Never Getting Over Being Saved

Sermon by Ken Trivette (2005-29)

NEVER GETTING OVER BEING SAVED

2 Peter 1:9

This sermon was preached on August 28, 2005

1. What is the greatest thing that ever happened in your life? Some might say that it was that job promotion that they got. Others might say it was an award or special recognition they received. If you listen to Gladys Knight and the Pips, you probably think some fellow or some girl was the best thing that ever happened to you. I don’t know what you may consider as the greatest thing that ever happened to you, but as for me, the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life happened on a Sunday morning in 1972. It was when God saved me.

Years I spent in vanity and pride,

Caring not my Lord was crucified,

Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned—

Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,

Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Mercy there was great and grace was free,

Pardon there was multiplied to me,

There my burdened soul found liberty—at Calvary.

2. That day was a miraculous day! It was a marvelous day! It was a momentous day! It is a day that I have never forgotten, and I pray by the grace of God, to never get over. Someone once asked Gypsy Smith why God had so used him through the years and he replied, “I never lost the wonder of it all.” I don’t want to loose the wonder of what God has done for me. It is a spiritual tragedy when the believer looses the wonder and thrill of being saved. May we ever stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene.

3. Our text speaks to the matter of getting over being saved. 2 Peter 1:9 actually describes three tragic spiritual conditions. It speaks of someone who is blind, cannot see afar off and has forgotten they were purged from their old sins. Due to a spiritual deficiency there is blindness which affects one’s spiritual apprehension. There is a lack of spiritual insight.

4. Also this spiritual deficiency results in not being able to see afar off. The statement literally means short-sighted and speaks of one’s spiritual affection. They only see as far as themselves and only think about themselves. This is a person in love with themselves.

5. The third condition, and the one that I am going to specifically deal with, concerns one’s spiritual appreciation. There is the matter of one forgetting that they have been purged from their sins. It is a case of someone getting over being saved and loosing the wonder of being saved.

6. Let’s look closer at the statement. First, in the statement we see:

1. A PAST FORGIVENESS

1. The statement speaks of a time in the past when one “was purged from his old sins.” In these words we are reminded of what we used to be and the glorious day when we came to the Lord Jesus and were forgiven of our sins.

2. First, we are reminded of:

A) The Past Conduct of Life

1. The “old sins” speak of the things we did before we were saved. It speaks to us of our old life and the conduct of that life. Ephesians 2:2 says, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

2. The course of the world refers to the age in which we live. In the past, we were slaves to the styles, trends, fads and lifestyles of our age. We lived like everyone else and did the things that everyone else was doing. We were the products of our culture. We had no room for God in our life and no thoughts of God.

3. In many cases the course of the world took us down paths that were marked by fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. For some the paths were steeper and deeper. The Bible clearly states that we are all sinners, but for some it was more evident. Someone has said that we are all dead in trespasses and sins. The only difference is the state of decay. For some the state of decay was far advanced.

4. Do you remember what you used to be and how you used to live? There is the “old sins,” the old life we used to live. However, there was a day when something wonderful happened in our life. As we say in FAITH, there was a day when we had a life-changing experience. There is not only the past conduct of life, but also:

B) The Past Change of Life

1. There are the “old sins” but hallelujah those “old sins” have been “purged.” The word “purged” means “washed” or “cleansed.” There was a day when by the grace of God and through the blood of the Lord Jesus we were cleansed of those old sins. The old life gave way to a new life in Christ Jesus.

You ask me why I'm happy so I'll just tell you why,
Because my sins are gone;
And when I meet the scoffers who ask me where they are,
I say, "My sins are gone."

They're underneath the blood on the cross of Calvary,
As far removed as darkness is from dawn;
In the sea of God's forgetfulness, that's good enough for me,
Praise God, my sins are gone!

I'm living now for Jesus, I'm happy night and day,
Because my sins are gone;
My soul is filled with music, with all my heart I say,
"I know my sins are gone!"

2. If there has been a time when you came to the Lord Jesus and accepted Him as your Savior, then praise God your old sins have been purged. Those old sins and that old life are under the blood of Jesus never to be remembered again.

3. Lindsay Glegg in one of his books told the story of how as a student he had a headmaster that had a great influence on him and many of the students. On New Year’s Eve he invited all the students to a party. He built a huge bonfire on the playground and all the students gathered around. The headmaster walked up to the fire with a book under his arm. The students immediately recognized it as the detention book. In that book were the names of each student that had failed to do their work or had misbehaved.

4. When he opened that book every boy groaned. The headmaster said, “Boys, here is the record of your past misdeeds; here is your wrong-doing written in ink.” Not one boy moved, said a word, or took their eyes off the headmaster. Each knew what the book said about them. Then the headmaster said, “This is the last day of the year and we are going to start the New Year fresh, and all your past is going to be forgiven and blotted out.” He took that book and swayed it back and forth and then threw it into the fire. Every boy cheered to the top of their voice and some even threw their hats into the bonfire.

