04-24-2022 How Great a Salvation (Part One)

The Word Salvation appears 173 times in the ESV version of the Bible

131 times in the Old Testament

42 times in the New Testament.

Of those 42 times, it appears 6 times in the gospels: 5 in Luke and 1 in John

It appears 16 times in Paul’s Letters

It appears 6 times in the General Epistles: 4 in 1 Peter; 2 in 2nd Peter and 1 time in Jude

It appears 3 times in the Book of Revelation.

Salvation - the work of God to Glorify that which was Lost is Always HIS PLAN, HIS PURPOSE and HIS PROMISE throughout the Holy Scriptures.

We are going to Start at the END

Salvation in Tribulation (Revelation 7:10)

Revelation 7:9–14 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Salvation in Tribulation

Some have an idea that during the Great Tribulation, mentioned by Daniel, confirmed by Jesus that God’s focus is solely focused on Condemnation and Retribution - yet clearly God’s wrath is purposed in such a way to cause men to repent and believe.

Salvation in Temptation (Revelation 12:10)

Revelation 12:7–12 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Salvation in Tribulation

Both Matthew and Luke’s gospel point out Satan’s Temptation of Jesus, but while Luke names the adversary as “The Devil” - Matthew names him as “The Tempter)

You might also remember the Matthew 16 passage where Jesus calls Peter Satan - a stumbling block...

Yet despite Satan’s great efforts to DECEIVE ALL MANKIND - remember Pauls Words in 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God...”

Despite Satan’s efforts, and even once he is cast down - THERE WILL BE THOSE SAVED

Salvation at the Termination (Revelation 19:1)

Revelation 19:1–4 ESV

1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 3 Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”

Salvation at the Termination

The end of the Kingdoms of THIS EARTH - those of the Flesh tainted by Sinful Passion and Powerful Desire to Possess Power - those whose Purposes are in Defiance of the Creator God who is also their Savior.

Even at the TERMINAL MOMENT Salvation is apparent.

Death Bed Conversions are STILL CONVERSIONS

Late in Life Salvation Decision are STILL DECISIONS FOR CHRIST

Look at Revelation 14:6 - “Then I saw another angel flying through the sky, and he had the everlasting gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth - to every nation, tribe, language and people...”

Even as the TERMINATION point looms, the GREAT SALVATION OF OUR GOD through the GOSPEL is EVIDENT

IS THE GREAT SALVATION OF OUR GREAT GOD AN SAVIOR EVIDENT IN OUR LIVES, OUR FAMILIES, OUR CHURCH?

Paul Wrote in Philippians 2:10-11 “so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL Bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God his Father”