Hebrews 2:3, ‘How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.’

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last week Elder John Leong and I received from brother Daniel Koh an article with the title, “Religion may become Extinct in Nine Countries.” Scientists based on decades of census data and mathematical model, claiming that religion in nine countries is on the brink of extinction. Upon seeing this, Elder John’s reply to this was, “The Lord will have His remnant in every nation and tongue; true Christianity will not die.”

On the contrary, philosopher and infidel, Voltaire (1694-1778), did everything in his power to ridicule Christ and Christianity. Of Christ, he said, “Curse the wretch,” and “in twenty years, Christianity will be no more” The nurse who attended at his death bed heard, “I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six month’s life, then I will go to hell!”

It is an everlasting regret to live the short life of three score years and ten without knowing God. In this world people are saved or lost, it is either one or the other. The author of Hebrews makes it plain in his words, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”

Why Salvation is so great?

1. Jesus Christ is the great God and our Saviour, Titus 2:13. Everything about Him, related to Him and connected with Him is great.

2. Salvation is so great because of His ability, ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief’1 Timothy 1:15.

3. Salvation is so great because of its availability. The Gospel stands above all religions. It does not conform to rules or church membership and is not based on good works nor can one be born into the religion but it is as follows, one is :

a) a sinner – Romans 3:23

b) a willing confessor of your sins – 1 John 1:9

c) a willing penitent of your sins – Acts 17:30

d) a willing recipient of salvation – Romans 10:10

4. Why salvation is so great is because of its reliability. The only plan of salvation for fallen mankind that cannot fail and is foolproof because :

a) God does not know of a sinner that He does not love.

b) God does not know of a better plan than His own plan to have sinners to be saved.

c) God does not know of a better time than His perfect time for sinners to be saved.

To have Jesus Christ to be our great God and our Saviour, salvation’s ability and availability may sound too simple, too perfect and too good to be true. And such would not be if it were not backed up by the inerrant, infallible, inspired and preserved word of God that makes it abundantly clear that salvation is not a temporary contract but an everlasting covenant to the glory of God.

Pastor Douglas Ho