"So Great Salvation"

Hebrews 2:3

The salvation which Christ accomplished, which we have experienced and are now experiencing, the salvation which we rejoice to proclaim to lost and ruined sinners is a great salvation, "so great salvation" that no words can adequately express its greatness. It is salvation from the great God, by his great Son, freely bestowed upon great sinners by his great Spirit.

Salvation is great in its planning. It sprang from the heart and mind of the infinite, all-wise God. From old eternity he determined to save a people whom he chose in everlasting love, found a way to save them by the sacrifice of his own darling Son, and sovereignly predestinated all things that come to pass in time to secure the salvation of his own elect.

Salvation is great in its purchase. By his life of obedience to God as a man, Christ brought in an everlasing righteousness for us. By his death upon the cross, with his own precious blood, the Son of God both made complete satisfaction for our sins and purchased the inheritance of heavenly glory for his people.

Salvation is great in its performance. God the Holy Spirit comes to chosen, redeemed sinners at the time ordained by God and sovereignly calls them from death to life, giving them faith in Christ by his irresistible power and grace.

Salvation is great in its preservation. Every believer, being predestined to eternal life, redeemed by Christ and called by the Holy Spirit, is infallibly preserved by the grace of God in Christ, so that he shall never perish.

Salvation is great in its perfection. In the end, when we stand before God, we will stand before him in the perfection of holiness, completely comformed to the image of Christ in body, soul, and spirit, worthy of heavenly glory in all its fulness. Yes, every redeemed sinner shall inherit all the fulness of heaven's blessedness by the grace of God in Christ.

Salvation is great in its purpose. The purpose of God in saving us is that we shall forever be "to the praise of the glory of his grace." He saved us for his own name's sake. Imagine that! God almighty will be forever glorified in the salvation of sinners who were once bent upon robbing him of his glory as God!

Don Fortner