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My cup runneth over
Salvation to the uttermost (Heb. 7: 25).
p. 192
Salvation is the immediate result of believing the gospel of grace:
"The gospel of Christ . . . . . the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth" (Rom. 1: 16).
"Behold now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6: 2).
Nevertheless, salvation is also spoken of as a future blessing:
"For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (Rom. 13: 11).
"For an helmet the hope of salvation" (I Thess. 5: 8).
"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth,
why doth he yet hope for" (Rom. 8: 24).
There is not only a salvation "from", but a salvation "to". The children of Israel were
not only delivered out of the land of Egypt, but were preserved during the forty years
wandering of their elders, and shown the salvation of the Lord, when they entered into
the land of promise" (Ps. 91: 16).
The cup of salvation truly runneth over. Faith looks back to the cross and sees
salvation accomplished. Hope looks forward to the future glory and sees salvation
realized. The salvation which is by His "life" is a salvation "to" a goal, whereas the
salvation which is by His death is that which is "from" a condition of bondage of death.
The Hebrews were taught this glorious truth, for in Heb. 7: the Apostle wrote:
"Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,
seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7: 25).
This cannot be the initial salvation which is consequent upon believing the gospel.
The sinner is not saved because Christ "ever liveth", he is first of all saved because
"Christ died for the ungodly". The sinner who believes is saved from sin and its
consequences, but the believer is saved all along the way until he enters glory, because
the Savour Who once died now lives to die no more. Surely those who know a peace that
passes knowledge, joy that is unspeakable, and a salvation that covers past, present and
future, surely these can take the cup of their salvation, and as they call on the name of the
Lord can confess with full hearts,
"My cup runneth over".
CHARLES H. WELCH