R673 This Great Salvation

The Encouraging Word. Please take your Bibles this morning and turn with me to Hebrews in chapter 2. What an incredible congregation again.

What a wonderful opportunity to worship the Lord together. Hebrews chapter 2. Our focus on this Lord's day is going to be on verse 3, but not without context because verse 3 does not stand by itself. But in verse 3 of Hebrews chapter 2, there is a question.

Here's the question. I'm going to read it to you. How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? Couple of words of explanation here. That word there, to ignore salvation, is literally the word neglect.

Or if you please, what it means is that God by His Spirit through these words in His book, the Bible, is asking a question of all people. Here it is, how are you and I going to get away with it? How are we going to escape if we ignore, if we turn our back away from, if we cast some kind of doubt upon, if we refuse to accept, if we belittle what is being said? How are we going to escape?

Escape what? Well, how are we going to escape forgiveness of sin? We're not going to have it. How are we going to escape joy and peace?

We're not going to have it. How do we escape knowing that one day we're going to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven if we ignore so great salvation? How shall we escape if we neglect this great salvation? I want to read to you this in context beginning at verse 1.

We must pay more careful attention therefore to what we are hearing so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, now folks, I'm going to stop right there just for a moment. Then we'll read on.

I've got to stop at that point and then I'll read on. Something rather serious here, very interesting, a stark reality is placed right at our table here at this point in Hebrews chapter 2. And it's based upon what we believe concerning the message which was spoken by the angels of all people. Here come the angels again.

Why pick on the angels? We're going to look at that in just a moment. But the interesting thing here to note is that God tells us that if we indeed believe that this message concerning Jesus Christ was binding, and that word there binding is literally the word absolute. You see, we're living in a world today where fewer and fewer people believe that there are absolutes. Now what is an absolute? An absolute speaks to perfectness. If you're to say that there are absolutes, it means that there is nothing else to say.

If I was to say to you today that the Bible is filled with absolutes, what I'm telling you is that what the Bible has to say is non-negotiable. Now we live in a day and age of moral relativism. If I was to ask you this morning, what is moral relativism?

Some of you would say, pastor, I have no idea. Well moral, the word moral literally means right and wrong, pertains to how I conduct myself, how I live. We live in a day and age of moral relativism. We don't live in a day and age of moral absolutism. Moral absolutism means that this is right and that's wrong and there's nothing else to say about it. Moral relativism means that things are only right and wrong based upon what you and I happen to think about it or based upon the culture in which we live.

God's word tells us, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? He's not talking about an if and but or why, where for, what culture, how you feel about it, if, maybe, who wants to whenever you think about it. God is talking to us about Jesus Christ and He is absolute. He's not governed by my cultural perspective. He's not governed by my is's or my ain'ts. He's not governed by my whys or my wherefores. I'm going to submit to you today that I could go, I could have the chairman of deacons, Mr. Al Clark, standing here with me.

He would agree with me. When it comes to Jesus Christ, you do not need a deacons meeting about Him. You don't need your pastor to stand up and to discuss whether or not what Jesus said about Himself is true. You don't need the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church to offer a new papal bull to decide whether or not what Jesus said about Himself is true. I want you to look at this verse with me, folks. It is a staggering verse. If the message which was spoken by the angels was binding, was absolute, was not open to political dispensationalism, was not open to cultural heritage, was not subject to the traditions of my life or the whims and fancies of my own personal feelings, if indeed you know and you understand that all that God has told us about His Son is absolutely true.

Well, let's read the rest of it. And if you believe that every violation, by the way, this is what you call a subsequent, this is a riotous statement. It is bound into the heart of what has been said previously. And if also you believe that every violation and disobedience received its just recompense of reward or just punishment, how are you going to escape if you neglect so great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

God also testified to it by signs, wonders, various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to the will of God the Father for the edification of the body of Christ. I want to speak to you this morning for just a moment on this great, great salvation. Precious friend, I beg you, I beg you not to listen to this pastor. I beg you not to listen to the person next to you. I beg you not to listen to an opinion poll. I beg you not to listen to your rich cultural heritage. I beg you not to listen to your hurts and your pains. I beg you to listen to what the Spirit says to you concerning Jesus.

Please forgive the interruption. We'll be back with the rest of today's message with Dr. Wilton in just a moment, but he wants me to remind you we're here for you on our phone at 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673, 24 hours a day or on the website at www.tewonline.org.

