1. Salvation, What does it Mean?
(some people make fun of it, etc.)

2. Salvation, Who Needs it?
(Good people, bad people, etc.)

This lesson is going to focus on how precious this salvation is, how we ought to appreciate it, AND HOW WE OUGHT TO BE THANKING GOD FOR IT WITH ALL OUR HEART EVERY MINUTE WE LIVE!

(Psa 9:14 KJV) "That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation."

(Psa 13:5-6 KJV) "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. {6} I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."

(Psa 20:5 KJV) "We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions."

(Psa 21:1 KJV) "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!"

(Psa 35:9 KJV) "And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation."

(Psa 40:16 KJV) "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified."


1. Some don't appreciate it because they see no need for it.

As we noticed before: (John 8:32-33 KJV Jesus said...) "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. {33} They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" You will not appreciate a life-saving medication until you believe you have a life-threatening illness--and sin indeed is a fatal illness, Rom.6:23).


2. Think about where we would be without it.

(Eph 2:11-13 KJV) "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; {12} That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: {13} But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

How sad, the phrase, "Having no hope, and without God in the world."

Think about the horror of being lost: Being at enmity with the Creator and Ruler of the universe; knowing that no matter how horrible a thing comes your way, there is no use to cry to Him for help, for you are alienated from Him.

Think of how hard it would be for you to pillow your head at night, realizing that there are sins between you and God; knowing that if you did not awaken to greet another sunrise you would be doomed to a devil's hell for a never-ending eternity all because you are LOST and not in right relationship with God.

Suppose no salvation were available. No matter how much you wanted to be saved, have your sins forgiven and be right with God, there was no way it could be accomplished. We would be worrying about it all the time, wouldn't we? We would be figuring and scheming and thinking and planning on how salvation might be had. If a gospel preacher announced that he had good news of salvation through the blood of Christ, there would be a massive stampede of soul-weary sinners at his door.

But since it is there for the taking, why, oh why are men so inappreciative of it?

3. Some are like pigs that turn again and trample precious jewels under their feet.

(Mat 7:6 KJV) "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

(Mat 22:4-5 KJV Of the Lord's great invitation...) "Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. {5} But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise."

What a sad commentary concerning God's invitation to salvation: But they made light of it.

They made light of Noah's impending flood until it finally came and swept them all away. They made light of Lot's promised destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah until the fire devoured them. And those who make light of God's gracious offer of salvation will do so to their own destruction!

(Luke 14:16-20 KJV) "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: {17} And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. {18} And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. {19} And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. {20} And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." And the Lord said, Not one of these men will taste of my supper, for they are unworthy!

How inappreciative can one be of salvation!


4. Some count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing and treat Jesus spitefully

(Heb 10:28-29 KJV) "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: {29} Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

Imagine, being so inappreciative of salvation as to tread God's Son underfoot, like an old dirty rag!

Imagine, treating the precious blood of Christ as an unholy thing--like the blood of a dog!

Imagine insulting God's Holy Spirit as He comes offering pardon!

(1 Pet 1:18-19 KJV) "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; {19} But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

Who could have asked God to give the life of His Son to make a way of salvation for us? Who could have asked Jesus to go to the cross in our place? But without our asking, He did it, to make salvation possible. How can we but appreciate it with all our being? We need to be saying, "Thank you, Lord," with every breath up to and including our last!


5. Some pay little attention and neglect so great a salvation

(Heb 2:1-3 KJV) "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. {2} For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; {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...?"

When some great national or world event transpires, we sit "glued" to our radios and TV's to hear every word of what is happening. But when it comes to the gospel message pertaining to the salvation of our souls and our eternal destiny, how can we pay so little attention???


6. It is so great that even angels desire to look into it

When Jesus paid the supreme price for our salvation, he was dying, not for angels, but for fallen mankind. It is so phenonimal that the angels find it fascinating.

(1 Pet 1:8-12 KJV of the Lord...) "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: {9} Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. {10} Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: {11} Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. {12} Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."


7. If we rightly appreciate it, Beautiful are the feet of those who bring salvation's message!

(Rom 10:14-16 KJV) "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? {15} And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! {16} But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?"


8. The Gospel message of salvation is sent to those who appreciate it:

(Acts 13:26 KJV) "Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent."

9. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation

In the long ago, the Psalmist prayed: (Psa 51:12 KJV) "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

How many of us are rejoicing in our salvation today? How many of us are delighted and enthused and excited at the privilege of being Christians? (Acts 4:12 KJV) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."


10. We should have great joy in "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Pet. 1:9)

(Titus 2:11-14 KJV) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, {12} Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; {13} Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; {14} Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

11. Because salvation is "free," does not mean that it is "cheap."

Many people seem to have the attitude that becuse something does not cost them a lot, it is worthless. Back when satellite TV receivers cost 4- and 5- hundred dollars apiece, people cherished them, and took care of them. Now that many providers are "giving" people the receivers just to get them signed up as subscribers, people have a whole different attitude toword them--they put them out on the porch in the rain, they don't take care of them, they move off and leave them in vacant houses. What they don't realize is that they still cost about the same, and though they did not have to pay for them, someone did.

And that is the way it is with our salvation. We don't have to pay for it, because there is no way we could pay for it. But that does not mean it is "cheap." Salvation is precious, and it cost God's Son dearly: it cost Him His life blood.

If you do not have salvation today, do you appreciate it enough to eagerly take it?

If you DO have salvation, do you appreciate it enough to cherish it, and share it, and praise God for it every day of your life?