5. Praise His name, the record of my “old sins” and my past have all been forgiven and blotted out.

O happy day, O happy day

When Jesus washed my sin away.

6. Secondly, I want you to notice from the statement not only a past forgiveness but also:

2. A PRESENT FORGETFULNESS

1. In this case, one “hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” Now, all of us as we get older become more and more forgetful. In fact, some may be like a couple I read about named Bub and Emi. As Bub and his wife Emi, had gotten older they started noticing that they tended to get a tad bit forgetful. They would find themselves going somewhere in the house to do something but when they got to where they were going they had no idea why they were there. Being used to talking over problems with each other they sat down and had a little talk as to what was happening and what they could do about it.

2. It was decided they would seek more expert advice so they approached the family doctor and explained the forgetfulness and asked his advice for overcoming it. The doctor questioned them both in depth and found each was just as bad as the other at not knowing whether they were coming or going at any given moment. So he suggested that they each keep a little notebook and when they needed to do something just write it down. Then if they forgot, they could just refer to their note.

3. Sometime later they were watching the TV and Bub looked over at Emi and she looked back and said, “I think I would like a snack.” Emi says, "Well, what you think you want for a snack?" Bub says: "Well, I want some Ice Cream." Emi gets up to and heads for the kitchen. Bub asked if she was going to write it down in the notebook. "No!" she says, "I can remember you want ice cream. THAT'S not hard to remember!"

4. She then says, "You want any particular kind?" Bub says, "Yeah, chocolate! I want chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup! ... better write it down!" Emi says, "BUB! You think I can't remember you want chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup?" Emi heads to the kitchen mumblin and Bub is verbalizing in the background, "Don't forget to put it in a BOWL and bring a SPOON!"

5. Emi is gone a long time but finally returns and sets a real nice plate of bacon and eggs down in front of Bub, complete with a nice cup of coffee and two slices of buttered toast. She smiles sweetly and Bub just sits there and stares at her. She asks, "Okay, what is it?” He sighs wearily and says, "I TOLD you, you should have written it down in the notebook. You went and forgot the jelly for my toast!"

6. The case of the forgetfulness before us in 1 Peter 1:9 is not a matter of one can’t remember. It is a case of getting over being saved. It is not that their salvation has been forgotten as a fact, but it is no longer a force in their life. It is a condition in which:

A) Their Salvation No Longer Moves Them

1. Uncle Buddy Robinson used to talk about the flowers blooming, the birds singing, the sun shining and the bees buzzing in the back yard of his soul. If there is anything that ought to get the flowers blooming, birds singing, sun shining and the bees buzzing in your soul, it is the fact that God has saved you and has cleansed your sin and given you a new life.

2. One of my favorite characters is the Cornish preacher Billy Bray. He gave this testimony of the day he got saved. “In an instant the Lord made me so happy that I cannot express what I felt. I shouted for joy. I praised God with my whole heart for what he had done for a poor sinner like me: for I could say, the Lord hath pardoned all my sins. I think this was in November, 1823, but what day of the month I do not know. I remember this, that everything looked new to me; the people, the fields, the cattle, the trees. I was like a man in a new world. I spent the greater part of my time in praising the Lord. I could say with David, 'The Lord hath brought me up out of a horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings, and hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto my God.' I was a new man altogether.”

3. Billy Bray was someone who believed in praising the Lord. He was often criticized for being so emotional. He once said, “They said I was a mad-man, but they meant I was a glad man, and, glory be to God! I have been glad ever since." On another occasion he said, “He has made me glad and no one can make me sad. He makes me shout and no one can make me doubt.” Still on another occasion he said, “"Some can only eat out of the silent dish, but I can only eat out of the shouting dish, and jumping dish…I was born in the fire and could not live in the smoke." 

4. The best way I know how to describe Billy Bray is that he never got over being saved. You mention Jesus to him and he would take off running and shouting. Whenever he got to thinking about how God had saved him from a drunkard’s life, he would have a spell. The very thought of being saved moved him and set him off praising God.

5. The very thought that one day, God in His grace came to where you were, saved you, cleansed you of all your sin and gave you a new life ought to move you. I don’t know how some people sit still at times. I don’t know how you can contain yourself. I have watched people before sit in Church as stiff as a board. I have thought about passing out Murine before the services because some people don’t as much as blink their eyes in a service. I know their eyes must get dry. But then I have gone to a ballgame with them and a whole different side comes out. It’s like they go through some kind of metamorphous. I’ve seen them jump up and down; hug and high-five perfect strangers and scream till they are hoarse. But then on Sunday and they go slip into Zombie mode.

6. You can sing about the love of God that is greater than tongue or pen can ever tell. You can sing about grace that is greater than all my sins and how Calvary covers it all, my past with its sin and stain; how sin had left a crimson stain, but Jesus washed it as white as now and nothing happens in the hearts of some people. I must confess I can’t figure it out. There are times when the thought of how God saved me get so big in my heart that I can’t help but jump up and praise God.

