Hebrews 7:25
The Ultimate Salvation
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so
great salvation….
These verses are alluding the greatness of salvation. All products
are in a constant state of remaking and remarketing themselves as new
and improved. We have all seen commercials where the newer versions
can work faster, last longer, clean better, smell sweeter, feel
softer, has less fat, gives more enengy, increases stamina, is
enviromentally safer, or just plain looks better.
I am glad to report to you, that the salvation we have believed in
has never come out with a renovation or a renewal. It has not been
enhanced, improved, or made better a single time in the 2000 plus
years it has been available! The reason why is that it can not be
improved upon. It did all that it needed to do—and more—from the very
beginning. It is not only the only salvation, it is the ultimate
salvation!
What does our ultimate salvation do?
I. As the ultimate salvation, it reaches to the lowest depths.
A. The Bible portrays the human race as a lowly, unclean race.
1. We are devoid of righteousness:
Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one:
2. Deprieved of reason:
Ro 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there
is none that seeketh after God.
3. Deceitful above all things:
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
4. Dwellers of darkness:
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that
light is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.
5. Dead in tresspasses:
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead
in trespasses and sins;
6. These six truths leave us in a terrible fix. We are
sinful but too dull and deceitful to realize it so we
continue to abide in sin and darkness!
B. Yet, the ultimate salvation can reach us!
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are
washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by
the Spirit of our God.
Ro 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became
the servants of righteousness.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on his name:
C. The determination of whether salvation reaches us or not is
not salation’s ability but our man’s response.
D. Hence, this salvation is able to save those who have lied,
stolen, been disrepectful to parents, profaned the Lord’s
name, disregarded the Lord’s Day, been filled with jealousy,
rage, maliciousness, discontentment, pride, and/or envy.
E. Not only is it capable but it has saved an unsavory group who
have been guilty of adultery, fornation, false worship, no
worship, self worship, fraud, robbery, abuse, neglect,
endangerment, stupidity, lewdness, drug abuse, alcohol abuse,
sexual abuse, verbal abuse, and child abuse.
F. Down throught the centuries, the ultimate salvation has saved
those who were demon oppressed, demon possessed, witches,
warlocks, occult members, Satan worshippers; those who were
murderers, serial killers, mass murderers, children killers,
war cirminals; those who are pedifiles, prostitutes, pimps,
homosexuals, stalkers.
G. In short, as the ultimate salvation, it has rescued the
upright who has been an asset to the community, the
workplace, and the family, but it has also saved the likes
of Ted Bundy, Saul of Tarsus, and Carl Hall of Green Pond.
II. As the ultimate salvation, it carries us the uttermost end.
A. Some associate the word uttermost with the word guttermost;
and it does have a nice sound. However, the Scripture was
speaking here of God saving us to the utter end.
B. No one wants:
1. A toothpaste that needs to be reapplied before the job is
done or a motor oil that may or may not hold up to the
task.
2. The Bible is promising a salvation that needs only one
application and will last until the very end.
John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which
hath sent me, that of all which he hath given
me I should lose nothing…
1Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith
unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time.
2Timothy 1:12 For I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that
day.
C. The Bible is promising the ultimate salvation which begins
work immediately…
1John 5:13 These things have I written unto you
that believe on the name of the Son of God; that
ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
…and does not stop until we are recreated into the very
image of God Himself.
1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and
it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like
him; for we shall see him as he is.
D. Those who believe that they can lose their salvation or
somehow stop the work of God…
1. Diminish the quality of God’s salvation.
2. Doubt the quantity of God’s love.
3. Dispute the qualifications of God’s ability.
III. As the ultimate salvation, it produces the most radical change.
A. God’s ultimate salvation offers a change to the believer that
defies logic and human ability.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness
of life.
2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk
in them.
B. It is that dynamic, permanent, and powerful change that
baffles the unrightreous and quites the doubter.
1. Peter the denier
2. Paul the persecuter
3. I can look across this room and see those whose
transformation has brought others to a saving knowledge
of Jesus Christ.
4. Yet, there are also some who have resisted the power of
Christ so much that others can not tell there is anything
different about you.
a. They do not sense God’s presence in your life.
b. They can not observe God’s power in your life.
5. These two are evident when there is a radical change, but
there does not have to be an outward radical change for
the presence and power of God to be present.
a. Perhaps you have always been a moral person, a clean
person, an unright person. Good.
b. But if you have been saved, you did not always have
God’s presence and power.
c. These come with salvation not with an outward radical
change.
d. But they also require walking with God, seeking God,
loving God, putting God first.
6. This is the inward change which drives the radical outward
change and is the most radical of all changes.
IV. As the ultimate salvation, it opens the best opportunities.
A. The ultimate salvation not only saves us, it offers to us the
privilege of serving God.
2Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to
God.
1Corinthians 16:9 For a great door and effectual
is opened unto me, and there are many
adversaries.
B. In an instant, we go from being enemies of God to being a part
of His family and servants in His kingdom.
1. No matter if you are full-time, part-time, or volunteer;
no matter if you are a bold preacher, a public teacher,
or a quiet model of what was preached and taught you,
you have many opportunities.
2. The common rank instantly conferred upon every Christian
is the rank of witness.
Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth.
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months,
and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you,
Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for
they are white already to harvest.
3. But there is much more you can do.
Psalm 84:10 … I had rather be a doorkeeper in
the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents
of wickedness.
a. You can keep the door of God’s house (i.e. lock it,
unlock it, open it for people to go through, guard it
that evil does not enter through it, pass out
bulletins, greet strangers.)
b. But the Bible also says that God "gave gifts unto
men."
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up
on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men.
c. What gifts?
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
1Cor 12:28 …after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues.
d. In churches today, he also have brick layers, heating
and cooling technicians, mchanics, electricians,
carpenters, counselors, door knockers,plumbers,
cooks, cleaners, carpet installers, dish washers,
tract distrbuitors, shoppers, secretaries,
accountants, lawyers, guards, sound and video techs,
computer installers and repairers, and more.
V. As the ultimate salvation, it grants the greatest of all prizes.
A. Let’s start with some of the here-and-now prizes.
1. Forgiveness
2. Power over sin
3. Fellowship with God
4. A new life with a new beginning
5. The indwelling of the Holy Ghost
6. The Word of God to convey the mind of God
7. The fellowship of the family of God
B. Then we can start to consider the then-and-there prizes.
1. Heaven
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new
earth: for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away.
Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse:
but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be
in it; and his servants shall serve him:
2. Rewards
1Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that
watereth are one: and every man shall receive his
own reward according to his own labour.
1Corinthians 3:14 If any man’s work abide which
he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward.
Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall
receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye
serve the Lord Christ.
3. Glorified body
1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the
dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised
in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in
glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in
power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a
spiritual body….
4. Family reunion
1Thess 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died
and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him.
After speaking for this length of time, giving this number of Bible
verses, mentioning these many truths, I have not but sratched the
surface of the salvation that God offers. It is the ultimate
salvation. It can not be improved upon except by your acceptance of
it. I pray that you will do just that today.
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