Neglecting so Great a Salvation

If you would, go ahead and take your Bible and turn back to Hebrews chapter 2. We'll be in verses 1-4 in the message. Now I'm going to ask you to turn to one other passage, 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 14. It's not very far from Hebrew, so you should be able to find it a few pages to the left. So 1 Timothy 4 verse 14, we'll get there a little later on. Now last week we finished up chapter 1, I think most of you know that. And in our study of the chapter we saw that the author was all about establishing the fact that Jesus was and is the Supreme One. He was and is superior to all. And remember the context.

Every now and then I'll mention the context and I'll also say context is king. They have to always remember scripture, books of the Bible in their context. The author was writing to this small Jewish congregation to argue a particular point. One commentator said that the author was making an eloquent theological argument here. I like that. Speaking of chapter 1. He was making an eloquent theological argument that Jesus was in fact superior to all and he was especially superior to the angels. We learned that all this was happening because the Jews in their day had these exaggerated and erroneous beliefs about angels.

And at the heart of their beliefs was this. They saw angels as the highest of beings right next to God in a very unhealthy way. And they saw angels as much more than man in a very unhealthy way. So when these Jews, this congregation here, when they heard that Jesus, the promised Messiah of God came to earth as the God-man, well they immediately saw Jesus as inferior to the angels. And that was because they saw angels as superior to man in a very unhealthy and unbiblical way.

So theologically the author here was writing to prove that Jesus was superior to all and practically he was trying, he was writing and trying to keep them from going back into Judaism and back to the old covenant. Now before we jump into chapter 2 in these verses here, I want to go back to what Shriner calls the eloquent theological argument of chapter 1. We saw that in chapter 1 the author laid out his position in verses 1-4 with the climax of his position being verse 4. Jesus was, is and became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

And then he went into the Old Testament to prove these things. But the author did not stop there after he made his case. Chapter 2 verses 1-4 he then called these Jews to make a decision. It was not enough for the author to prove to these Jews that God's promised Son was and is supreme and the supreme and preeminent one. He backed these Jews, those who received this letter into a corner and he called them to make a choice regarding all these things. Now before we continue I want to see that the author gives us a great example and a lesson here. It's not enough for us to teach the scripture. It's not enough for us to just teach well.

A good teacher always demands a call for those who are listening to obey what's taught. A good teacher always teaches and strives to teach well but a good teacher always calls those who are listening to a decision to obey to put those things into practice. And that's what was happening in chapter 2 verses 1-4. That's what these verses are all about. The author had taught truth. He had established proper doctrine and beliefs concerning Jesus the Son of God who came to earth as the God-man to make purification for sin.

And then he moved into applying what he taught and he called those Jews who received this letter to make a decision or a series of decisions. So in verses 1-4 we see that he calls. We see that he exhorts and we're going to see that he even warns all for the purpose of bringing these Jews to a place of making the right decisions pertaining to the truth that they had just received. So let's go back and read our verses, verses 1-4 and then I'll show you how we're going to approach the verses. "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord and it was attested to us by those who heard. By God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will." Now this is how we're going to approach these verses. First we will see a call, a call not to drift away from the Gospel. Next we will see a warning, a warning not to neglect so great a salvation.

And then we will see the seriousness of this call, the seriousness of this warning. And then last we will see four reasons why it is total utter foolishness to drift away from and to neglect Jesus and His Gospel. And I'll go ahead and tell you I'm going to do something I normally don't do. I'm going to take some of these verses out of order. So if that offends you, I apologize ahead of time. So number one, the call, the call to pay attention not to drift away. This is in verse 1. The call to pay attention not to drift away. Now the first thing we need to see is how everything in these verses is connected to Chapter 1. I mentioned that.

Verse 4 starts off with "therefore," which comes from a word in the original that means on account of this. So the author was saying on account of the fact that Jesus is the supreme and preeminent one and He is even superior to even the angels, there are certain things that we should do and there are certain things that we should not do. First He called them to really pay attention. Here in the English Standard Version it says pay much closer attention. And all of the other translations that we refer to say basically the same thing. In this word pay attention in the original, it simply means to turn the mind to, to be attentive to.

