There is a word in the Bible that God uses to describe a measurement that we can not comprehend. God used it to describe his love for us in John 3:16. How much does God love us? It is indescribable. He SO loved the world.
He also used this word in conjunction with the word great many times in the Bible. This afternoon, In Hebrews 2:3, we find the warning about neglecting salvation.
(HEB 2:3) "HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION; WHICH AT THE FIRST BEGAN TO BE SPOKEN BY THE LORD, AND WAS CONFIRMED UNTO US BY THEM THAT HEARD HIM;"
How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation. What makes salvation so great?
I. We didn't do anything to get it.
A. Salvation is all of God and none of man.
(TITUS 3:5) "NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST;"
(EPH 2:8-9) "FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: {9} NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST."
B. If man had anything to do with it, salvation would be subject to fail...it wouldn't be trustworthy!
C. Jesus said, "It is finished", and that means we don't need to add anything to what He has already done. ..His grace is sufficient!
I. We didn't do anything to get it. II. We can't do anything to lose it.
(JOHN 10:28-29) "AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND. {29} MY FATHER, WHICH GAVE THEM ME, IS GREATER THAN ALL; AND NO MAN IS ABLE TO PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND."
A. If man had bought it, then man might lose it.
B. If man had worked for it, then man might have failed to work hard enough.
C. Eternal life means 'never ending' life.
(JOHN 10:28) "AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND."
I. We didn't do anything to get it. II. We can't do anything to lose it. III. We can't do anything to make it better.
A. God has made salvation so great that we cannot improve upon it.
B. Nothing in this world can compare with the salvation that God has made available to you and me.
(MAT 16:26) "FOR WHAT IS A MAN PROFITED, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL? OR WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?"
C. Our salvation is complete in Christ, and we need to add nothing at all.
I. We didn't do anything to get it. II. We can't do anything to lose it. III. We can't do anything to make it better. IV. Whoever wants it can have it.
A. Whosoever is an all inclusive word.
B. Whosoever means that no one is left out.
C. It is used many different times in the Scriptures in reference to salvation.
(JOHN 3:15) "... WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE."
(JOHN 12:46) "I AM COME A LIGHT INTO THE WORLD, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON ME SHOULD NOT ABIDE IN DARKNESS."
(ROM 10:13) "FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."
(REV 22:17B) ".... AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY."
(HEB 2:3A) "HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION ..."
What makes salvation so great?