Heb 2 :1-4 Neglecting our Salvation

 

Intro: Someone once described the Job of a Pastor as follows – TO COMFORT THE AFFLICTED & TO AFFLICT THE COMFORTABLE

A)I think that is pretty good advice – because a preacher should be given to both for a balanced ministry.  FEED & WARN

 

B)  I believe the Pastor writing this book of Hebrews believed that to be the case – because we see that Pattern in his approach

1)   His writings follow this pattern : Section of teaching – comfort these discouraged believers - / followed by Exhortation to Stir them up/ P.T.

 

C) So Ch. 1 – Teaching Superiority of Christ – Prophets / final word / Rev. Climaxed  - 7 fold Description v.2,3

1)   Superiority  over the Angels v.4-14    All meant to  Comfort -

 

D) Then in the first verse of Ch. 2 follows that up w/ a warning about the Danger of Drifting

1)   Pt. Being God is speaking to us .. last days THRU HIS SON  we need to give  the more earnest Heed lest we drift away 

 

Now we spent our time Sunday morn. Talking about the Dangers of Drifting –

A)Noted that Drifting & give the more earnest heed – nautical terms / readers understood – talking boats /ships / currents

 

B) The Picture this paint is of a boat – drifting past the harbor / past its place of Safety – the Harbor the place of safety is the Truth concerning JC

1) The picture is not of an ignorant sailor, or rebellious sailor, but of a careless sailor. Not giving heed – Paying attention to the CURRENTS

 

C) Notice drifting that occurs is directly connected to neglecting the Word spoken concerning Our Great Salvation. V.3

     1) If we Neglect this how shall we escape –He asks

 

Pause make note this book Now in studying the book of Heb. You will find that there are many strong warnings –

A)Some like Ch. 6 & 10 are even difficult to deal w/

 

B) And a real mistake that some pastors & commentators make in teaching this book – is everything is seen in light of those two sections & warnings

1)   Feel they need to make everything fit –their theology so that when they hit those sections – preparing my listeners for it .

 

C) I believe to do that : you entirely miss the heart & theme of this great Letter. To Present Jesus as our High Priest

1)   In fact the Lord tells us that is the theme & heart in Ch. 8:1

1Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

 

D) Now he gets to this point in the 17th verse of Ch.2 – And almost everything he says after this point is building on that awesome truth

1)   The Ministry of Jesus as our H.P. – what He is doing for us Now !!!

 

Now one of the ways that some teachers approach this letter is to suggest that these warnings are addressed to unbelievers

A)That this was written to a mixed Multitude & the encouraging doctrinal truths are written to the believers /

  1)But the Challenging  warnings are written to the unbelievers in the group

 

B)The Problem that I have w/ that view is that the writer never makes such a distinction . Never says – Now those who don’t believe

1)   So we are left to wonder who is He talking to Now

 

C) When I am teaching at any of our services I am always – careful to make distinctions – concerning who I am Addressing

1)   Some Not saved others - / walked away – etc.

I find that the Lord does the same thing in HIS word – No Confusion

So when the Writer says here –  Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. & 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation,

 

A)I think that he is  saying that as believers we can drift & we can be in danger of Neglecting our salvation – Pt. Of Eph. – neglecting Salvation

 

B) Is this a warning that if we do so we are going to go to Hell? No the context is talking about drifting & being shipwrecked – that’s the Picture

1)    And just as those in the O.T. – suffered because of their drifting from the truth so will we – If we neglect so great a Salvation

 

C) That is what he wants them to see – Given a Great Salvation – Don’t neglect it – Give more earnest Heed – Pay attention

 

Murray : What is the motive to stir men to take heed The answer is in the Phrase So Great a Salvation. The insight into the more abundant Glory, the divine all surpassing greatness of this salvation is what will compel men willingly & Joyfully to give up all to have this pearl of Great Price.

 

Am I suggesting that we have to keep ourselves saved – No – Jesus keeps us – but we have a role to play in our spiritual health –

A)What I do keeps me healthy!  Doctor fixed my Hip – now I need to exercise my body – take full advantage of that New Hip

 

B) Jesus given us New life – Now we need to discipline & exercise our lives to take advantage of that new life

  1) So John 15 - Exhorted to abide in His Word!  1 Peter 5:   Desire            pure milk of Word - James 1:   Doers of Word

 

C.)Those all have to do with our health spiritually -Spirit works through word in transforming my life

 

D) Paul wrote in several places of Christian life being like race in       which discipline and perseverance exercised. If want run well

Consider tonight : Why is our Salvation so great/ How can we neglect it / and what are some the Consequences of doing so.