It means to pay attention to. But there's one more thing here. The English Standard says pay much closer attention. That is because in the original the author uses a word here which means more abundantly to a greater degree or more earnestly. He was calling them to pay attention but to really, really pay attention. He was calling them to pay attention to a much greater degree in a very serious and sober way. A couple of examples that will help you. When you are at a soccer game because your son or your daughter is on the team, you pay attention to the game.

You pay attention to a greater degree when your son or your daughter is put into the game. And you really, really pay attention when your son or your daughter is around the ball whether they play defense or offense. Last week I went turkey hunting and I was able to get on a good gobbler. I saw him so I knew he was a good one. And when I heard that gobbler gobble for the very first time he was a good ways away. But I immediately paid attention when I heard him gobble at my calling.

But when he was coming closer and closer as I was calling him, we use a term that is called working the bird, as I was working him and he got closer and closer, I really, really, really started to pay attention. And I think those examples help you get the meaning here. But then second he called them to really pay attention to what they heard. Now what did they hear? No doubt this would have been the message of Christ. This would have been the message of the cross. This would have been the entire message of the gospel in God's saving grace through the sacrifice of his son.

So he called them to seriously and carefully pay attention to the gospel and the message of the gospel. And then third he called them to pay attention to what they heard so that they wouldn't drift away. Now, let's look back at verse 1. And I'm going to read it in the Amplified. For this reason, that is because of God's final revelation in his son Jesus and because of Jesus' superiority to the angels, we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard so that we do not in any way drift away from truth. Now here we have a key term. This term drift away.

That's what we see in the English Standard, the New American and the Legacy Standard Bible. But notice that the King James says it a little different and I'm reading the verse. "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." But a question, why would the King James say let them slip? And the more modern translations use the phrase drift away. Well, that's because both are correct. Both communicate what is said here. You see, in the original, this word drift away, it simply means to be carried by or to pass by. It means to escape. It means to slip away.

Scholars tell us that this word was used to describe a ring slipping off of a person's finger. They tell us this word was used to describe a boat that slowly drifted out to sea because it was not tied up safely and securely. So he called them not to let what they had heard drift away or slip away from them like a boat. It would drift away because it was not tied up well. So here in verse 1, we have a call. We have a call. The author was calling them to remember all that they had heard about Christ Jesus, the message of the gospel, and how God has sent His Son to make and provide purification for sin.

He was calling them to hold onto the fact that Jesus was in fact the supreme and preeminent one. He was and is greater than even the angels. And he was calling them to really, really pay attention to these things in a very serious and sober way lest they drift away from these things, lest they allow these things that they have heard to slip by them. But a question, who was he talking to? You know me, I always seek to make application. But who was the author here? Who was he applying this to? Remember the context, folks. These were Jews. This was a Jewish congregation.

The scholars tell us that within the congregation there were some who were true, genuine believers. There were some who were merely intellectual believers. There were also some who did not identify with Christ, but they were associated with the church in some way. So who was the writer calling to pay serious attention to what they had heard concerning Jesus and not to drift away from these things? Who? Now we're going to come back to that. I know how some of you work, you start to think, and you start to read, and you start to think, "Pastor, I think I know who it is." Well, ponder that and hold on to that for a minute.

But next, number two, the warning, verse three or the beginning of verse three, "The warning do not neglect so great a salvation." Now this warning, not to neglect so great a salvation, is connected to verse two and the seriousness of these things. But I want to establish this call from verse one and this warning from the beginning of verse three, then I'm going to come back to verse two and really tie all this together. But here, notice that the author asks a question, "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" And I want to point out three things from this question. First, the seriousness of this warning.

Now here the author is asking a question, but he's really making a statement. He is stating that there is no escape for the sin of neglect. He is saying that there is no escape. Those who do neglect so great a salvation will certainly suffer the righteous judgment of God. He is saying that there is no other way for salvation other than in this great salvation revealed by God in His Son. So for those who neglect such a great salvation, there is no escape. Eternal punishment and judgment surely awaits them. So the seriousness of this warning is this. The stakes are as high as they get.

