Text: Heb.
2:1-3.
INTRODUCTION:
"Salvation" a much abused and misused word. All need to be
saved.
1. From
the guilt of sin. Rom. 3:23.
2. From
the power of sin. Rom. 7:24.
3. From
the penalty of sin. Rom. 6:23.
A sufficient Saviour must be able to save from the guilt, power.
and penalty of sin.
PROPOSITION: Only in
the Son of God do we find an adequate Saviour.
I. JESUS
CAN SAVE FROM THE GUILT OF SIN.
1. The
perfect sacrifice of the God-man is sufficient to pardon.
2 Con 5:21.
2. The
acceptance of pardon gives great peace (Rom. 5:1), free conscience (Heb.
10:22), and abounding joy (1 Pet. 1:8).
3. He is
the one way to pardon. Acts 4:12; Heb. 9:22.
II. JESUS
CAN SAVE FROM THE POWER OF SIN.
1. He
walked the way before us and gives us divine power to overcome. Heb. 2:18.
2. The
acceptance of this power makes us more than conquerors. Rom. 8:37; 1 Con.
10:13; Rev. 12:11,
3. He is
the one way to power Jude 24-25.
III. JESUS
CAN SAVE FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN.
1. He
ever lives to make intercession for us. Heb. 7:25.
2. The
acceptance of Him gives us an Advocate with the Father 1 Jn. 2:1; Matt.
10:32-33,
3. He is
the one way to escape sin's penalty. 1 Tim. 2:5.
CONCLUSION:
It is a great salvation because He is a great Saviour.
Neglect of this great salvation must be punished-"How shall
we escape if we neglect?"
God's part in man's salvation is completed; it is man's next move.
His sacrifice is adequate; pardon is proffered; man must receive it.
God's
Law of Pardon
In the Ohio
Penitentiary, Reuben Johnson was serving a life sentence for murder. The crime
had been committed when he was under the influence of liquor. Reuben had
accepted his sentence, and for twenty years had been an ideal prisoner
The Governor
of Ohio declared that he would pardon six men upon the recommendation of the
Board of Pardons. The day came when the president of the Board was to read the
names of the men who had been recommended for pardon. He said, "I hold
here pardons for six men," and began to explain the reasons for which
pardons were granted. The suspense was terrific, and the chaplain of the
penitentiary suggested that he read the names of those to be pardoned and make
the explanations afterward.
As the
President read the names of the pardoned, he came to the name of Reuben
Johnson, but as he read the name, "Reuben Johnson," no one moved.
Someone pointed. to him and said, "Reuben, that's for you," and
Reuben looked around at the man behind him. Finally someone had to go down and
hand Reuben Johnson his pardon. The pardoned man took the document, and, as the
prisoners arose to file out, Reuben Johnson, with his pardon in his hand and
the habit of twenty years upon him, took his place in line with the prisoners.
He could not realize that he was free. He was incapable of such quick mental
adjustment to his new condition.
why, in God's
name, with full pardon in your hand, would you march on in the chain-gang
procession, which moves ever onward to the judgment-bar of God? why not rather
accept the pardon so freely proffered, realizing that "If the Son shall
make you free, ye shall be free indeed?"
(Adapted from
"what Think Ye of Christ?" by 3. H. 0. Smith, p.87 f. The Standard
Publishing Company, 1927.)