[0:00] Tonight we are celebrating a great salvation, a salvation that Hebrews says that no one can ignore.! You can't ignore it, you can't forget it.
[0:13] We are celebrating what the Lord has done for Cade and Gage, but we are also remembering what he's done for many of us. A great salvation. Hebrews 2.3 asks, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
[0:33] If you're a Christian here tonight, I want you to remember, again, how great your salvation is.
[0:44] How great it was, and what great and terrible and great and wonderful things God has done in this salvation. If you're a Christian, baptisms are a lot like weddings.
[0:58] Ideally, you personally only go through them once, but every wedding afterward that you attend, it is a reminder. It's a reminder of what's happened to you. It's a reminder of the promises that you've made.
[1:12] I know from my own experience, you fly through your own wedding and you barely can remember any of it, and it's only afterwards that you're sitting in the pews and you're looking at these two, and you remember, oh yeah, that's what happened to me. That's what I promised.
[1:32] Well, that's a lot. It's very much the same with baptisms. Christians, I want you to rejoice with Cade and Gage tonight. Celebrate God's grace to them, but I also want you to remember what it means for you, because everything that we're talking about has happened for them and it has happened for you.
[1:53] And if you aren't a Christian, I know that some of you make no profession of faith. You've never heart and soul put yourself into Jesus' hands knowing you needed forgiveness, a new life.
[2:11] You needed to be made right with God. And that's where some of you are. Maybe some of you are far, far away. And maybe some of you are right outside of the gate.
[2:24] You're really close, but you're not in. You haven't entered yet. Yet. Well, if that's you, I want you to see what the Lord has done and what you need.
[2:37] This great salvation. God's salvation is great. And I have four reasons, and they're all going to be very quick. God has forgiven you a great amount of sins.
[2:53] God's salvation is great because in that salvation, he saves you from a great amount of sins. Psalm 103 says he forgives us all of our sins.
[3:08] All of our sins. So sins of your past. Sins that you remember. Sins that you don't remember.
[3:21] Every act of disobedience. Every act of pride. Every mean word. Every evil, lustful, dirty thought.
[3:34] Every self-righteous, proud judgment on others where you stood above them and looked down upon them. Every time you chose yourself over God.
[3:48] Every time you heard the gospel and said, Jesus, no, I don't need you. I don't want you. Every time you scorned him and said the cross, I don't need it.
[4:00] I don't want it. Every time you should have done something. But you didn't do it. You knew the good that you were supposed to do, but you just refrained from doing it.
[4:13] You should have stood up for someone. You should have stood up for that person at school. You should have stood up for what was right. But you were a coward.
[4:26] Or you joined in and were a bully. Every time God drew a line in the sand and said, you shall not cross this line.
[4:38] And you crossed it. All your sins. All your sins. Your past sins.
[4:50] And your future sins. Kate and Gage, you haven't lived very long. And I am sorry to say, but you have a lot more sins that you're going to commit.
[5:05] A lot of future sins. Sins of teenagers. Sins of marriage. I know this seems a thousand miles away.
[5:17] Sins against your children. Sins that you shouldn't do, but you're going to do them. Or things you should do, but you don't do them.
[5:30] Anger. And jealousy. And malice. And greed. And envy. Sins that you don't even know about yet. That are buried in your heart.
[5:42] Sins that you can't even imagine committing. Sins that us older people still commit. He's forgiven you all your sins.
[5:57] As Christians, we've sinned against God's law. But as Christians, I think the worst is when we sin against his grace. When in the face of the cross.
[6:09] In the face of God's love. Knowing his love. Knowing his mercy. Experiencing it in the shadow of the cross. We despise him.
[6:21] We despise Jesus. And I think those are the worst sins of all. To know that Jesus loved me. And he suffered anguish for me. That none can tell.
[6:31] We just sang that. And to do it anyway. To go on anyway. Sins against grace. But he has forgiven us all.
[6:44] All of our sins. He punished his son for you. And he forgave you. We sing my sins not in part. Not 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80%.