A)1st Why is our Salvation so great: Note 3 things here

 

#1 Spoken by the Lord – Jesus came preaching this gospel of Salvation

 

B) In this last days spoken thru His Son/ Jesus made it clear – Come unto me

1)   The Emphasis is on the Greatness of the Voice !!! The Lord – Description in V.2,3 of Ch.1 –

 

C) All men are interested in Salvation – How to be saved –

1)   Jesus told us the way & He became the Way

 

A Chinese Confucian scholar, converted to Christ, told this story:  "A man fell into a dark, dirty, slimy pit, and he tried to climb out of the pit and he couldn't.  Confucius came along.  He saw the man in the pit and said, "Poor fellow, if he'd listened to me, he never would have got there,' and he went on

   "Buddha came along.  He saw the man in the pit and said, "Poor fellow, if he'll come up here, I'll help him.' And he too went on

   "Then Jesus Christ came.  He saw the man and said, "Poor fellow!' and jumped into the pit and lifted him out.- Became the means

                     

D)He died in our place took our punishment - yet rose again and lives

     1.)     Places His spirit in and brings to life all who believe in Him

 

E)That is what the letter of Hebrews is all about - the writer is urging his listeners to experience life they have in Christ

     1.)     By seeing Clearly the One  who gives that life

 

2nd thing to note about how it was given Confirmation 2ways –

1st Confirmed thru the apostles – v.3 confirmed by those who heard Him

A)What is significant about this is – these were men who walked w/ Him saw heard touched – and died because of their belief in him

 

B) That makes their testimony a Powerful one –esp. to those persecuted

C) 2ND CONFIRMATION – came From God – thru the Signs,Wonders, Miracles & gifts of the H.S.

1)   Sign at His Baptism : Voice & the Dove

 

D) Miracles in His Ministry – Sign at Cross – earthquake / dark / Veil

 

There were the miracles done by the apostles – giftings

A)Drawing their attention back to their history & see How the Lord was working Remember what Paul told the Corinthians  1 Cor.2 :4,5

 

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 

B) The Biggest Miracle of all is the Changed Life !!!

 

So First of all this is so Great a Salvation because of How it was given but 2ndly because of what it does .

A)It takes a person who was on that road to Hell – puts them on the RD. to Heaven / Transported Broad Rd. leading destruction to …… Life

 

B) It takes a person who was in Darkness – brings them into the light

1)   Takes a person totally LOST – greatest sense of the word – makes them found

 

C) Takes a person Who was an Enemy of God & makes that person a Friend

1)   ….a person orphan – makes a son /  …… person dirty – clean

….. person who was cast off – accepted in the beloved

 

Charity can put a new coat on a man--but salvation puts a new man in the coat.

 

D) Monday night – group of guys – talking New Birth – Spirit makes sense

 

 

3rd – It is so great because it does for man what He was unable to do for Himself – Man could earn salvation – All fall short – keep law

A)Schoolmaster – point out sin / need of savior

 

B) Man tried & tried – to no avail – Jesus came did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves

 

Man & His wife Newly Born again  Salvation army - He said, "I've just noticed that all the people in the Salvation Army wear red sweaters, and I don't have a red sweater."

She said, "I'll knit one." So she knitted him a red sweater.

   The next Sunday after he went to the church, he still wasn't happy.

  

His wife said, "What's wrong this time?"

   He said, "I just noticed all their red sweaters have yellow writing."

 

Now They were both illiterate, but she said, "Don't worry about it. I'll embroider some writing on for you."  Sign in Store window - 

 

When he came back the next Sunday, she said, "Did they like your sweater?"

   "They loved my sweater. Some of them said they liked my sweater better than their sweater."

 

What neither of them knew was that the sign on the store window she had copied read, THIS BUSINESS UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT.

  

That's what it means to get saved. That's what it means to get converted. That's what it means for the Holy Ghost to come upon you: this business under new management. God does what you could never do !!!

 

4th It is so great a salvation – because of the Hope it brings

A)Hope = Absolute expection of coming good – Count on it – not a wish not a maybe – not a dream – it is a Reality – Sure as the sun

 

B) Hope rest in the Lord His Promise – Guarantee – H.S. / Heb. 6:9-20

Immutability – Unchangeable

Anchor -  Unmovable  - That is your hope – Anchor all storms

 

Rom 5:1,2 Hope of Glory - 1Therefore, having been justified by faith, £we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  /   Col . 1:27 Christ in you hope of glory

 

Gal. 5;5  Hope of Righteousness – Reality

Col.1:5 Hope laid up in Heaven –

2Cor 1:9 Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

 

Titus 1:2 Hope of Eternal life

Titus 2:13 The Hope of Christ Return

 

1 Peter 1:3 Living Hope

A)The Word Living could also be Translated – Dynamic – giving idea that it is  something which is working right now,

1)   A hope which works in my circumstances today.

