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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/alex-dryburgh/so-great-salvation/
Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 2, verse 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Let me read that again. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? The Lord will bless what we have heard and also this reading from His precious word.
You know, salvation's a Bible word. I believe no less than 158 times in the Bible you read about the word salvation. So what we're going to speak about this evening, we're going to speak about a Bible word, the word salvation.
There are three things tonight we're going to consider from the verse that we have read. The first thing we're going to consider tonight is this. Salvation, so great. Then secondly, neglect, so easy. And then finally, escape, so impossible.
Now the Bible has much to say about salvation. The Bible talks about common salvation. The Bible speaks about eternal salvation. And the Bible speaks about so great salvation. What I want to consider tonight with you for a short time is this.
Why is this salvation called so great salvation? And we're going to give reason after reason why this salvation is called so great salvation. The first thing we're going to say tonight about this great salvation is this.
It's great because of the God that planned it. Remember, this was a message that came from God. It was God that planned it. What do we sometimes sing? Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan. The grace that brought it down to man.
The mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary. And I want to make it very clear this evening. This salvation is so great because of the God that planned it. But then secondly, this salvation is so great because of the people who are invited to it.
I want you to mark my words this evening. Remember, God has no favorites. I discovered this. God has no favorites as far as sin is concerned. Listen to what the Bible says. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
God has no favorites as far as salvation is concerned. In Matthew chapter 22, I read about a king that made a marriage for his son. In Luke's gospel chapter 14, I read about a man that made a great supper.
And I want you tonight to notice the people that were invited. In Matthew 22, I read a verse like this. Go to the highway. And in Luke's gospel chapter 14, I read those words. Go to the lanes. Go to the hedges.
Go to the streets. And again, go to the highways. And I tell you tonight, dear friend, Remember, God has no favorites as far as salvation is concerned. You know, when I was a child at the Sunday school, we used to sing a chorus and it went something like this.
Tell the merry and sad. Tell the good and the bad. Tell the captive as well as the free. Tell the weak and the strong. They may all come along. All because of verse 16, John 3. Oh yes, I can see. Whosoever means me.
I am ever so thankful for the verse in John 3. So remember, God has no favorites as far as sin is concerned. God has no favorites as far as salvation is concerned. But remember, God has no favorites as far as judgment is concerned.
Listen to what the Bible says. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. But remember, it's so great salvation because of the invitation given to each and everyone.
Thirdly, you know it's a great salvation because of the price that was paid to purchase it. I go to Matthew 22, I read a verse like this. My oxen and my fatlings are killed. Come, for all things are now ready.
Have you got the picture? The strongest that the man had, as seen in the oxen. And the best that the man had, as seen in the fatlings. Mine oxen, my fatlings are killed. Come, for all things are now ready.
And I want to go to Calvary tonight very quickly. And I want to say this, that God gave the strongest that he had. And God gave the best that he had at the place called Calvary. Listen tonight to the words of the hymn writer.
Infinite love was wounded sore. It sought to bridge the span. Shut out the separating wedge and walk again with man. He gave his best, his well-beloved. He came, he bled, he died. To reconcile, he paid the price.
And he has bridged the great divide. So great salvation, because of the price that was paid to purchase it. But you know, I like this one. It's so great salvation, because of what it offers tonight. I want to make it very clear tonight from this platform.
What salvation tonight offers the sinner? The first thing I notice what offers the sinner tonight is this. The sinner can have life. Listen tonight to what the Bible says. I am come, that ye might have life.
And that you might have it more abundantly. What do we sometimes sing? Life, life, eternal life. Jesus alone is the giver. Life, life, abundant life. Glory to Jesus forever. Salvation tonight offers the sinner life.
But then secondly, I discover this. It offers rest. Listen tonight to the words of the Lord Jesus. Come unto me. All ye that labour and are heavy laden. And I will give you rest. Come again. This salvation tonight that we preach, it offers peace.
He made peace through the blood of his cross. Now in the glory he wakes to impart. Peace to the conscience, joy to the heart. Wakes to be gracious, to pardon and heal. All who their sin and their wretchedness feel.