7. I know, I know, you are not that kind of person. Or you say you used to be that way but you have learned better. No, you haven’t learned anything; you have just lost the wonder of being saved. I invited a fellow to church the other day and he asked if we had ear-plugs. I knew what he meant. We are a little too emotional for him around here.  I thought to myself, fellow, you don’t need ear-plugs; you need a heart-monitor. If there is anything that ought to move you it is the fact that God would save a hell-deserving person like you or me.

8. Sad as it may be, there are many who have forgotten they have been purged from their old sins. Their salvation no longer moves them. Furthermore:

B) Their Salvation No Longer Motivates Them

1. As I said earlier, it is not that they have forgotten it as a fact. It is that is it no longer a force in their life. It no longer motivates them to serve God, honor God, and glorify Him in their life.

2. I have pastors ask me all the time, “How do you get people to work and get involved in the Church.” The answer is simply get them in love with Jesus and filled with awe about being saved. You get someone excited about being saved and you don’t have any problem getting to work.

3. I mentioned Uncle Buddy Robinson earlier. I once read about him and his brother out in the field one day trying to get their old mule to start plowing. Uncle Buddy said he geed, hawed, kicked, slapped, pinched, hollered and even bit its ear to get it started but nothing he did worked. His brother said to him, “Wait right here. I’ll be back.” In a few minutes he came back with an arm full of newspapers. “What are you going to do with those newspapers,” asked Uncle Buddy. His brother said, “Watch” and rolled them up and placed them under the mule’s belly. He then set the paper on fire. Uncle Buddy said, “That ole mule ain’t stopped plowing yet.”

4. You get a fire burning in the heart, an awareness and appreciation for God saving them; it will motivate people to serve God. When people loose the wonder of being saved they get cold, indifferent and complacent. They began to find excuses for not coming to Church, serving God, and working for them. Their salvation neither moves them nor motivates them. It is a tragic condition of spiritual forgetfulness.

5. Lastly, notice with me from this statement not only a past forgiveness and present forgetfulness, but also:

3. A PERPETUAL FASCINATION

1. The call and challenge of the statement before us is to never to loose the wonder of being saved. It is a cry for us never to get over being saved. I think of the song the choir sings:

I’ve never got over that I am not under the bondage of sin anymore.

I’m still amazed that Jesus would pay a debt I could not afford.

I’ve never got past that I’m free at last, from the sin that made me a slave

And I still feel as much as when He first touched me,

Oh, yes, I’ still amazed.

I’m amazed to know how far God would go to set a lost man free.

I’m still in awe that He gave it awe for an old sinner like me.

I’ve never got over that this King would shoulder my sin and all its disgrace.

Calvary’s hill, still gives me a thrill,

O yes, I’m still amazed.

2. Are you as much amazed today that God would save you as in the past? Have you got over being saved? Let me suggest two things that will help you never to get over being saved. First:

A) Never Forget The Day You Got Saved

1. I confess to you that I think often of the day I got saved. I refer to it often when I preach. Why? I don’t want to ever forget it or get over what happened to me that day. The day you got saved was THE red letter day on your life’s calendar.

2. There is a company in England called “Red Letter Days.” It specializes in giving experiences as an unforgettable gift. They offer everything from a jousting experience where you learn how to use a lance and shield on and off a horse and take part in a jousting tournament in medieval costume, to cutting your own recording in a profession recording studio. You think of that ultimate experience you would like to have and they most likely can provide you with a red letter day.

3. I don’t need to shell out several hundred dollars for a red letter day. I had one on April 2, 1972. Whenever and wherever, in an altar in a church service much like this one or kneeling beside you couch in your living room; never forget the day you got saved. Cherish that marvelous day. Always be grateful for that momentous day. Never lose the wonder of that miraculous day.

4. Secondly:

B) Never Forget The Way You Got Saved

1. Never forget that it was not by anything you did or deserved. Always remember that at your best—your absolute best—you still deserved to go to hell. Always remember it was only because of God’s amazing grace that you were saved.

2. With Job, as in Job 7:17, you ought always to be thinking, “What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?”

3. Also as Job in Job 15:14, “What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?”

4. As with David in Psalms 8:4, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

5. Also with David in Psalms 144:3, “LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!”

6. As the song says:

"Why did He go to Calvary?

Why was His life's blood shed for me?

Why did He suffer as no one has ever done?

There's just one reason, I am the one?"

7. Our story is a story of grace. We are saved all because of God’s love for sinners and the grace and mercy He showed to us in Christ Jesus. That’s the only reason. Never forget that! Never forget the price Jesus paid for you sins. Never forget that you ought to be in hell but He saved you by His grace.

8. Don’t be some who “hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” Be someone who can say that they never lost the wonder of it all. Never get over being saved!