 

B)Why is it a Living or working Hope? Because it has as it’s object –

      A LIVING SAVIOR

1)   Peter says it comes thru – the Resurrection Of Jesus

 

C) Our Hope is only as strong as the Object of our Hope !!!

 

D) Incorruptible / Undefiled – Reserved in Heaven for you!!!!

1)   Can’t be stolen / doesn’t fade / can’t be cheapened in anyway –Your name on it

 

E) Valegrams One w/ Your name on it in Heaven

So that is why this Salvation is so great – Complete

 

II. How can we neglect it?  Many ways –

A)One is to not show appreciation for it – take it lightly – Worship

 

B) Amy & her hair – that is what we can do – oh another worship time another service –

     1) Kids embarrass at Christmas – another gift -

 

Word neglect here means to sit passively by –

A.)    Really a description of apathy or complacency

     1.)     Begins when in my heart I fail to realize how great salvation is: what

         saved from; Hell  saved unto- Heaven

 

B) We don’t comprehend how bad hell is / or How good heaven is

 

C) But that complacency can lead to my heart becoming dull spiritually –

 

D) Consequence of Lack of Appreciation is Barrenness – Michal

     1) No Fruit in your Life !!!!!

 

2nd Neglect - We don’t walk in the Resources –  Ephesians

A) Still living like not accepted – trying earn God’s favor

 

B) Say Denise & I adopted a son – bring home his home/ room

1)   Dinner – he asks if he can join us

2)   Home from school – knocks on the door

 

C) He has been brought into the family – but doesn’t act like it

 

 Many believers are like that – Been accepted in the beloved – but don’t act like it – still trying earn God’s favor

A)Reluctant to feel comfortable to approach him

 

B) Consequences –depression / No assurance / no rest / lack of Joy

   1) Not Anchored – every trial potential to blow them over

 

This is what writer of Hebrews is saying : "If want to avoid drifting; avoid being shipwrecked; hold on; take heed message.

A.)    If you want to avoid being sucked back into the law; life focused         on rituals; shadows - miss substance - keep eyes on Him!

 

B) If want to avoid being sucked into life of legalism, thinking my good

           deeds bring favor with God - stay focused on Him

  1) Stay glued to His Word - discover the never ending joys of being His!

 

 

3rd Neglect it by Living for here

Col 3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

 

A)We are saved & going to heaven – but many believers spend all their energies on trying to build their kingdom here .

 

B) Instead store up treasure in heaven –

 

C) Consequence of that kind of Neglect is – Not much to show on the other side  Running just to run -

     1) A Man in his elderly yrs came to that discover – Poem

 

The house in which my children grew, where we had lived for years . . .

  I turned to see it broken down, and brushed aside the tears.

I looked upon my soul one day to find it too had grown, with thorns and nettles everywhere, the seeds neglect had sown.

The years had passed while I had cared for things of lesser worth.  

The things of heaven I let go while minding things of earth.

To Christ I turned with bitter tears and cried,"O Lord, forgive!"

I have not much time left for Thee,not many years to live.

The wasted years forever gone,the days I can't recall.

If I could live those days again,  I'd make Him Lord of all.

4th Neglect it by not passing it on – sharing it

A)To our Kids – give them clothes / food / bath / Last – Character

 

B) Consequence of Joy of Leading to Christ – maybe missing out on our Kids – Salvation

 

 

Now although writing to believers - this has application to unbelievers as well

A.)    there are those sit passively by hear gospel - they listen      message of God's love - freedom in Christ - yet neglect it

 

B) Same word is used made light of in Matt. 22:5

1And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ 5But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

 

B.)   they will be judged accordingly - own fault

 

Take the man bad pain - ignores it; dislikes doctors; taking medicine. but pain gets worse - Finally urged wife - goes to doctor

A.)    Very sick man - Tuberculosis - go home, go to bed, rest - plenty fresh air

 

B)Ignores instructions - he gets worse and dies - own fault he neglected

          remedy provided

 

 

B.)    Take another man - feels guilty - hates church - preachers - so    denies anything wrong

     1.)          Urged wife - goes to church - hears sinner; sentence death but Christ came set free! He chose not respond - dies lost eternally      own fault

 

There are those who knowing the truth will drift right into hell because they never made a personal commitment Jesus!

A.)    Some rely on church attendance; family background - raised       who married to

 

B.)    Guys our great salvation consists of what Jesus Christ did at      Calvary and what He continues to do in the lives of those with whom He is Lord

     1.)          Transforming them - changing them - from inside out by             spirit through His Word!

 

C.)    Give heed to it - experience the reality of it lest through neglect drift away - become shipwrecked