Lesson #16
Our Great Salvation In Christ Jesus
As faithful Christians we have a great and wonderful salvation that is waiting for us. We cannot even begin to imagine how wonderful it’s going to be. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). We have "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away" (1 Peter 5:4).
God has planned for our salvation from the beginning of the world. "Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace, that would come to you" (1 Peter 1:9-10). The promise of our salvation is wonderful. "By which have been given to us exceeding great and precious promises that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). Today we have "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).
We must not become complacent and neglect our salvation. We cannot afford to lose it. We are to, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). Any burden we now bear doesn’t even begin to compare to our great salvation that is reserved for us. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at things which are seen, but at things which are not seen" (2 Corinthians 4:17). "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him" (Hebrews 2:3). We cannot afford to fail.
Paul says, "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10). Only those who are in Christ have access to this salvation. How does one get into Christ to have this great salvation? "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). It is at the point of baptism that one gets into Christ. Those of us who are in Christ must continue to diligently serve the Lord. We should serve the Lord with gladness and joy by obeying His every command for Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 10:30). In doing this, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering" (Hebrews 10:23). Let's make going to heaven our number one priority in this life.
As Jesus was standing before Pilate, "Pilate said to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?'" (Matthew 27:22). Every person who has ever lived has to answer this same question, "What shall I do with Jesus?". The answer to this question will determine the eternal destiny of either Heaven or Hell for every living soul when this life is over.
Jesus says, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him, the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). The vast majority of the world will reject Jesus (Matthew 7:13-14) because they do not believe Him (John 8:24). Included in this majority is the denominational world who choose to do things their own way. They have come up with their own plans of salvation, their own forms of worship, and their own churches. Even by the names they call themselves they have rejected Jesus. They do their own will and not the will of God. They call Him their Lord and claim to know Him, but they do not keep His commandments, but their own. God's word says, "He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:4).
There are many people who reject their great salvation because they are ashamed of Jesus. But Jesus says, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38). One who is ashamed of Jesus who gave His life for us will be eternally lost.
Some brethern will follow Jesus for a while but will become unfaithful and reject Him. "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’" (John 6:66-68). A child of God who falls away and becomes unfaithful to the Lord is likened to "A dog returns to his own vomit, and a sow, having been washed, to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Peter 2:22). The Hebrew writer asks, "Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:29). If one continues to be unfaithful and does not repent, "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment" (Hebrews 10:26-27).
To be pleasing to the Lord so we can go to Heaven we must "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Lets "be even more diligent to make your call and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). God doesn’t want anyone to be lost, but before one can be saved he must come to the knowledge of the truth of God’s word. Even though the Lord desires all men to be saved, Jesus says there will only be few who choose the narrow way so they can be saved (Matthew 7:13-14).
But who will be saved? Jesus says, "But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22). We must faithfully endure to the end of our life here on the earth if we want to be saved. Our number one priority in this life must be to obey God in all things and endure to the end, so we will be saved and go to Heaven. Let’s not neglect our great salvation in Christ Jesus.
Questions Lesson #16
Our Great Salvation In Christ Jesus
(Click on the button of the answer of your choice)
1) (1 Corinthians 2:19) Can we understand how wonderful Heaven will be?
Yes, we understand it quite well.
No, eye has not seen or ear heard a complete description of Heaven.
Yes, it will be a little better than life here on the earth.
2) (1 Peter 1:4) Over time, Heaven will be corrupted and will fade away.
3) (2 Peter 1:4) The promises of life in Heaven are
Exceedingly great and precious.
Are not exceedingly great and precious.
Are not much different than life here on the earth.
4) (Philippians 4:7) The faithful Christian's peace of mind with God passes all understanding.
5) (2 Corinthians 4:17) The problems we face here on the earth are described as
Long and tedious.
Horrible.
A light affliction, which is but for a moment.
6) (Hebrews 2:3) There is no escaping eternal punishment if we neglect our great salvation.
7) (John 12:48) What will be the standard of judgment in the Judgment?
The creeds of men.
What we personally think.
The words of Christ.
8) (1 John 12:48) He who says he knows Christ and doesn't keep His commandments is a liar.
9) (Mark 8:38) If we are ashamed of Christ in this life
He will forgive us at the Judgment.
He will be ashamed of us at the Judgment and we will be lost.
He will not be ashamed of us at the Judgment.
10) (Hebrews 10:26-27) There no longer remains a sacrifice for the sins of one who is unfaithful to the Lord.
11) (2 Peter 2:22) One who falls away and becomes unfaithful to the Lord is likened to
A dog going back and eating his own vomit.
Something good.
Something that the one who fell away couldn't help.
12) (Matthew 10:22) To be saved one must be faithful to the end of his life.