O UR G REAT S ALVATION 1 Pet 1:3-5

I NTRODUCTION (H ELP FROM Z ONDERVAN P ASTOR ’ S A NNUAL ) “Have you ever tried to explain the meaning of salvation to someone who had not experienced it? It was not easy was it? There are at least two reasons for this difficulty. First, it is hard to translate an experience normally described in biblical language into twenty-first century nonbiblical expressions. Second, salvation includes many individual truths that must first be understood in order to comprehend the whole” “Much of the New Testament was written to help us better understand our faith. This was one of the primary purposes of Peter’s first epistle. To him, salvation was the greatest experience any person could have, even if he did not completely understand it.”

G REAT BECAUSE IT COMES FROM G OD Consider the words of James 1:16-17 God planned it It is not surprising that Peter praised the Lord, for he recognized that God had planned salvation Rev 13:8 describes Jesus as, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” We often hear of people seeking to find God. In salvation, we see God’s plan for finding people God provided it God’s plan to bring people out of their lost condition was made possible because He sent Christ to be the Redeemer of all mankind (cf. Jn 3:16) God shares it In Christ we are able to recognize not only God’s planning and provision, but also his willingness and desire to share His salvation with everyone Consider ther words of Pet in 2 Pet 3:9 “ 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, [a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”a

G REAT BECAUSE IT CHANGES US 2 Cor 5:17 “ 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Salvation changes our relationship with God Before salvation people are without a vital relationship with God After salvation Eph 2:19 “ 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, This change in relationship causes one to want to live a life pleasing to God

G REAT BECAUSE IT CHANGES US Salvation changes our relationship to sin No longer does sin need to have control over us It’s penalty has been removed through the blood of Christ We can now face the tempting power because 1 cor 10:13 “ 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Salvation changes our relationship to life There is no more a lack of purpose, a fearful uncertainty about the future, nor meaningless, because God has changed our relationship to life Just as Jesus said in Jn 11:25 Jn 11:25 “ 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

G REAT BECAUSE IT IS SECURE The Bible indicates that salvation is a secure and permanent relationship Rom 8:17 “ 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Jesus says in Jn 10:28 “ 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

G REAT BECAUSE IT IS SECURE Secure because it is an unchanging gift from God The word inheritance implies that salvation is a gift that is a settled and secure possession Secure because it is protected by God Peter uses two words to make clear God’s protection of salvation Reserved, which means to watch, to observe, to guard, to protect, to reserve, to set aside Kept, which is a military term meaning, to guard and protect God has reserved salvation in Heaven and keeps a constant guard over it until we safely arrive there

C ONCLUSION This great salvation is available to anyone ready to accept Christ as their savior and follow His commands. This includes even you!