Failure here brings about the inescapable, sure judgment of God. Then second, the warning, not to neglect so great a salvation. Now if you have this word neglect in the original, it simply means to be careless of, to make light of. It is kind of obvious simply to neglect. And notice what we have here. At the heart of this warning is spiritual disaster and ruin. At the heart of this warning is the inescapable judgment of God which is the worst kind of spiritual disaster and ruin. And all one has to do to fall into this particular pit of spiritual disaster and ruin is to be careless and neglectful. Now think with me here.

The writer does not say if you steal, kill, and commit adultery you will fall into spiritual disaster and ruin. He does not say if you leave the faith and become an open, vile sinner and scoff at the name of Jesus you will fall into spiritual disaster and ruin. He does not say if you leave the faith and become an atheist and a hater of all things Christian you will fall into spiritual disaster and ruin. He simply says spiritual neglect and carelessness will lead to this inescapable judgment of God which is the worst spiritual disaster and ruin period. Now think with me here. Follow me.

How many marriages have been ruined simply by neglect and carelessness? How many? How many businesses have failed because of neglect and carelessness? How many tests have been failed because of neglect and carelessness? How many houses have fallen into despair and ruin because of neglect and carelessness? You could add to those questions. Do you see the difference between that which is willful and that which is careless or neglectful? Do you see the difference? Again notice the author does not say that this inescapable judgment comes from open and willful sin. No.

He says this judgment simply comes from neglecting or being careless when it comes to responding properly to such a great salvation. Do you see? And then third, what is this great salvation? What is he called salvation great? This salvation is great for several reasons and you could add to this description. It is great because within it we have God's final word to men, chapter 1 verse 2. This salvation is great because within it the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross provided purification for sin, chapter 1 verse 3. It is great because within it the Son sits at the right hand of the majesty on high, chapter 1 verse 3.

It is great because within it Jesus is the supreme and the preeminent one. So salvation is great and it is great because of what it is, what it costs and who it glorifies. So here in the beginning of verse 3 we have the warning not to neglect or be careless in relation to this great salvation found in the gospel, found in Jesus and the consequences for being neglectful or inescapable. Judgment. Eternal damnation is sure for those who neglect such a great salvation which is the worst spiritual ruin and disaster there is. But a question again. Who was he talking to? Who was he applying all of this to? Here the context. These were Jews.

Scholars tell us this was a small Jewish congregation and scholars tell us that within the congregation there were some who were truly converted. There were some who were not although they were what we would call intellectual believers. They were some who did not identify with Jesus but somehow they were identified with the church. So who was the writer calling to pay serious attention to what they had heard concerning Jesus and not to drift away from these things and not to neglect these things. Who was he writing to? And then number 3, the seriousness of these things. We finally back up to verse 2, the seriousness of these things.

Now let's read verses 1 to the beginning of verse 3. It all really goes together. Therefore you could say it like this because of all that you've heard and seen in chapter 1. What does he say? We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Now here in verse 2, in the beginning of verse 3, we see the seriousness of these things and although we may not understand what the author is saying here, it's really simple.

I will explain it. First of all, we need to see the writing style of the author here. In verses 2 and the beginning of verse 3, he gives an argument which moves from the lesser to the greater and he does this to prove a point to make a point. So first, the lesser portion of the argument. He says, and I'm reading from the Amplified, "For if the message given through the angels, the law given to Moses, was authentic and unalterable and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty." Now this requires a little bit of an explanation. We need to see the writer is saying that the Old Testament law was given by angels.

Now if we know our Old Testament, we know that we do not see this in the Old Testament Scriptures. What we have going on here is really two things. First Jewish tradition and teaching said that there were angels there at the giving of the Old Testament law. But second, this is mentioned in the New Testament as fact. And of course, Scripture always trumps tradition. Both Acts chapter 7 verse 53 and Galatians 3 verse 19 have the angels there at the giving of the law and also participating in those events. So simply what we have here is this.