[6:56] My sins not in part. But the whole are nailed to the cross. And I bear them no more. So that whole stinking mess. Of our sin.
[7:08] Nailed to the cross. Not a few sins. David. Who was a man after God's own heart. Who in other places could say I am righteous. Even here David could say that.
[7:19] But David said oh my sins. They are more than the hairs of my head. When he thought about his sinfulness. He said my sins are many.
[7:31] And God forgives us all of our sins. Hell is in every one of our sins. Hell is in the bottom of every single one of our sins. And he washed them all away.
[7:43] He will never hold them against us. As far as the east is from the west. So far has he removed our sins from us.
[7:53] He promises I will forgive their wickedness. And remember their sins no more. That means I am never going to bring them up against you in judgment.
[8:04] Not a single one of them is going to find their way. And be on the books on judgment day. Where I will hold you accountable for it. All forgiven.
[8:17] And that's why salvation is great. Because he forgives a great amount of sins. Second point. He has saved you from a great and terrible fate.
[8:31] A great and terrible fate. Last verses of the book of Isaiah. Read like this.
[8:48] And these were such terrible words that the Jews like to put other verses at the end. So Isaiah would end this way. But listen how Isaiah ends.
[9:01] And they will go out. And look upon the dead bodies. Of those who have rebelled against me. Their worm will not die.
[9:13] Nor will their fire be quenched. And they will be loathsome. To all mankind. A great and terrible fate.
[9:28] Hell is a pit filled with worms devouring. Fires burning. And the righteous will see them.
[9:41] And be filled with holy disgust. At what they see. And those who are in that pit. Who have rebelled against God.
[9:53] They will cry and not be heard. They will not be heard. Sir. Open the door for us. I don't know you. Or where you come from.
[10:06] We ate and drank with you. And you taught in our streets. That's who we are. That's where you were with us. I don't know you. Or where you come from.
[10:17] Away from me. All you evil doers. Jesus says there will be weeping there. And gnashing of teeth. When you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
[10:28] And all the prophets in the kingdom of God. But you yourselves thrown out. That is the terrible fate. That God saves us from. So. They will see you.
[10:39] And you will see them. But. Over the gates of hell. There. It's written. Abandon all hope. You who enter here. To enter into that place.
[10:53] Is to be in that place. Forever. No hope. No hope. Eternally. No hope.
[11:09] That's what Jesus saved you from. That's where you were going. That was your end.
[11:20] So Christian. How can we forget. And. My. Poor. Unbelieving. Friend. My word is. Have pity on yourself.
[11:33] Have pity. On yourself. Because that is the end. Of all those who. Are not saved. That's not old fashioned.
[11:45] That's not. Unclear. That is the Bible's. Clear and consistent. Testimony. That is the end. Of all. Who are not saved.
[11:56] By Jesus Christ. That is why. You need. A great. Salvation. And Jesus. Can save you. From your sins.
[12:07] And he can save you. From that terrible. And great. Fate. But it's not just the future. It's not just the future.
[12:19] So God saves us. And forgives us. Of all our sins. He saves us. From hell. God's salvation. Is great. Because it. Is. A great. And good. Life.
[12:30] Here. And now. The Christian life. Is not just all about. It's going to be good. Someday. It's something that begins here. And the Christian life. Is great.
[12:41] The salvation of God. Is great. Because of what he does. Currently. Presently. In our lives. He makes us. And he takes us. From being dead. Bushes.
[12:51] Without life. Without fruit. Without anything. Going for us. And he makes us. To be trees. Planted by the water. Bearing fruit. Every season.
[13:02] Even. Down. To old age. So. This. The Christian life. It's a spirit. Filled. Filled life. It's the. Life of God.
[13:12] In the soul. Of man. And it's. It's a believing. It's a breathing. It's a joyful. Thing. It's life. With God. That is. What is so great.
[13:22] About the salvation. Is because. Currently. October 4th. 2020. You can now. Begin to live. Life. With. God. With him.
