Rsbc
July 27, 2003
Sunday Night
The Book of Hebrews
Subject: " So Great A Salvation"
Text: Hebrews 2:1-4
Intro: In light of what he had said in the previous chapter concerning Christ he appeals to their minds to "Earnest Heed" what a challenge to any hearer today. The battle for the mind is tradmendous. The world, the devil, and the flesh is after our minds all the time.
This is why Paul said in Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: This is why the Lord Jesus Christ said Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
It is also clear from the word of God that we need a ready mind to give earnest heed to those things that we hear... It is said of the Berean’s Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Another thing that is important for you and I to give more earnest heed to the word is humility of mind: Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
We need also to present our bodies a living sacrifice and renew our minds in order to give more earnest heed: Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We need to be of the same mind in order to give more earnest heed to the word of God: Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must have a sound mind in order to give more earnest heed: 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
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It is clear in the verse as to why we should give more earnest heed to those things that have been spoken and that which we have heard... "Lest we let them slip". My bible margin says let them drift away...
Moses Told the Children of Israel these words: Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
How often do you come to church hear the message and when someone ask you what the preacher preached on, what the S.S. lesson was about or the devotion you reply I don’t remember..
This is why he is admonishing us and them to take heed... Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
There is a present danger of listen to the word of God and then letting it slip, or refusing to obey it both to the sinner who is lost and the one that is saved by the grace of GOD...vs 2-3
That brings me to my subject this evening " So Great a Salvation" All that man had tried to come up with to satisfy God on behalf of their sins cannot be called great because it is not great... It leaves a sinners where it finds them. It removes no sin from the sinner. It leaves one empty. It does not prepare one for the future to meet the Lord..
Oh but I have good news tonight the Great God of eternity hath a Great Salvation for those whom Christ died for... Why is this salvation Great?
I... "IT IS GREAT BECAUSE IT IS THE FRUIT OF THE INFINITE WISDOM OF GOD AND HIS UNERRING COUNSEL...
1ST. This is seen in the everlasting covenant: Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
2nd. The everlasting covenant of grace is but one covenant...It belongs to the Father for he is the author of it...Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.
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II... IT IS A GREAT SALVATION BECAUSE OF THE DIGNITY OF THE PERSON THAT ACTUALLY WROUGHT IT... " THE LORD JESUS CHRIST"
Through out this great book called the Bible there are types and shadows of Christ and his great work at the cross. The Father planned this, the Son executed it, the Holy Spirit applies it...
1st. Christ died for us when we were without strength:
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
2nd. Christ died for us when we were yet sinners:
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Jesus Christ is the great dignified one who took upon himself gladly our sins and laid down his life in the place of poor lost helpless sinners who hated him, who were his enemies and who would not and could not save themselves..
Psalm 89:19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.
III... IT IS A GREAT SALVATION BECAUSE IT IS THE FRUIT OF THE GREAT PRICE THAT WAS PAID FOR IT:
1st. He did this as a real man: Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
2nd. This will remain a great mystery to the great masses of people that have lived and that are yet to live..
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
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IV... IT IS GREAT BECAUSE OF THE GREAT BENEFITS IT DECLARES AND BESTOWS UPON THOSE WHO RECEIVE IT...
1st. It declares great salvation for the helpless sinners...
Hebrews 7:25 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.
2nd. It declares the reconciliation to sinners...
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
3rd. It declares a surety that sinners can count on... Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
V.... IT IS A GREAT SALVATION BECAUSE GOD CONFIRMED IT AND BEAR WITNESS OF IT... VS 3-4
The fact that God saves sinners is proof that God was please with this great salvation that he planned through Christ our Lord. What a great God we have today not one that faileth or lies and not one that will leave us or forsake us...
Two main thoughts...
1st. God confirmed it by raising him from the dead:
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
1 Corinthians 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
2nd. By Exalting His Son to his throne: Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; 11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.