The Old Testament does not state that the angels were there at the giving of the Old Testament law or even participating in those events. But the New Testament clearly says that angels were there and they were participants. And here the writer of Hebrews is saying the same thing. Angels were in fact there at the giving of the Old Testament law and they participated in those events. And any and every violation and disobedience of the law received its predetermined appropriate punishment is what the verse said. So simply those who broke the law were punished accordingly. But then second the greater portion of the argument.

He says in verse 2, "For if the message given through the angels, the law given to Moses, was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty." There is the Lesser verse 3. Here is the greater. How will we escape the penalty if we ignore such a great salvation, the gospel, the new covenant? Simply the author is giving an argument from lesser truth to greater truth to highlight and emphasize the importance of the greater truth.

He is saying if the Old Testament law came through angels, how much more should we respect and obey the message of the gospel that came not through angels but through God the Son? So the seriousness of these things is this. It is a serious thing to disobey that which God gave through the angels. But it is much more serious to disobey that which God gave through His Son. And in this case the author was calling and warning these Jewish Christians in this congregation.

He was writing and he was saying, "In light of all that we see about the superiority and the preeminence of the Son, we must make sure we pay very careful attention to what we have heard lest we drift from these things, lest we let these things slip on by. And if our forefathers, your forefathers, were held responsible for the law given through the angels, how shall we escape a sure eternal punishment if we neglect or be careless with a great salvation that is found and spoken by God's Son?" But again, who is he talking to? Who is the writer applying this to?

Now at this point I want us to dive into who he was talking to, who he was writing to, who this applied to, and then we'll move into who this applies to today. Now this is going to take a minute, but it's worth it. So just take a little bit of a breath. First is a question. Is the author saying that these are true Christians who can drift away from their salvation and lose their salvation? The answer is emphatically no. That cannot be the case because true believers cannot lose their salvation. If you pick up a copy of our church statement of faith, we recently had some more printed. There's a few more copies out.

You will see that from the Bible we deal with the fact that true believers cannot lose their salvation under the heading "The Way of Salvation" and under the subheading there "The Perseverance or Preservation of the Saints" it reads. We believe that God will preserve his redeemed throughout life unto the end. And then there are four scripture references. So that none who have been born of God can ever be lost, that their preserving relationship to Christ is the supreme characteristic which distinguishes them as true believers from those who merely profess to believe. There we have five scripture references.

That a special providence of God watches over the welfare of their souls, five scripture references, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation from regeneration and justification through sanctification until final glorification right there, seven scripture verses. So the writer was not writing to true believers saying that they would or could lose their salvation if they really didn't pay attention to all these things. So let's get that error out of our mind. But then second, we begin to see who the author is writing to if we look at the language in verses 1-3.

Look at the verses and notice that he uses this word "we" a lot. It's in the original as well as our English translations. "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" And notice he uses the word "we" quite a lot. Well, we know the writer of the book was a true believer, but it sounds like he is applying this to true believers. So what do we have here?

The writer is saying "we" not referencing those who were saved, but referencing those who were Jews. This is very important folks. The writer was a Jewish convert to Christ and he was writing to a Jewish congregation. So he was writing to fellow Jews. That is why he says "we" all throughout the verses. And third, this tells us who the writer had in mind. He was writing to those Jews who were not truly converted. Some in the congregation had some kind of intellectual belief in Christ, but not saving belief and some associated with the congregation that didn't even profess Christ.

So these unbelieving Jews that he had right before them, he had presented to them Jesus, the Gospel, and the author of salvation that is found in Jesus as God's promised one. So the author here was writing to these unbelieving Jews and he was telling them "You must pay much closer attention than ever to the things you have heard so that you do not in any way drift away from truth. For the message given through the angels, the law given to Moses, was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty.