[13:33] As your friend. And he says. I'll never leave you. I'll never. Forsake you. Doesn't matter. What you go through. I'll go through that. With you. They like to read.
[13:47] Psalm 23. At funerals. It's a psalm. Everyone knows. Everyone's. Familiar with. And it is a comforting. Psalm. Psalm 23.
[13:57] But the Christian life. Is. Psalm 23. Every. Single. Day. That is what is so great. About that psalm. Not that it fits really nicely.
[14:09] Into a funeral service. But it is the Christians. Every. Day. Life. Currently. The Lord. Is my shepherd. I shall not.
[14:21] Want. Though I walk through the valley. Of the shadow of death. Even when it gets as bad. As it possibly can get here. On earth. You are with me.
[14:33] And that psalm ends with. And goodness and mercy. Will follow me. All the days of my life. That's the glory. That is the goodness. That is the greatness. Of the Christian life.
[14:44] Here presently. Goodness and mercy. Following you. And catching you. And. And. And. And landing upon you. All the days of your life. And so. I don't. I don't care if they read Psalm 23.
[14:55] At my funeral. If they want to. That's fine. I guess if I want to. That. That would be good for them. But. You know what? I don't care about that. Because I'm living it. Every. Day. I'm living it.
[15:05] Every. Day. The Christian life. Is great. It's life. In God's family. It's life. With God. It's life. With God's family. Jesus is very honest. He says.
[15:16] You might. You very well. Might. Lose. Your family. Your physical. Family. And becoming a Christian. If you decide to follow me. Sometimes. That's.
[15:26] That's. The cost. That you're going to have to pay. You might lose your family here. But. That is the sad case. But. His answer. His complete answer. Is not. Well. In heaven.
[15:37] It's going to be better. Someday. He doesn't say that. He says. In this life. In return. For losing. Your physical. Family. For your.
[15:47] Literal. Mom and dad. You will in return. Receive a hundred fathers. A hundred mothers. A hundred brothers and sisters. A hundred. Houses. God.
[15:59] Saves us. And Christian. I want you to. Really internalize this. God has saved you. Into. A new. Humanity. A new family.
[16:11] And it's a family. Of love. It's a family. Of generosity. It's a family. Of kindness. Family.
[16:22] Of. Wisdom. These. Are. The best. People. To do life with. And God. Saves you. Out of.
[16:33] An old humanity. And put you. Into this new humanity. The Christian life. Is. Great. But this life. As good as it is. And the forgiveness of sins.
[16:44] As good as it is. It is the doorway. To heaven. It's the doorstep. It. You don't stay here. You're. You're. You're meant to go further.
[16:54] And God is taking us further. And so this is point four. God's salvation is great. Because God has. Destined us. For a great. And wonderful. And glorious.
[17:06] Future. As bad as hell is. Heaven is. Great. And good. In my father's house. Are many rooms.
[17:18] So what is heaven? Jesus says heaven is. Is. Living with God. In the family. In the family of God. Forever. It's living in the king's house.
[17:29] And you're not a guest. It's not like you're there temporarily. You. Instead you are a child. At home. So. You're going to feel. Like you belong.
[17:39] In heaven. This is going to be. Your people. Your place. You belong here. It's the difference between. You know. Show. Like sleeping over. At your friend's house.
[17:49] On Friday night. And Saturday morning. You wake up. And you have to do. Your. You're in your pajamas. And you're. You're there. With them. And. You don't belong.
[18:01] As opposed to. The child who wakes up. Out of their bed. And gets in there. Out. And they're in their pajamas. And they go. And they sit. On the living room. And they turn on the TV.
[18:11] And they watch cartoons. That child belongs. In the family. Jesus is saying. That's what heaven is going to be. Like you are going to live there. That's where you're going to belong.
[18:23] These are going to be. Your people. Your place. With God as your father. Heart. Heaven is a world of love. And you are going to be there.
