So Great Salvation
A Sermon on "So Great a Salvation" from Hebrews 2:1-4
Scripture
1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3How shall …
Sermon Description
Why is it such a terrible thing to reject the gospel? In this sermon, “So Great Salvation,” from Hebrews 2:1–4 titled Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on humanity’s need of salvation and what happens if one rejects it. Salvation is such a weighty matter because of its source: God. If anyone says no to salvation, then they say no to the God who has offered salvation to all who believe. This is why it is such a dangerous thing to spurn God’s gracious gift that He has put forward in Jesus Christ. But those who do accept salvation are given the greatest possible blessing: eternal life and peace with God. The gospel is God’s ultimate gift of grace that alone can free people from sin and judgement. This sermon calls each and every one to examine themselves and ask the question: “have I accepted God’s gift of salvation? Am I trusting in Jesus as my only hope?” This is not an inconsequential question, but it is the most important question anyone can ask, for with the great gift of salvation comes the great penalty for rejecting it.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by introducing Hebrews 2:1-4 and the question posed in verse 3: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?"
- The sermon outlines why this salvation is so great by examining:
- Its authorship: It is from God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Not man.
- What it saves us from: The judgment and punishment of God for our sin and disobedience. Our sin condemns us.
- What it saves us for: Reconciliation with God, adoption as His children, strength in temptation, and an eternal inheritance.
- The sermon then explores the great drama of how this salvation was achieved:
- Jesus, the Son of God through whom all things were made, was made lower than the angels by becoming a man.
- Jesus lived a perfect life, was tempted in every way as we are, and died an atoning death on the cross, tasting death for every man.
- Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death, and ascended into heaven where He intercedes for us. He will return again.
- The sermon concludes with an appeal to realize the greatness of this salvation, see our need of it, and come to Christ - the only one who can save us from eternal destruction and bring us eternal joy.
Itinerant Preaching
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.