It offers peace. It offers rest. It offers life. And tonight, friend, it offers satisfaction. He satisfies the longing soul. And he filleth the hungry with good things. Listen tonight to the words of the hymn writer.
Christ can save though dark the heart. Christ can wondrous peace impart. Christ can make the blind eye see. Christ can set the prisoner free. Christ can meet all human need. Christ can satisfy indeed.
So remember tonight, friend, it's so great salvation. But my second point tonight is this. Neglect so easy. I want you to notice what it doesn't say. It does not say reject. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?
I understand that word neglect. It's the same phrase as Matthew 22. Remember the invitation went out. Come for all things are now ready. But what do we read? They made light of it. They neglected it. And they went to their farms.
And they went to their merchandise. I remember having gospel meetings in L 'Anselou, Labrador, with our brother Gaze Goff. There was a man who attended those meetings. He had attended meetings for years.
His name was, we called him Uncle Jim Linstead. And Uncle Jim Linstead had attended meetings for years. His wife was saved. His eldest son was saved. And many of his grandchildren were saved. But Uncle Jim was not saved.
I remember one afternoon visiting him. And we were all alone in his kitchen. Sitting at the table in his kitchen. I remember speaking to Uncle Jim. And I put a question to him. And the question was this.
Uncle Jim, could you tell me why you're not saved? And you know, he thought for a minute. Now, here's the words of Uncle Jim. I suppose I have just been careless. I suppose that I have just been careless.
You know what they tell me? Most accidents on the road is caused by carelessness. Most accidents on the sea are caused by carelessness. Most accidents in the forest are caused by carelessness. And I fear many a soul is going to land in hell because of carelessness.
You know what happened? Uncle Jim and his oldest son, who was an elder in the assembly in Lancelot, died the same day. And I had to take the funeral. And there was the casket of Uncle Jim. And there was the casket of his oldest son, Wes.
And as far as I know, Uncle Jim died as he lived. I suppose I have just been careless. I wonder, am I speaking to one tonight? And up to this present moment, you have just been careless. Let me come to my third point very quickly.
Escape, so impossible. Way back in the Old Testament, Genesis 18 is it. We are warned to escape. Remember the verse? Escape for thy life. Look not behind thee. Tarry not in all the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Warned to escape. I turn tonight to Psalm 124. And I notice a company of people who have escaped. Listen to my verse. Our souls are escaped. Like a bird from the snare of the fowler. The snare is broken.
And we have escaped. But you know, I come to 1 Thessalonians 5. And I read a verse like this. When they shall say peace and safety. Then sudden destruction cometh upon them. As travail upon a woman with child.
And they shall not escape. How shall we escape? If we neglect so great salvation. You know, I only heard the late Albert Joyce. Preach the Gospel once. It would be in the year 1966. The Easter Conference in Toronto.
The late Mr. Joyce preached the Gospel. You know, that man said two things that night. I've never forgot he said this. Speaking to a very large company. Over a thousand people. Listen tonight to his words.
You might drift into hell. You'll never drift into heaven. The second thing he said was this. You won't be in hell by chance. You'll be in hell by choice. You will not be in heaven by chance. You will be in heaven by choice.
And before you go through that door this evening. You have to make a choice. It's either heaven. Or it's hell. Two ways before us lie. And each a choice must make. One which leads upward to the sky. One downward to the lake.
Will any choose the path of woe. Each must answer yes or no. I leave the verse with you. How shall we escape. If we neglect. So great salvation. Shall we pray. Our Father. We thank Thee tonight for the twofold gospel.
And we do pray that Thou wilt bless it. Both to saint and to sinner. We thank Thee for those tonight with us. Who are saved and bound for heaven. If there are any tonight. Our God who are still in their sin.
We cry to Thee now for the salvation. Of their precious soul. Part us now with Thy blessing. Take us to our homes tonight in safety. As we offer our praise and our thanksgiving. In the Lord Jesus worthy and precious name.
Amen.