[18:34] For these three remain. Faith. Hope. And love. But the greatest is. Love. Why? Because love is the one that lasts forever. And just keeps going. And doesn't that thrill your heart?
[18:45] That forever. And ever. And ever. You are going to live with people that love you. And that you will love them in return. Heaven is a world of love. You're going to live with the brightest sunshine of God's love smiling upon you.
[19:02] Where you are loved now. His love isn't going to grow for you there. He loves you with the same kind of love now. But then all the cloud is going to be gone.
[19:14] The veil is going to be gone. And his affection for you will fill your soul. Your heart. Every day. Every day. So the heights of God's love.
[19:27] The depths of God's love. Will greet you every morning. With a kiss. A smile. A song. You are loved now. But there.
[19:37] It will be perfectly seen. Heaven is a world where all the people love each other. Can you imagine that? Every person that you meet.
[19:49] Every person that you talk to. Every person that you have work with. Every person that you worship with. You will love everything about them.
[20:00] And they will love everything about you. They'll be delighted in you. And you'll be delighted in them. That is what God has saved us. Too.
[20:11] That's where we're going. That's why this salvation is so great. This is. That's why it's so wonderful. What has happened to Cade and to Gage. Because they had lots of sins. And they were forgiven all of their sins.
[20:22] They were going to hell. Now they're going to heaven. Amazing. Heaven is a world of love. And so it's a world of joy.
[20:33] Because there will be no more death. Or mourning. Or crying. Or pain. Heaven is as great as God. And best of all.
[20:43] It will never, ever, ever end. If it was that good. And it had an expiration date. Then it would be a miserable place. But it will never, ever end.
[20:54] It will only, only, only get better. And better and better. When you have been there. Ten million ages of men. God will say.
[21:06] You are not nearly as happy. As I mean you to be. All the last ten million ages of men. Have been preparing you to experience. New heights of joy.
[21:16] New heights of love. To get you ready for what is coming. That is why salvation is so great. It gives you a glorious future.
[21:28] Christian remember. Remember what has happened to you. Remember this is what Jesus has done for you. And so celebrate your own salvation tonight.
[21:44] Even as you celebrate. What God has done for Kate and Gage. As the family is getting bigger. And heaven's role is filling up. We're closer than we were before.
[21:55] Remember that number. That number that no man can count. That number is filling up. Rejoice in this great salvation. Rejoice in what he's done for Kate and Gage.
[22:05] But remember. Rejoice in what he's done for you. And if you aren't a believer. Again. If you're far away. Or if you're right at the gate. But you're not in there yet.
[22:17] Or you're. This is maybe some of the first time you've heard some of these things. Or this is something that you know so well. Don't ignore this great salvation.
[22:31] Don't ignore it. Jesus says you can come to me without money. Without anything good to say for yourself. Without doing anything.
[22:43] Don't worry about being good enough. Or. And don't even worry about. Thinking. Maybe I don't feel my sin badly enough. The only question is. Is do you want salvation?
[22:54] Are you willing. To go to Jesus. And ask him for it. Are you willing to repent of everything. Repudiate the whole old life. And come right to Jesus. And he says. If that's what you want.
[23:05] Then come and take it. He says. Come to me. Without money. And buy. You know what. Buying something without money is. It's just called taking.
[23:18] It's just called taking. So you're at a garage sale. And everything has. Prices on it. But sometimes they have that box. That says free. Right.
[23:29] And it's usually filled with little trinkets. That are worth absolutely nothing. But God is having a garage sale. And he has put this great salvation. And he's put it into the free box.
[23:41] And he's saying. Take it. Jesus says. Come. Come. Take it. If you want it. Take it. And the church. All of God's people.
[23:52] They're saying. Come. Take it. We've taken it. It's good. Take it. And if you do. If you take that salvation. He's saying it's free.
[24:05] If you don't ignore it. But you take it. Well then you can join. Our happy family. Under our happy God. And you can have this great. Salvation.
[24:17] You can have. This great. Salvation. Thank you. Thank you.