By
Ron Bartanen
The greatest story ever told is a true
story. It is the story of how God has
provided salvation for man through His Son, Jesus Christ. Obviously, this story would be without
significance was it not for the fact that man is lost in sin and in need of a
Savior. “All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), while “the wages of sin is death” (Romans
6:23).
Looking at the Bible as a whole, it is one
story. It is the account of creation,
the fall of man, the promise of a Deliverer, the coming of the Deliverer, His
death for man’s sins, His resurrection, His ascension into glory, and His
promised return to “judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His
kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:1). The writer of
the book of Hebrews wrote, “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?” (Heb. 2:3).
There were other salvations in the
Scriptures. Noah and his household were
saved when God destroyed the world by the Great Flood. By faith, being warned and instructed by God,
he obeyed God “to the saving of his house” (Heb. 11:7). God saved Israel from Egyptian bondage as His
servant, Moses, was empowered to miraculously lead them forth by faith and
obedience, from Egypt toward the Promised Land. The story of these salvations, while great,
serve as prophetic types of the greatest story—the great salvation wrought
through Christ. For those who will step out in faith and obedience to Christ,
there is deliverance from the guilt and the eternal consequences of sin, with a
far more glorious hope. Truly, He is
“the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him” (Heb. 5:9).
The greatness of this story of salvation
is based on a number of factors, among which are the following:
·
God
is its author (Heb. 5:9).
·
The
greatest price was paid to make it a reality—the blood of God’s Son: “God
commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us.. Much more then, being now
justified by His blood…” (Romans 5:9).
·
We
are saved from God’s wrath: “…we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Rom.
5:9).
·
We
have the greatest hope, established upon God’s promises: “We, according to His
promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”
(2 Peter 3:13).
·
It
is eternal in its duration (Heb. 5:9).
·
It
is guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “The like figure whereunto
even baptism doth also now save us…by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (2
Peter 3:21).
The greatest story is that found within
the pages of your Bible. The greatest
story is His story. In His words:
“Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
The greatest story is the great salvation that is available to all
through Jesus Christ. “How shall we
escape?” if we neglect it?
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