Mighty to Save
Christ's power is not just limited to saving us, but also to keeping us holy and preserving us until we are perfected in glory.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Christ's saving power, which encompasses the entire journey of salvation from initial desire to complete sanctification. He highlights that Christ not only saves those who repent but also instills the desire to repent and transforms hearts. Spurgeon reassures believers that Christ's might continues throughout their lives, performing miracles and preserving them in holiness until they reach heaven. He encourages believers to persist in prayer for others, reminding them that while they may feel powerless, Christ is always 'mighty to save.' The sermon concludes with a reminder of the mercies of God, who has not only saved but continues to sustain His people.
Text
By the words "to save" we understand the whole of the great work of salvation, from the first holy desire onward to complete sanctification. The words are multum in parro: indeed, here is all mercy in one word. Christ is not only "mighty to save" those who repent, but He is able to make men repent. He will carry those to heaven who believe; but He is, moreover, mighty to give men new hearts and to work faith in them. He is mighty to make the man who hates holiness love it, and to constrain the despiser of His name to bend the knee before Him.
Nay, this is not all the meaning, for the divine power is equally seen in the after-work. The life of a believer is a series of miracles wrought by "the Mighty God." The bush burns, but is not consumed. He is mighty to keep His people holy after He has made them so, and to preserve them in his fear and love until he consummates their spiritual existence in heaven. Christ's might doth not lie in making a believer and then leaving him to shift for himself; but He who begins the good work carries it on; He who imparts the first germ of life in the dead soul, prolongs the divine existence, and strengthens it until it bursts asunder every bond of sin, and the soul leaps from earth, perfected in glory.
Believer, here is encouragement. Art thou praying for some beloved one? Oh, give not up thy prayers, for Christ is "mighty to save." You are powerless to reclaim the rebel, but your Lord is Almighty. Lay hold on that mighty arm, and rouse it to put forth its strength. Does your own case trouble you? Fear not, for His strength is sufficient for you. Whether to begin with others, or to carry on the work in you, Jesus is "mighty to save;" the best proof of which lies in the fact that He has saved you. What a thousand mercies that you have not found Him mighty to destroy!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Meaning of 'Mighty to Save'
- A. The whole of salvation from desire to sanctification
- B. Christ's power to make men repent and believe
- C. The after-work of keeping believers holy
- II. The Extent of Christ's Power
- A. To give new hearts and work faith in men
- B. To make the despiser of His name bend the knee
- C. To preserve believers in His fear and love
- III. The Nature of Christ's Might
- A. Not just making believers, but carrying them on
- B. Strengthening believers until they are perfected in glory
Key Quotes
“Christ is not only 'mighty to save' those who repent, but He is able to make men repent.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“He is mighty to make the man who hates holiness love it, and to constrain the despiser of His name to bend the knee before Him.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“You are powerless to reclaim the rebel, but your Lord is Almighty.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- You can trust Christ to save your loved one because He is 'mighty to save' and able to work in the hearts of others.
- Christ's strength is sufficient for you and He is able to keep you holy, so fear not if you're struggling with sin.
- You can see Christ's power in the fact that He has saved you and continues to work in your life.