Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2:1-4
Do Not Neglect Our Salvation
Intro.
1. Devil tempts us with wrong thinking about being a Christian. Tempts us to doubt the blessings of being faithful: “Why should I bother?” “What is the point?” “What difference does it make?”
2. Book of Hebrews teaches us why it matters: The great salvation we have in Jesus Christ.
I. OUR SALVATION IS GREAT, Lk. 19:10; Acts 4:12. (Deliverance, preservation, safety)
A. It has a Superior Mediator, Heb. 2:2-3 (over angels, Heb. 1:4-14).
1. Superior to old covenant: Given through angels (Gal. 3:19; Acts 7:53); No salvation from OT law (Gal. 3:18, 21).
2. Superior salvation: Substance superior to shadow, Heb. 10:1-4.
B. It is a Spoken Salvation, Heb. 2:3.
1. Salvation made known and made available through language:
a. Not “felt,” although joy is associated with being saved.
b. Not “thought,” although the thoughtless will not be saved.
c. Not “experienced,” although without experiencing some things there is no salvation.
2. Spoken first by the Lord, Acts 10:36-38 (Lk. 4:18-19; 16:16).
3. Spoken by apostles (2:1), Matt. 28:19-20 (Rom. 10:8; Col. 1:4-8).
C. It is a Confirmed Salvation, Heb. 2:3.
1. What? To make firm, to establish as true, authentic; to validate as genuine, Gal. 1:11 [make known: “certify” (kjv)].
2. How? Confirmed by:
a. Eyewitness testimony, Heb. 2:3 (Acts 1:8; 10:38-43).
b. Divine testimony (God bore witness), Heb. 2:4; Mk. 16:17-20.
1) Signs: Signaled God’s approval (Jno. 3:2).
2) Wonders: The effect of miracles on others, Acts 2:7, 12.
3) Miracles (mighty works): The power (source), Acts 10:38.
3. Why? To convince people to listen to the word of salvation (Exo. 4:1-5, 29-31; Acts 2:12, 14; 11:3, 15-18).
a. To proclaim a genuine message (Acts 14:3, 27; 15:12).
b. To produce a genuine faith, 1 Cor. 2:4-5 (Rom. 10:17).
II. NO ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT OUR GREAT SALVATION, Heb. 2:3, 1. (careless, make light of, not regard)
A. We Neglect Our Great Salvation When We…
1. Fail to grow, Heb. 5:12-6:3.
a. By not teaching what we have learned (5:12).
b. By not progressing beyond first principles (5:13).
c. By not using (living) the word we have learned (5:14).
2. Become spiritually sluggish (lazy), Heb. 6:9-12 (10:36).
a. Give “the more earnest heed” to the word of God, Heb. 2:1.
b. All the more careful attention, cf. 1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim. 3:10.
3. Sin willfully, Heb. 10:26-27. Presumptuous, high-handed
a. cf. Forsaking our assembling together, Heb. 10:24-25.
b. “I don’t care what God says” attitude, cf. Deut. 1:41-44.
4. Pursue the pleasures of sin, Heb. 11:25-26.
B. When We Drift Away (Heb. 2:1):
1. Sin gradually produces a hardened, insensitive, and unbelieving heart, Heb. 3:12-13.
2. By setting a pattern of apostate living, the fallen Christian makes it impossible to renew to repentance, Heb. 6:4-6.
3. It leads to perdition (eternal misery in hell), not salvation, Heb. 10:39.
Conclusion
1. There is no escape if we neglect our great salvation.
a. Law of Moses shows God punishes sin justly (Heb. 2:2; 10:28-31).
b. Our God is a consuming fire against those who refuse Him who speaks to us, Heb. 12:25-29.
2. May God perfect us “in every good work to do His will,” Heb. 13:20-21.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted January 7, 2021