In Luke 13:11-17 we read of a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for a period of eighteen years (that is, she was a demon possessed woman whom Satan had bound in the flesh). Yet, it did not keep her from the place of worship and prayer. This demon possession had caused her to be “bent-double”. Verse 11 concludes with, “and could in no wise lift up [Gk. anakupto: unbend, look up] herself” (that is, she was powerless to lift herself up [to become entirely erect] – to overcome the demon possession). Therefore, she could not even look up and see Jesus.
Luke 13:12-13 states, “And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” We can conclude that when Jesus called her unto him, she came unto him in faith. And Jesus, through His power, immediately delivered her “completely” from the power of Satan’s physical bondage. She stood straightened and she glorified God.
As the woman in Luke 13 had no power within her to free herself from Satan’s physical bondage, neither do we have the power within us to free ourselves from the “condemnation of sin”. Note the following passages of Scripture.
Romans 3:10,
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Romans 3:23,
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
John 3:17,
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 5:24,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Acts 4:12,
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
John 8:24,
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
The Scriptures also declare that through Christ’s suffering on the cross of Calvary, He became the “author of eternal salvation” – unto all who will “look up and receive” Christ as their Savior.
Hebrews 12:2,
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
John 1:12,
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
When Christ “calls us” unto repentance, and we receive His gift of salvation through faith in Him alone, through His power, He saves us to the “uttermost” (that is, we are eternally complete).
Hebrews 7:25 states,
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Has Christ called you unto repentance? Have you looked up to Christ in faith, trusting in Him alone to save you? God’s Words declares that He does not want any to perish. But we must receive God’s gift of salvation through faith in the work of Jesus Christ alone.
Romans 6:23,
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Ephesians 2:8-9,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
If you have not trusted in Jesus Christ to save you, why not come to Christ through faith and trust Him to save you to the uttermost?
