“LORD, SAVE US”
Matthew tells us about an incident in which the disciples believed that they were about to perish in a storm at sea (Matthew 8:23-27). At the time of the storm Jesus was sleeping in the boat (verse 24). The boat was being covered by the waves of the sea in this storm. They went to Jesus and woke Him up saying, “…Lord, save us: we perish.” Whereupon Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and all was calm. Before He did that, He attacked their lack of faith. The end result of this miracle was that the disciples were amazed saying, “what manner of man is this”.
A second and similar incident occurred later with Peter and the Lord. Peter asked the Lord to allow him to walk on the water to Him (Matthew 14:28). Jesus simply said to Peter, “come”. Peter left the boat and began to walk toward Jesus. When he saw the effects of the boisterous wind, he began to sink. He cried out, “…Lord save me” (verse 30). Jesus took him by the hand and they walked back to the boat. When they were come into the boat the wind ceased. As with the earlier account in Matthew 8, again Jesus raises the issue about not having faith.
A fundamental question is, how does Jesus save us today? In both cases cited about those involved sensed their hopelessness and cried out to Jesus to save them. Is our salvation brought about by any such crying out today? Is it the case that a man cries out, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” and such brings about a relationship with God? Is all that man has to do is admit that he is a sinner and ask Jesus to come into his life? So, if you are sinking under the weight of sin, cry out and the Lord will save you. Is that a valid statement in light of God’s revealed truth? It certainly is not!
James affirms that we have been begotten by God. If I am begotten by God, then I am a child of God. How does James say that God does it? God begets us the word of truth (James 1:18). The Word of God is able to bring men to spiritual life (Hebrews 4:12). Is the Word enough or do we need some action from God? The disciples afraid of perishing or Peter afraid of drowning, both speak about an action of God. Where is the comparison then between these events and the matter of salvation? If God uses the word of truth, man’s free will remains intact. If God has to act in some way other than with the Word, then who can be saved but whomever God operates on?
James shows us the challenge of the Word of God against the wrath of man (James 1:20). The wrath or action of man does not work the righteousness of God. The action here noted, however, is the action of man without the Word of God. Paul spoke of some Jews who being ignorant of God’s righteousness went about trying to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3). The wrath of man is not accepting the revealed word of truth. Man strives to save himself from his sins and he does not have the ability to do so. Then is man free from doing anything? Again, absolutely not!
The apostles sought to get those on the day of Pentecost to “…save themselves” (Acts 2:40). Is this a message of man doing it by himself? No, because we are begotten by God through the word of truth. The apostles told that audience to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). This command to obey the Lord is the means God used to begat these individuals. It is the knowledge of truth being acted on which sets a man free from sin (John 8:32). He hears, understands and then obeys (Romans 10:17). The hearing and understanding is involved in his faith but it is his obedience to the Lord which makes that faith complete.
Peter uses the same language to say that we purify our souls by obeying the truth (I Peter 1:22). Is the purification by man’s device or plan? No, the plan came from God. God offers man the truth through teaching. When one obeys the truth offered by God through teaching, then the soul is purified. Those who argue man can do nothing miss completely the power of truth. Those who claim that God does not do anything miss completely the meaning of truth.
Will the Lord save you? If you obey His will, then yes, He will. It will not be some mysterious action on the part of God. It will be when your mind accepts the truth of God and then obeys that truth. There is no “mourners bench” nor begging and pleading with God. Obey the Lord and live by submitting to the truth given by God.