“Great” is a simple but wonderfully expressive English word that may describe people, experiences, opportunities, material things, or ideas and ideals.
To speak of something being great we are saying it is remarkably outstanding. Highly significant. Especially notable. Extraordinarily wonderful. Exceedingly substantial. Great is enormous. Immense. Tremendous.
Our Bible reading today in Hebrews 2 calls our salvation “so great a salvation.” Why? Here’s 7 reasons salvation is so great.
(1) Salvation’s great because it’s inspired by God’s great love. His divine love for us is beyond human comprehension. It is unconditional. Unalterable. And Unchanging. The Bible calls it a “great love with which he loved us (Eph. 2:4).That means you and I. Even when we were unlovable. That’s great love!
(2) Salvation’s great because it’s prompted by God’s great grace. Grace is unmerited favor. It’s a blessing we don’t deserve and haven’t earned. Three times in Ephesians Paul speaks of “the riches of His grace.” God’s grace is rich, wonderful and great because as the hymnist, Julia Johnston, wrote, it’s a marvelous “grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.” That’s great grace!
(3) Salvation’s great because it’s motivated by God’s great mercy. David expressed it when he exclaimed, “Great is your mercy toward me” (Ps 86:13). God is patient. Longsuffering. And slow to anger. When we humbly obey Him, He gives us what we don’t deserve. That’s grace. But he withholds what we do deserve. That’s great mercy!
(4) Salvation’s great because it’s available by God’s great gift. The sacrifice of His Son. Grace, mercy, and love compelled God to send Jesus to die for our sins. “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (Jn 15:13). Jesus died for us when we were aliens and enemies. Strangers and estranged. Unresponsive and uncaring. That’s a great gift!
(5) Salvation’s great because it’s accessible by God’s great plan. The plan of salvation is simple and unelaborated. Easy to understand. Available. Attainable. And accessible. Jesus calls on us to believe on Him. Repent of our sins. Confess our allegiance to Him. And be baptized for the remission of our sins. (Mk. 16:16; Matt 10:32; Ax. 2:38). What a great plan!
(6) Salvation’s great because it results in great spiritual blessings. (Eph. 1:3) Forgiveness. Pardon. Redemption. Justification. Peace of mind. A clear conscience. The privilege of prayer. Divine association. Fellowship in God’s family. And an abundant life that makes the home better, burdens bearable, work meaningful, and relationships sweeter.
(7) Salvation’s great because of it’s great reward. The hope of heaven. The Hebrew writer warned, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward (10:35). Our hope and reward is eternal life (Titus 1:2). It’s a place prepared for us in heaven. A home with no tears. No sorrow. No sickness. No pain. No dying. No separation. That’s a great reward!
Like these Hebrew Christians, sadly some will fail to hear the great salvation’s message. Heed its warnings. And neglect its Divine call.
Drifting is a real danger. Because it’s so gradual. Unintentional. And unnoticed But when we fail to pay attention to the important things in life, we can drift. The pleasures of this world can divert our attention. Possessions. Position. Prestige. And power can captivate our interest, cause us to lose focus and drift away.
If you neglect the great salvation, how will you escape? Escape the second coming of Christ? Escape God’s judgment? Escape eternal punishment?
Brethren, we have so great a salvation. Never forget it. Never take it for granted. Never neglect it.
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Heb. 2:1-3).
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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Does the promise of Salvation bring a life where there are no tears, no sorrow, no pain, no dying? That idea is a make it or break it statement for many because if one has an abundant life, filled with love, one is going to suffer the pain, sorrow, and tears when a loved one dies or as Paul says falls asleep in the Lord.
I once had a conversation with a Greek bishop about the sacraments, the secrets contained in our Christian Story. I insisted there was nothing that shall not be made manifest (Luke 8:17)…and therefore we should do what we could to demystify the Gospel. He replied. Without the sacraments people would take the Gospel and the promise of Eternal Life for granted. They would not work out their salvation for themselves.
Ken, indeed our Salvation is Great. God’s Eternal Love story is made manifest in the life of Jesus. Who Jesus loved from the beginning of time and who Jesus loved then and now and who sat down and ate and philosophised and discussed the Scriptures with under the cover of darkness and after the Crucifixion and Resurrection matters. Knowing and trusting in Jesus proves God’s Eternal Love does bring people back together again from the grave and wipes their tears and grief away. God’s Eternal Love wakes people from their slumber, brings people into the light, and unbelievers into the Unquenchable Fire that is God’s LOVE (Song of Songs 8:6) and our Great Salvation.
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