We'd love to connect you with great resources that's online at www.tewonline.org. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton. Because what he's talking about here is not Baptist, it's not Methodist, it's not Presbyterian, it's not Democrat, it's not Republican, it's not even independent. What he's talking about here is the central issue of the Gospel. It's about Jesus Christ. I want to speak to you from my heart this morning with all the love in my heart, asking God to move me out of the way so that we would see only Jesus concerning this great salvation.

Why so great? Three reasons here in Scripture. Number one, because the angel's message was absolute.

Why this salvation is so great and why must we not neglect it? Number one, the angel's message was absolute. It was a God-given announcement.

You talk about the angels, do you remember what the angel's message was? Here it is, here it is. Watch this, unto you this day is born in the city of David, a savior who is Christ, who? The Lord. Can I just run that by again in case your favorite team lost last night?

Here it is. Unto you this day is born in the city of David, a savior who is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be to? How many people?

All people. This shall be to all people. What was the message? It was a message of peace, it was a message of joy, it was a message of forgiveness, it was a message of unparalleled love.

Guess where it came from? It was a God-given announcement. None of those angels suddenly decided one day, I think we'll just fly down to earth and hover around and say some nice things. It was a God-given announcement. Number two, it was a Christ-centered fulfillment. Unto you this day is born a savior. The fulfillment of the announcement of the angels was absolute because it found its ultimate expression in Jesus Christ, my Lord and my savior, Christ-centered. You know, if you don't mind me saying, and if you would beg my pardon, tongue in cheek, when Jesus was born, the angels didn't come down to the wise men and say to them, gentlemen, he didn't come to the shepherds, watching over their flocks by night and saying to them, shepherds, listen, here's what God has decided to do.

There are several babies born all over Jerusalem and Bethlehem and Judea. One is going to be this and one's going to be that and one's going to be that. Go in there and choose you one of them whom you may worship. I'll tell you what, one is going to be a Buddhist, one's going to be a Muslim, one's going to be a Christian, one's going to be a Jew, one's going to be a pagan, one's going to be a scientist, one's going to believe in new age, one's going to believe in whatever he wants to believe. Just choose one of them.

Nope. Not only was it a God-given announcement, but it was a Christ-centered fulfillment. That's where we land, my friends. I've quoted this passage, this statement so many times of Charles Haddon Spurgeon that every time I open the book, I make a beeline for the cross because everything in God's Word has to do with Jesus Christ. My Father would teach me and teach others repeatedly, any preaching that is void of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is not Christian preaching. What is it about the angel's message? It was God-given announcement, it was a Christ-centered fulfillment, but third, it was a Spirit-confirmed assignment.

The angel's message was confirmed by the Spirit. At Pentecost, the Bible tells us that the Spirit of God came down and indwelt the hearts of all believers. What does the Spirit do? The Spirit convicts us of three things, of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. That's what the Spirit does. What is the Spirit of God doing?

The Spirit of God is on assignment, confirming the absoluteness of the message given to mankind by the angels. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Where do we turn to? What do we do?

What hope do we have? If we neglect the angel's message, which was absolute, it was perfect, it was complete, God-given, Christ-centered, Spirit-confirmed. That's the first reason why we find this extraordinary plea from the heart of God concerning Jesus Christ His Son. Number one, because the angel's message was absolute. Number two, because man's sin was absolute. Man's sin was absolute. He goes on there in verse two and he makes a staggering statement. If you believe that every violation and every disobedience will receive its just punishment, do you believe that man's sin is absolute?

That's what the Word is saying. Three things about man's sin according to Scripture. Number one, it was clearly defined. Let there be no mistake, God defines sin. Sin separates us from God. And by virtue of the very nature of sin, sin is anything that even has the slightest semblance of departure from the heart and holiness of a righteous God. No wonder the Bible says all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Sin is clearly defined. Friend, I want to make an announcement to you today. You will not, you never will, you cannot ever come to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, if you do not agree with the absoluteness of the definition of sin.

It's not going to happen. You will only come into the arms of a loving God who through Jesus Christ offers you forgiveness. If you understand the absoluteness of your sin, which is clearly defined, all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Number two, not only was sin clearly defined, but it was specifically named. Right throughout Scripture, this is the part that makes people like you and me so uncomfortable. We can go to such passages as the Ten Commandments, which is in such debate in America today.

It's one of the most pathetic debates that you've ever heard. It has nothing to do with the separation of church and state. The reason why more and more people don't want to have the Ten Commandments displayed anywhere is because people do not want to be confronted by the specificity of their sin. They don't want sin named for what it is. It hurts.

