This well-known hymn is a call to all to spread the news — JESUS SAVES! Please give it a sing-along listen, then come back and we will drink in joy together, thinking about what “Jesus saves” means. We’ll also look at the Lord’s idea that the best way to spread the word is by way of people telling other people. Brilliant!
Jesus saves!
Our song’s title gets a lot of work done before any singing begins.Take the name that is above all names, add a one-syllable verb and top it off with an exclamation mark. Before anyone has time to decide whether or not to hit the “play” button, the message has already been delivered. Jesus saves!
Consider how much more good our song’s title does than these titles could:
“Jesus Used to Save” (past tense)
“Jesus Will Begin Saving Someday Maybe” (future tense)
“No One Gets Out Alive” (YIKES! All of us are NOW tense.)
“Jesus saves” is present tense, right now, every time. A person does not need to wait for salvation to arrive in the mail. This greatest gift of the Lord is immediately available to everyone who asks. He is a wonderful savior.
Saves what?
A few words from Jesus on salvation — “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)
We are all born into a world where an enemy we cannot see walks around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour — to steal, to kill and destroy. That being the case, of course we need saving. Enter Jesus, who came that we might have
1. LIFE
2. And have it to the FULL
When talking about “Jesus saves” it helps to look at these two parts of salvation individually.
1. LIFE — Jesus saves by offering LIFE. Aren’t we already alive? Yes, but with a kind of life the thief can take away. The everlasting spiritual LIFE Jesus gives is a kind the thief can never take away.
2. LIFE TO THE FULL — Jesus saves by offering life TO THE FULL. Most people who get born again — saved — will live in this enemy-infested world for a number of years. During that time the enemy keeps working to harm and neutralize the Lord’s saved ones. The Lord came not only to give everlasting life, but to equip His saved ones to “withstand in the evil day, and having done all, stand.” In other words, to live life to the full. That is a minute-by-minute job requiring the Lord’s attention and our own. He tells us to “take to ourselves” and “put on” enablements He supplies, named in Ephesians “the whole armor of God”.
[Truth belt] — First, we are to live with honesty and integrity in sight of God and man.
[Righteousness breastplate] — Hold fast to — don’t bad-talk ourselves out of — our God-given righteousness.
[Gospel of peace shoes ] — Learn God’s word of peace. Stand on it. Walk in it.
[Faith shield] — Shield our trust in the Lord from every fiery dart the enemy throws at us. Lead every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
[Salvation helmet] — Endure by holding fast to the hope of everlasting life in Christ.
[Spirit sword] — Manifest the spiritual abilities given to us with the new birth as we walk in love doing the good works we were created to do in Christ Jesus.
[[[PRAYING ALWAYS]]] because all of these are energized by the Lord. For this armor to work we need to walk with the Lord. What a beautiful, active relation!
“Jesus saves” includes everlasting life — a change of our standing done in a moment — plus life to the full — an ongoing fellowship with the Lord making it possible to live our days in this world as “more than conquerors”, serving the bread of life to a starving world.
That is a glimpse, a snippet, of what “Jesus saves” means. The headline “Jesus Saves!” is telling a true, miraculous story of good news that life everlasting is God’s gift to all — which includes you and me.
Spread, bring, share, sing …
We sing these words in our song. This song is about proclaiming to all the earth “JESUS SAVES!” But, is that really our privilege to do? Surely the Lord could do it better himself. Or maybe angels could get the word out — or just leave it to nature? Consider these sections from the Bible:
Romans 10 … “…how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (NLT)
II Corinthians 5 … “And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.” (NLT)
II Timothy 2 .. “You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others.” (CEV)
I Peter 3 … “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (NAB)
Do you see a pattern in these verses? People learn the good news from other people. That means you and I get to share the good news! This is God’s loving design.
Aren’t these wonderful truths? Whether we are shouting from the rooftop or humming to ourselves on an evening stroll, these are things we can bring to mind when we ponder the good news: Jesus saves!
God bless you lots!
-Dale R.
Download this music sheet from “The Music Box” now
LYRICS: Jesus Saves!
Text: Priscilla J. Owens (1829-1907)
Tune: William J. Kirkpatick (1838-1921)
1 We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bring the news to every land,
Climb the hills and cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
2 Sing above the battle strife:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By his death and endless life,
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing it softly through the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
3 Share good news with mighty voice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free,
Highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
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Please feel free to add your thoughts to this conversation in the “Leave a reply” spot below.
Good early morning Mr Dale… What an amazing song and sermon, ….. OUR FATHER JESUS SAVES……..once again u have shared some important topics on how we are to survive in these confusing times, and u have written down how we must continue to walk and live our life” PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD “, THE BREAST PLATE
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND TO SHOW OUR FATHER JESUS HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM FOR SAVING us all, , , , because we all fall short of
HIS GLORY…. All we have to do is follow those awesome topics that u wrote down and live by them, and OUR FATHER JESUS CAN SAY…” WELL DONE MY FAITHFUL SERVANTS…WELL DONE “… isn’t it amazing my dale when u start teaching, on how we are to go about showing OUR FATHER JESUS, how much we love 💘,…. him, isn’t it hard to stop typing or writing, u are an awesome teacher Mr dale, if those topics that u written down could reach so many people, , but it can , like u said, we are to share the gospel..”THE GOOD NEWS”……”OUR FATHER JESUS SAVES” …”YES HE DID AND ARE STILL DOING WHEN HE STRETCHED OUT HIS ARMS AND DIED “…”JESUS SAVES”, ….. …….Keeps on running Mr dale, and singing and teaching, with Cathy right there by your side, .blessing upon blessings goes out to u both 🙏….., much 💘… and blessings 🙏…
Julia, thanks for your note and blessings! The topics of the lesson notes — that it helps us to understood what “Jesus saves” means by realizing there are two parts to salvation — 1) everlasting LIFE and 2) more abundant LIFE — and that through Christ God has given us “armor” to put on and use right NOW to live as “more than conquerors” — and we’ve been given “the ministry of reconciliation” … these are huge things Christians need to know and embrace. I’m doing what I can here to help spread the word. I’m glad you are, too. Jesus Saves! What a great savior we have! God bless you lots — Dale R.