The Question With No Answer

Hebrews 2:1-4

Hebrews 2:1–4 NLT

1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Introduction:

There is a question in scripture that has no answer. It is recorded for us in this passage of scripture. This question is contained in verse 3 of our text. The question is simply this,

“What makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation ?”

The problem we have is that we either try to ignore this question or that we try to make up our own answer without consulting God’s eternal word for the answer. Unfortunately for us, if we opt for either one of these ways of dealing with the question, the eternal outlook will be devastating!

Notice what the Word of God has to say about this all important question:

I. THE HIDDEN DANGER WE ALL FACE (HEBREWS 2:1b).

Hebrews 2:1b NLT

1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

(Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως προσέχειν ἡμᾶς τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρυῶμεν)

A. Drifting away from the message of salvation.

1- It is imperative that we hear the message of salvation.

(Rom. 10:16).

Romans 10:16 NLT

16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”

a. Once we have heard about God’s salvation it is dangerous not to act on what we have heard.

περισσοτέρως προσέχειν = to heed extremely, to hear and act with extreme care.

(1) All we have to do is nothing in order to reject salvation.

Illustration: If a boat on the Mississippi River is not anchored, it will drift away from port. All the captain has to do to drift is to neglect to put down anchor. If he does nothing, he will find himself downstream in very little time.

Note what the scriptures say:

(2 Cor. 6:2)

2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT

2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

(Prov. 27:1)

Proverbs 27:1 NLT

1 Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

B. Drifting away from the Words that we have heard.

1- It is possible for us to drift away from the Words God has given us. (Hebrews 2:1 b)

Hebrews 2:1 NLT

1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

a. We hear the Lord speak through his messenger and choose not to make specific application to our own lives.

By choosing to make no move to receive salvation through Christ.

Like Felix the governor. (Acts 24:24-27)

Acts 24:24–27 (NLT) 24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. 27 After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.

b. We read a passage of scripture in our quiet time and choose not to seek to apply it to our lives.

(2 Pet. 3:14-18)

2 Peter 3:14–18 NLT

14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. 15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— 16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. 17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

c. We choose the cafeteria approach to the scriptures.

d. Anytime we do nothing to put the principles of God’s word to practical use, we are drifting.

C. Drifting away from the opportunities God has given.

1. The opportunity to Accept Christ.

2. The opportunity to Identify with Him through open confession of faith and baptism.

3. The opportunity to share Jesus with others who need him.

4. The opportunity to repent of sin and obey God’s Word.

II. THE HELPFUL ADVISE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN (Hebrews 2:1a).

Hebrews 2:1a NLT

1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

A- Pay attention to what you have heard.

1- It does no good to hear God’s Word if we allow it to go in one ear and out of the other.

a. God never says anything that is not important.

(1) His warnings are never empty: He does not bluff.

(2) His commandments are not suggestions: there are consequences to disobedience.

B- Give close attention to the details God reveals.

1- All scripture (every word) is God-Breathed. (2 Tim 3:16).

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

a. Every detail and principle is vital.

(Matt. 4:4)

Matthew 4:4 NLT

4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

C- Put into practice what God has taught you.

1- Heed = προσέχω = apply one’s self to, to devote thought and effort to.

a. It entails obedience (Luke 6:46).

Luke 6:46 NLT

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

(John 14:15)

John 14:15 NLT

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.

(1 John 5:3)

1 John 5:3 NLT

3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.

III. THE HORRIBLE QUESTION FOR WHICH THERE IS NO ANSWER (Hebrews 2:2-4).

Hebrews 2:2–4 NLT

2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

A- There was an incomplete revelation given by the angels. (Hebrews 2:2)

Hebrews 2:2 NLT

2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.

(εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν,)

1- λαληθεὶς= spoke = same word used in 1:1 to denote the incomplete revelation given through the prophets.

a. The angels gave a revelation of God and His will for the time in which they spoke.

b. Disobedience to the angel’s revelation brought certain judgement.

Lot’s wife disobeyed the angels and was judged. (Genesis 19:15-17, 26)

Genesis 19:15–17 NLT

15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!” 16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. 17 When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

Genesis 19:26 NLT

26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.

c. There is a completed revelation given by the Lord himself.

B- God has completely revealed himself in two ways: (Hebrews 2:3-4)

Hebrews 2:3–4 NLT

3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

1- The Living Word (John 1:1)

John 1:1 NLT

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

a. The message Christ preached:

(Mark 1:14-15)

Mark 1:14–15 NLT

14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

2- The Written Word (Heb. 4:12)

Hebrews 4:12 NLT

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

a. Nothing can be added to this revelation (Revelation 22:18-19)

Revelation 22:18–19 NLT

18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

C- There is a question for which there is no answer.

1- “What Makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation?” (vs. 3)

a. If you neglect to act upon the offer of salvation being extended to you now, how shall you escape the judgement?

(Heb. 9:27)

Hebrews 9:27 NLT

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

b. No answer is given in scripture…the implied answer is…there is no escape.

2- If judgment came for disobeying angel, how much more will judgment come for not heeding the very Words of the Living God!

Conclusion:

The story is told of the man who went to sleep in his boat one night on the Niagara River. Before long his boat drifted down to the rapids and he was caught. It was too late for him to do anything. He went over the falls and was killed.

Someone asks the question, “What must I do to be lost?” We are given the answer for “What must I do to be saved?” in Acts 16:31.

Acts 16:31 NLT

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

But what is the answer for “What must I do to be lost?” Well, the answer is nothing.