So Great Salvation By Paris Reidhead
"So Great Salvation
By Paris Reidhead
Will you turn please to Hebrews, the first chapter. I want you to notice then carefully, the first two verses of Hebrews chapter one, and without delay, without comment; we'll begin reading the first verse of the second chapter. Now, there's a reason, and I'll explain that. The balance of the chapter from verse three on exalts the Lord Jesus above angels; sets Him forth in His character, and in His office above angels. Now, we recognize this and we receive it, but, we are desirous of knowing why. God has, through the book and writer of the book of Hebrews, made this emphasis: that Christ is above angels; and we'll see that in the second chapter.
"God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; THEREFORE, and whenever you find a "therefore" in the scripture, don't leave it, until you find out what it's there for, and it's extremely important here. We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward. 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."
Now, the emphasis of this that I read is as follows: The word of angels was steadfast. The commandments they brought, the message they gave. God respected it and it declares that every transgression and every disobedience received a just recompense of reward. God honored the word of angels. God attested the word of angels. If this was true, and it was, how much more ought we expect Him to honor, respect, and confirm the word of His Son? If His Son is infinitely "above all angels" then God would put infinitely more concern to seeing that the word of His Son was respected. Now, notice also: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation". Obviously, our temptation would be here to say: "Oh, salvation. That means pardon from sin." You know, the word salvation is an immense word; far greater than we generally associate with it. If you will take that word and trace it through the New Testament, you will find, that there are actually four tenses of salvation. Tense in this sense I use the word: there's the "past perfect tense", the "past tense", the "present tense", and the "future tense". Now, let me explain:
The Past Perfect Tense: "I have been saved! From the pleasure of sin." Repentance.
The Past Tense: "I was saved! From the penalty of sin." Justification.
The Present Tense: "I am being saved! From the power of sin." Sanctification.
The Future Tense: "I shall be saved! From the presence of sin." Glorification.
If somebody comes to you and asks "are you saved?" You would be quite in order to say "how do you mean it? I have been saved, I was saved, I am being saved, and I shall be saved." Now let's talk about the one you're interested in. The word 'Saved' has been generally compressed by us to be equivalent to forgiveness, but the word in its use, in the Bible is far larger and far more inclusive than meaning just pardoned. For instance, you'll find Paul saying something like this "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed". That sounds very strange. If He has saved us by His death. How much more shall we be saved, by His life? So, we find that the word is an immense word. Just as the word sanctification is an immense word. In the mind of God, our sanctification was planned before the world began. It was accomplished at Calvary, and it became ours potentially at the point of repentance. It became ours experientially as we saw ourselves in our union with Christ, and it will be effective throughout the endless ages of eternity.
These are vast words. Immense words. So, when we read in Hebrews 3: "how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;" no one can say: "Well, my sins are pardoned. I haven't neglected salvation." The word here used, includes everything that God, in grace, has done for His people through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. The warning given in this third verse, is not respecting pardon from past sins. It is neglecting anything, that the Lord Jesus provided for His people. It thus deals with that heart of indolence that says: "Well, I'd like this from the Lord, but really, I'm not the least interested in any more." Utterly cutting across this attitude that says: "Well, I'd like to take a certain thing from the sacrifice of Christ, but you see, really, I just don't want to go all the way. I'm not interested in some of these other things."
The word in the first verse, is equally explicit: "We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard,". Why? Because, there's a tendency to allow precious things, to slip through our hands. Things that are of tremendous value, can be easily lost. "