Every time we come into church, I'll guarantee you with all my heart, there's at least one person every Sunday. When your pastor in preaching calls a sin, whether it be lying or cheating or stealing or adultery, somebody recoils because our sin is being named. It's being called for what it is. You go into the Ten Commandments, thou shalt not steal. It makes us uncomfortable. Thou shalt not commit adultery. It makes us uncomfortable.

Thou shalt not covet. It makes us uncomfortable. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Thou shalt not blaspheme. It makes us comfortable, uncomfortable because nine out of 10 Americans are using God's name in every verse, in every phrase.

Makes us uncomfortable. You see, when God speaks about not trying to turn our backs upon this great salvation, what does he have in mind? The absoluteness of the angel's message and the absoluteness of man's sin, which is clearly defined and specifically named, and it is severely punished.

Oh, we don't like that. Have you ever met someone who says, man, I want to go to a church where, man, they don't talk about hell and sin? Folks, there are people who have built massive churches in America based upon the fact that they don't want to talk about hell and they don't want to talk about sin.

Now let me tell you what the Bible says. The Bible says the wages of sin is, oh, don't say that. The wages of sin is, I'll tell you what, let's try and find another word for this.

We cannot, let's not just find something else. The wages of sin is bubble gum. Wages of sin is a paddling. The wages of sin is naughty, naughty, naughty. The wages of sin is bad, but don't worry about it. Folks, I wish that we could water it down somehow, but the Bible says that sin is punished by death, eternal separation from God. That's the absoluteness of man's sin. The wages of sin is death. That's the absoluteness of man's sin. Now watch this, isn't it surprising then that he says on that basis, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?

Folks, listen to me, watch this, watch this. If you don't believe that the message of the angels was absolute, there can be no Jesus. And all that he said about himself is invalidated or it may happen. We'll start a new lottery in South Carolina, pull this lever and if you pull the right one, if you lucky, you'll get a bit of Jesus. Come to church on Sunday morning and maybe you'll just, if you lucky, you'll get a bit of Jesus.

Folks, let me tell you something, Jesus Christ is not luck, he's fact, he loves you, he died for you. Folks, if I don't believe in the absoluteness of sin, I don't stand a chance, I'm dead, it's over, I've nowhere to go, I have no hope. Where does a man who's committed adultery stand if there's not absoluteness concerning sin? Because if I believe in the absoluteness of sin, I'm gonna not only believe that the wages of sin is death, but I'm also going to believe that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, his son. Now is there somebody here who would say amen this morning? How are we going to escape if we neglect so great salvation?

Why great? Number one, because the angel's message was absolute. Number two, because man's sin was absolute.

Number three, because salvation in Christ was absolute. It was announced by his birth. Look at it there in verse three, the latter part. This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, it was announced by his birth.

Unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Number two, it was confirmed by his disciples. Look there in the second part, the latter part of verse three. Not only was this salvation first announced by the Lord, but second, it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. John chapter six, verses 66 through 69. Jesus turned to his disciples and he said, do you also want to leave me?

To which Peter replied, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. It was confirmed by the disciples. You can go right throughout the scriptures and you're going to find confirmation after confirmation after confirmation after confirmation. Go into the Old Testament, you'll find confirmation after confirmation as the prophets foretold of the one who is the Messiah. Going to the New Testament, coming to this church today, for we are the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What are we doing, those of us who have trusted in him? We are confirming the absoluteness of salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Yep, it was announced by his birth.

It was confirmed by his disciples, but it was validated by his Father. He said, as the Father has loved me, so love I you. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. And if the Holy Spirit is speaking to you through the preaching of Dr. Don Wilton, I pray you'd open your heart to what he wants to share as he steps into the studio next. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ? Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now? Dear God, I know that I'm a sinner, and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross. Today, I repent of my sin, and by faith, I receive you into my heart. In Jesus' name, my friend, I welcome you today into the family of God.

This is exciting news. If God just moved in your heart praying along with Dr. Wilton, and you gave your life to Christ, we have wonderful resources we want you to have for free if you'll call us at 866-899-9673. Again, jot the number down. Any time, day or night, you can reach us at 866-899-9673, or connect with us on our website as well at tewonline.org. Before we get away, closing thoughts from Dr. Don. You know, I'm so glad that we've been able to share together by means of radio today.

You just mean so much to me and how thankful we are for the Word of God together. You can call right now and connect with me at 866-899-9673. Did you get that? 866-899-9673. Call and connect with me right now. Our time's gone for today, but let's stay connected on our website, tewonline.org. Join us today, tewonline.org.