#^18), [19](Romans%209.md#^19), [20](Romans%209.md#^20) rightfully warns: >*Therefore he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? No but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?* And again, [Isaiah 27:11](Isaiah%2027.md#^11) declares: >*...therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will show them no favor.* But rather, let's acknowledge the Truth as God gives us insight into His Word: >*Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...* ([Heb 12:2](Hebrews%2012.md#^2)) > >*For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...* ([Eph 2:8](Ephesians%202.md#^8)) > >*I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.* ([Is 61:10](Isaiah%2061.md#^10)) > >*Salvation is of the LORD.* ([Jonah 2:9](Jonah%202.md#^9)) > >*Salvation belongs unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah* ([Ps 3:8](Psalm%203.md#^8)) > >*And he [Jesus] goes up into a mountain, and calls unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.* ([Mk 3:13](Mark%203.md#^13)) **[< Part  1](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%201).md)   [2](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%202).md)   [3](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%203).md)   [4](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%204).md)   [5](Jesus%20Saves%20HIS%20People%20(Pt%205).md)  &nbsp6** (Last updated: 5.8.2026) Tags: #library #grace