Do Not Neglect Salvation
Notes
Transcript
Hebrews 2:1-4
1. We should give much attention to the salvation of our soul (1).
A. We should pay closer attention to the gospel than the Jews did to the Law.
“much closer attention”
The Law was delivered by angels- Scripture teaches when Moses received the Law at Sinai angels were involved in delivering it to him (Psalm 68:7, Deut. 33:2; Acts 7:53).
The Jews were meticulous when it came to paying attention to the Law.
What they ate
What they wore
What they touched
How they prayed
Who they associated with
Keeping Sabbaths/ Festivals
The gospel was delivered by the Son of God. We see that in verse 3. The writer argues that the Jews should pay closer attention to the gospel than they do the Law because of who delivered the gospel.
We’ve already seen in chapter 1 that Jesus is:
Greater than the prophets
The Heir of all things
The Creator
The Glory of God
The exact representation of God
The Sustainer of the universe
The purifier of sin
Seated at the right hand of God
Better than the angels
The Son of God
Worthy of worship
The Righteous King
The Judge of all
Does this mean the New Testament is more inspired than the Old? No. It means you can be saved without understanding Leviticus but you can’t be saved without understanding the gospel.
How much attention have you given to the gospel?
Many Jewish people paid close attention to the Law because they believed it could save them.
The gospel can save us. We should pay close attention to it.
B. We must hear the gospel with eager ears.
“What we have heard” He is talking to people who are not saved. He says “We” because its his fellow Hebrews.
God is not going to save them because they are Jewish. They have heard the gospel. Now they need to respond.
How many times do you have to hear the gospel before you give your life to the Lord?
Jesus talked about people who had ears but could not hear. There are many in our churches like that today.
Jesus spoke so seriously about your soul.
He said your soul is precious. Matthew 10:28:
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
He said your soul is priceless. Matthew 21:16:
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Why would we not be eager to be saved?
When you say “I’m not ready to be saved” you are saying “I am ready for hell.”
C. If we are not careful concerning our salvation the result could be fatal.
Notice the phrase “lest we drift away from it”.
Two of the ways this Greek word was used.
1) To describe a ring slipping off a finger.
Illustration: Jennifer getting wedding ring replaced. Weeks later she looked at her hand realizing it had slipped off.
Frantically searching
Retracing her steps
Remembered she stopped to pull weeds from around a plant on way back from mailbox.
The ring had slipped off of her finger and onto the dirt.
The word describes someone who is careless with something that is precious.
2) A ship which sailed past the port.
Illustration:
Imagine yourself in a flowing river that leads to a waterfall. You are in a boat with no motor. You know that ahead there is a port. But there is only one port. Rather than plan to land in that port you relax. You take a nap. You enjoy yourself. In a moment that is too late you see the port and you have passed it by. You try to paddle back up current, but you aren’t strong enough. You have missed your chance. The river takes you to the edge of a cliff and drops you into the abyss.
You didn’t pay attention, so you lost the precious jewel of salvation!
You were careless so you sailed past the port of salvation!
No one in hell meant to go there. They went because they did not pay attention to their own soul.
2. There is no escape if we neglect salvation (2-3).
A. There is something to escape.
In history God has shown that He punishes sin.
The Law (delivered by angels) proved to reliable. There was consequences connected to breaking of the Law.
In the Garden of Eden- God cursed the serpent, the ground, sentenced Adam and Eve to death
Noah’s generation- Many did not believe.
The Tower of Babel- separation
Sodom and Gomorrah- Fire and brimstone
The OT is filled with instances of God’s judgment.
What does he mean “how shall we escape? What are we escaping from?
It’s not death because even Christians die.
It’s more than death. It’s eternal punishment of sin.
The word “escape” implies danger. If there is no hell, there is no danger. Death is simply eternal rest if there is no hell.
God tells us to escape something. He tells us to escape hell.
You say, “You’re preaching that fire and brimstone!”
No, I’m preaching like Jesus did. He gave one of the most frightening stories given in all the Bible.
He said there was a rich man who lived like no other. One day he died. He woke up in hell.
He was burning in a pit of fire.
He was begging for mercy.
He was asking for just a drop of water.
He wanted someone to go tell his brothers not to come to the place he had gone.
That’s from a sermon Jesus preached.
God is just. He will punish sin and we are sinners.
There is a place we must escape. That place is hell.
B. There is no other option for salvation than the gospel.
“How shall we…”
What is your plan friend?
How will you escape hell?
Where will you find salvation if you don’t find it in Christ?
Will you go to Buddha? He’ll tell you salvation is found in Nirvana, which means to cease to exist.
Will you go to Allah? He’ll tell you try hard and maybe he’ll save you.
Will you go to the atheist? He’ll tell you there is nothing to be saved from.
Will you go to the world? They’ll tell you you’re already saved. Just be yourself.
If you have not come to Christ, what is your plan? How will you escape?
You say, “Me and God will work it out.”
If you get saved, you’ll get saved the same way everyone else does. You won’t get a special deal. You won’t get a second chance after you die.