How will you escape the penalty if you ignore such a great salvation, the Gospel, the New Covenant? And for the ones who did not pay careful attention and embraced the great salvation found in Jesus the window of time that was before them, it drifted past, it drifted past, just like a boat that was untied and unsecured. And look folks, the same goes for us today. Even some of you that are here, even some of you that have been attending grace life for a while, God by God's good graces brought you here and you have heard the message of saving grace through Jesus who died on the cross to provide purification for sin.

You have seen others come to faith in Christ. You have heard their testimonies right here in this church. You have seen others be baptized and profess Christ which is a picture of being buried with Christ and in death and being raised to live a new life in Christ, Romans 6.4. You have seen how Christ can and does change people and make them new. You have seen far more of the Gospel in God's goodness and grace than the original recipients of this letter. And the call and warning for you this morning is this.

You must pay much closer attention than ever to these things that you have heard so that you do not in any way drift away from truth for the message given through the angels, the law given to Moses was authentic and unalterable and every violation and disobedient act receive an appropriate penalty. How will you escape the penalty if you ignore such a great salvation, the Gospel, the new covenant that has been put right in front of you? So just like this author was writing to those unconverted yet professing Jews, he is writing to you and saying you, you don't let this pass you by. Now before I move on I want to ask a question.

Can this apply to a true believer at all? In the original this word neglect means to be careless to neglect. I was kind of curious, I did a little study even last night. In the King James it is translated, this word in the original is translated neglect two times, make light of one time, regard not one time, be negligent one time. But I want us to see that Paul uses this very same word to speak of a Christian in 1 Timothy 1.4. Turn there. It is taking a little more time but this is extremely important. First Timothy 4.14. We know the context of 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. Paul is writing to Timothy who is the pastor of the church at Ephesus.

So we see pastoral instruction for the church and then we see pastoral instruction for Timothy. This was for Timothy personally. Paul says do not neglect, same word. Do not neglect the gift you have which was given to you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Now do not have time to develop this much. That is another sermon for another day. But what we have here is this. Paul was writing to young Timothy who was the pastor there at the Ephesian church. And he referenced Timothy's spiritual gift and giftedness that pertained to God's calling on his life.

This was his spiritual gift and giftedness that was seen by Paul by those who ordained him and the church. This gift and giftedness was obvious. And it appears that for some reason or reasons Timothy had neglected that word neglected. He had neglected his giftedness. Paul uses the same word here that we see in Hebrews. He had neglected his gift. He had neglected his giftedness. Therefore, his spiritual progress personally and in his ministry position was not what it should be. And then if we go over in the second Timothy 1.6, Paul called him to stir up the gift of God that was in him. And my question for you is this.

Are you a true believer yet you have been neglectful with your spiritual gift and giftedness? Are you a true believer? You've been born again but yet you have neglected your spiritual gift and giftedness. Are you a true believer yet you have neglected and you are neglectful at times of your personal walk with God? Do you work hard in your personal spiritual life and using your gift and giftedness in the life of the church for a while? But then there are times you just coast. Do you work hard in your personal spiritual life and using your gift and giftedness in the life of the church?

But then sometimes you just kind of vacate because better things come along that draw your attention away. I have known people that I believe are true believers. They have this way. They just have this way. They have this habit. They have this pattern that comes at times in and out of their life of being neglectful in their personal walk. They're neglectful somehow in their gift and giftedness and that is not what should be in their life. I have seen spiritual maturity pass them by. I have seen spiritual opportunities pass them by. I have seen what they could be passed them by. Now I know I look 25 but I'm getting close to 55.

I've been in ministry since 1996 and I have lived and been in ministry long enough to see ministers come and go. I've seen men who were extremely gifted, extremely talented. They had gifts and abilities that I was envious of and I have seen them have this habit of being neglectful either in their personal walk or in their gift and giftedness and sometimes as it pertained to the personal will of God for their life and I have watched spiritual maturity pass them by.

