Our Great Salvation

Temple Baptist Church - 10-3-2018

Hebrews 2:1-4

Introduction:

A.  Paul begins chapter 4 with assuring these “transitioning” Jewish believers that what they have now in the New Covenant is so much greater than what they had under the Old Covenant. 

1.  The Old Testament saint, under the Old Covenant of Atonement (a covering), was saved by faith in the coming of Messiah, the promised Seed of the Woman.

2.  The New Testament saint, under the New Covenant of Propitiation, is saved by faith in the Lamb of God which took away the sin of the world.

3.  One looked forward while the other looked backward, but both were faith based, not of works.

Acts 15:10-11  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  (11)  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

b.  I fear that you and I too often forget just what a wonderful thing that our Lord Jesus Christ did for us at Calvary and, therefore, give little thought to just how great our salvation is.

1.  Just remember what God did for us!  Where we were when the Lord found us and took all our sins away.

a.  He blotted out our sins.  Psalms 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 38:17  Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

b.  He chose never to remember.  Isaiah 43:25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

c.  He changed our standing.  1 John 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Jeremiah 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Micah 7:19  He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

2.  Just remember what God did in us!  Where the Lord brought us to and how He changed our lives.

a.  A change of heart.  Ezekiel 11:19-20  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:  (20)  That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

b.  A change of life.  2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

c.  A change of love.  1 Thessalonians 4:9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  (We love God; we love God’s people; we love God’s Word; we love God’s house.)

3.  Just remember what God does for us.  How much we take for granted the blessings of God.

a.  God provides for us.  2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

b.  God protects us.  Proverbs 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

c.  God guides us.  John 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

d.  God sealed us.  Ephesians 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

4.  Just remember what God is going to do for us.  One day, this life will be over and time will be no more.

a.  An eternal body.  1 Corinthians 15:52-54  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  (54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

b.  An eternal home.  John 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

c.  An eternal prospect.  John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Philippians 1:23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Conclusion:  We could spend a lot of time here, but I think that we all know these things but so often forget just how great our salvation is.