Listen friend!
You have a soul!
It must be saved!
Jesus Christ is the only One who can save it!
Frank Sinatra used to sing “I did it my way!”
When it comes to salvation you can’t do it your way.
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death! Proverbs 14:12
You don’t wanna be wrong about your soul!
C. The salvation we are offered is great.
He said it’s a great salvation!
How can you improve on it?
You trade hell for heaven.
You give up your sins for Jesus’ righteousness.
Jesus did it all.
He lived a perfect life for you.
He died your death.
He endured your hell.
You come.
You repent.
You believe.
You call on His name.
This is a great salvation!
How is it great?
It is obvious. It is easy to see. You are surrounded by reminders of salvation.
It is simple. We can all understand enough to be saved.
It is satisfying. It gives you comfort in world of sin. You have hope even in trials.
It is powerful. Victory over sinful behavior.
It is glorious. It ends in heaven.
3. God has confirmed to us that He saves souls (3-4).
A. Through the preaching of His Son.
It was declared at first by the Lord.
If I hear something that’s hard to believe the first question I ask is “Who said that?”
Who said there is a heaven to gain?
Who said there is a hell to miss?
Who said there is only one way?
Who said we must repent and believe?
Who said it?
Jesus said it.
God Himself came to earth and preached this gospel!
Think about that!
That’s how important this is!
God got off of His throne, came to earth, and preached the gospel.
Jesus gave a parable about this in Matthew 21:37-39
A vineyard owner leased out his vineyard and went to a far country. He sent servants to collect the profits but the people killed them. Finally, he sent his own son thinking they would surely listen to him. Instead, they even killed the son.
That parable was about Jesus.
God sent the prophets, but the people would not listen to them. They beat and killed them. Then the Father sent Jesus into the world. Sadly, the people would not even listen to Him and even He was killed.
God could not have sent a better preacher. If you don’t believe Jesus then you don’t believe God Himself.
Jesus confirmed His message by rising from the dead.
B. The gospel was confirmed by eyewitnesses.
“Attested to us” means it was confirmed to the writer of Hebrews and others by people who heard the gospel from the lips of Jesus.
They did not hear second hand. They heard from men like Peter, James, and John.
Jesus performed miracles to crowds of thousands. There were more than 500 people who saw Him resurrected at one time after His death. There are a lot of eyewitness testimony to the life and message of Jesus.
In America all we need is a couple of eyewitnesses to put someone in prison for life or sentence them to death.
There will always be someone who says, “If God does this miracle I’ll believe.”
God doesn’t have to do any more miracles. He has done enough.
The first century Christians saw Christ with their own eyes and heard Him with their own ears. An entire generation witnessed Jesus.
There is no need for any more confirmation of the gospel. We have enough!
Look at verse 4 “God bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles.”
God’s already done it. He doesn’t have to keep doing it.
What He has done is given us the whole Bible. The Apostles didn’t have that. It was still being written. God has written the last chapter. He has written the book. He has given us the book.
You say, “I don’t believe the Bible.”
It doesn’t matter.
There are plenty who do. There is plenty of eyewitness testimony in here. It’s enough to convince me and any reasonable person.
C. The gospel is confirmed by the Holy Spirit.
I don’t believe the miraculous gifts of the Apostles are still operating. If they were we would see amazing things. I do believe the Holy Spirit gives gifts. He empowers. He is active in the life of Christians.
The salvation of a soul is still the greatest miracle. God has saved many people in this world and their salvation is the result of being born again by the Spirit of God. The Spirit is still active. He is changing people.
Convicting
Regenerating
Comforting
Teaching
Sanctifying
Listen friend, God has confirmed that He saves souls.
How long will you go on neglecting salvation?
To neglect salvation is to reject salvation.
How long have you already neglected?
How much longer do you have? You don’t know the answer to that do you?
Illustration:
The Great Chicago fire began burning on Sunday October 8, 1871, around 9 PM. It continued until Tuesday morning October 10.
It destroyed over three square miles, made 100,000 people homeless, and killed about 300 people. There was a church that was destroyed in the fire. It was a great preacher by the name of DL Moody’s church.
He had preached that evening to about 2,500 people. He preached from Matthew 27:22 which says ““What then shall I do with Jesus which is called the Christ?”
He told his church to go home that night and think about it and ready next Sunday to make a decision for the Lord.
Moody later said that was one of the biggest mistakes of his life. He was plagued with the thought of some of the 2500 people at his church being killed by the fire. This is what he said later in life concerning the situation:
“I want to tell you of the one lesson I learned that night: … that is, when I preach, I press Christ upon the people then and there and try to bring them to a decision on the spot. I would rather have that right hand cut off than to give an audience now a week to decide what to do with Jesus.”
Friends we cannot neglect this salvation.
Can you see the port?
Can you see the place of safety?
Do you understand what Christ has done for you?
Do you understand what is required of you?
Come to Christ!
He offers a great salvation for the greatest of sinners!