I've watched spiritual opportunities pass them by and I have seen what they could be passed them by and I'm not acting like I'm God and I know God's will for their life but it just doesn't add up when they seem to be not what they should be. And then last, don't look at your watch. I'll be quick here. Number four. Four reasons why it is total foolishness to drift and to neglect back in our Hebrews passages. Four reasons why it is total and utter foolishness to drift and to neglect. The second part of verse three and verse four. This will be quick. Here's the warning. How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

Notice he changes here. It was declared first by the Lord and it was attested to us by those who heard. That's evidence that this was not Paul. While God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit that the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Now here the author quickly unpacks why it is and was total foolishness to neglect the salvation that was accomplished in Jesus. Four reasons. First, it was spoken first by our Lord. This is simple. The Lord here is speaking of Jesus. He is the Son of God by whom God has spoken his final word. Chapter one verse two.

He is the creator and sustainer of the universe, the heir of all things. He has entered time in human history and spoken to men and men by his word and his works. It was confirmed by those eyewitnesses who saw and heard Jesus. This is simple as well. Here scholars tell us that these verses are full of legal language which they say highlights the truth of the message they proclaim. And what the author was saying is this. Although he nor those in this Jewish congregation heard and saw Jesus personally, they can be sure that the message of Jesus as revealed by and through those who did see and hear him it can certainly be trusted.

Third, God himself bore witness by signs and wonders. And this is simple. God was a witness to the accuracy and truthfulness of Jesus, his word, his works. How? By and through signs, wonders and various miracles. Simply the miracles performed by Jesus authenticated his ministry. They were signs that Jesus and his ministry was all definitely from God. And then fourth, through the gifts of the spirit and others. And this is simple. Scholars tell us that this word distributed seems to speak of the gifts of the spirit in the lives of other believers. So what he was saying was this.

The gifts of the spirit as seen in the lives of other believers serves to authenticate and support the truth and the truthfulness of the gospel. So in summary, what we have here is this. Four reasons why it is total foolishness to drift away from this great salvation. Four reasons why is total foolishness to neglect this great salvation. And look folks, the same applies to us today. Listen, if you've not come to saving faith in Christ, look at all that is before you today that shows you that it is total utter foolishness to neglect what is before you. First of all, you have a full copy of God's word. Those Jews didn't have what you have.

Second, look at how God has been good to you. The common grace that you are living and experiencing. Third, look at what you have in this church all around you. You have Christians who love God, men who serve God. You are people that you've seen come to know Christ. I can name names and ask people to stand here, men and women, and they could attest to God's saving grace and how God's working in their life. And you would look at them and see them as true and authentic Christians. You have so much around you. Now as I close, I want to share with you where I think we can struggle the most in our day. It's right here.

To me and my experience, I know we live in a bubble, but we don't struggle to evangelize atheists. We don't struggle to evangelize Muslims. We don't struggle to try to reach Hindus and Buddhists for Christ. We do not struggle much against Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, although we do have them in our community. Our biggest struggle in our churches and in our culture is the struggle with those who profess saving faith in Christ but they are not truly converted. We struggle the most with the cultural Christian.

In Luke Church, Paul was writing to a congregation and to a certain people in that congregation who professed Christ but they did not have true saving faith. And he was calling them to pay very close attention to what they had seen and heard. And he was warning them not to neglect this great salvation and let it pass on by, pass on by, pass on by. One more thing and then we'll close. I don't understand the great mystery here between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. And if a man stands up and tells you that they can explain the mystery of it all, you better run. He's a cult leader.

But what we have here folks is man's responsibility. Just like I have a list of ministers that I've seen become less than what they should, I've got a long list of those that I've seen have a window of time to come to faith in Christ. They had a window of time. God was working in their life. They even seem to be genuine at times seeking but it seems like that day, pass them by, pass them by, pass them by. Why? Because they were not careful and they were neglectful. And I'll say this to you before I close.

If you die and you stand before the Lord unconverted, the Lord will show you the window of opportunity that you have had at Grace Life Church. And if you didn't come to faith in Christ, it won't be his fault. It won't be his fault. It'll be yours. Pay very close attention. Don't neglect what's before you. Don't let it pass you by. Pile of the message, neglecting so great a salvation.