The Book of Hebrews (Sermon)

Chapter 2:1-9 (Guarding Against the Drift)

PRAY

(READ VERSES)

(ASK) What are some important things in our lives and why is it important that we remember them?

*Brushing your teeth *Paying your bills *Changing the oil in your car *Putting gas in your car *What else??

While there are practical things we must remember, more importantly, there are spiritual things we must know and remember: Things like

Spiritual disciplines, spending time in God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship…not doing so can leave a lost person lost and lead a believer to drift away

Remembering Who’s image you are created in…failing to know and remember this can:

Leave a lost person pursuing images from the passing pleasures of this world/sin; placing their value/worth in corruptible things, such as immoral relationships, greed, criminal mentalities, self-righteousness, and addictions

Lead lead the believer astray, backsliding and waywardly drifting off-course

What about Supremacy of Christ? The word “supremacy” in the Greek comes from the word, “kyros.” The root of this word is “Lord,” or Master.”

The author of Hebrews is driving home, in this passage and in all of Hebrews, the truth of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

For the lost—unless your life is given over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ—you have no anchor, no peace, no hope, no liberty and no life

For the believer—you and I must daily deny ourselves, daily take up our crosses, and follow the Lord—daily hold on to the truth of Jesus, lest as the author of Hebrews states, we “drift away.”

It’s important that we remember (pay more careful attention to) the truth of Jesus Christ—otherwise we will drift away from the Lord and living holy lives. The Greek word for “drift away” is “pararrhueo” and means, “to flow by,” or “to slip away.” It carries the idea of floating aimlessly in the water or something that slips through your grasp. Think of not paying attention and missing your exit or turn while driving, b/c you’re not focused on where you are going

Drifting is dangerous—Why?

Drifting is gradual & subtle: it’s the slow fade, the slight turn of the rudder that is hard to see at first and easy to overlook

Drifting is neglectful and careless: it’s shows a lack of attention and a neglect of spiritual discipline

Drifting is loss of direction: it’s losing our spiritual direction b/c we’ve casted our eyes elsewhere (talk about casting)

This is what the author of Hebrews is driving home here in Hebrews 2—how to guard against the drift.

It’s important to understand who the author of Hebrews is writing to:

A group of believers who are weary/tired

A group of believers who are being tempted to go back, to retreat and give in

A group of believers who are being tempted to go back to false comforts of religion and false comforts of this world?

Have you been there? Are you there now?

Have you never been anchored to the truth of God’s Word and the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ?

Are you tired and weary, ready to give in and call it a day?

Let me be the first to encourage you tonight to grab a hold (maybe for the first time), cling to, run to, and abide in the truth of God’s Word: Listen to just one of benefits of God’s Word

2 Timothy 3:15–17 “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Let’s dig in!!

How do you and I “guard against the drift?” Three things:

I. (FIRST) We Hold Onto the Truth

Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”

“Therefore” (ASK—Does anyone remember what we learned about this term?)

Therefore takes a big truth (doctrine), and like a magnifying glass—focuses in on the “why it matters;” or “now that we’ve laid out big truth (i.e., the supremacy of Christ)—here’s why it matters

Ex: Colossians 3:1-4 (READ) and Colossians 3:5 (READ)

“…we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard…” (imperative statement—”we must”)

NLT says “we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard…”

NIV says, “We must pay the most careful attention…”

CSB says, “we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard”

“…the things (truth) we’ve heard…”

The things we’ve heard—this refers to what the recipients of the letter have heard before…the message and truth of salvation in/through Jesus Christ

“…lest we drift away.”

Drifting means to find oneself flowing, gliding, or passing by w/out paying attention (giving due heed)

For the lost: (1) too concerned with the passing pleasures of sin/world; (2) listening to the wrong message(s); (3) lived deceived (share the man at the tombs if time allows)

For the believer: being drawn away/backslidden b/c of being enticed by the weeds, doubts, deceits, fears, etc.

(WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU AND ME?)

What are we casting our lives upon? (Talk about “casting”)

Potipher’s wife, Lot, and even David (ASK) Where did they cast their eyes?

Genesis 13:10–11 “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.”

Genesis 39:7 “And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.””

2 Samuel 11:1–3 “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?””

What we cast our eyes/gaze/or hearts upon, we’re expecting something to be reeled in—therefore, whatever we are casting our eyes towards, reveals what is rooted in our hearts

The Lesson—it matters that we pay attention to Hebrews 2:1-4, because of the big truth found in Hebrews 1—-The supremacy of Jesus Christ

We must cast our eyes upon the truth of Jesus…we must listen very carefully to the truth of salvation, to the truth ofJesus Christ

John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Romans 10:9–10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Romans 10:13 “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””

(POINT) Where would we be—what hope would would sin-filled people have—what would criminal have, the drug addict have, the alcoholic have, the prideful have, the self-righteous have, what hope would you and I have—if not for the supremacy and Lordship of Jesus Christ? If not for the supremacy of Christ—if not for His considering us—if not for His standing in the gap b/t God’s wrath and our condemnation—there would be no Gospel—no good news!!

(ASK) How do we keep from drifting?

Disciplined to stay in the Word and stay obedient to the Word

Matthew 7:24–25 ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

Disciplined to stay committed to possessing a character of prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing,”

Disciplined in repentance and confession of known/shown sins

Acts 2:37–38 “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Disciplined to fight for each other

Nehemiah 4:14 “And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.””

Talk about buffalo vs. cows

II. (v.2-3) LIVE WITHOUT EXCUSES

Hebrews 2:2–3a“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?

Since can be said, “In view of the fact of,”

Since (sometimes referred to as “if”) does not question the steadfast, inerrant Word of God—if states, “in view of the fact, in light of the fact, or since the fact that the Word is true, steadfast, unchanging but life-changing, and eternal

“…the message declared by angels proved to be reliable…”

This refers to the law which was given to Moses on Mount Sinai

The law was a great thing given to the Israelites and the law is a great thing which has been given to us, it should be honored, held, and kept.

In all that law shows us about God and how we are to live before God and others, the law ultimately shows us we are sinners in need of a Savior

We are sinners in need of Savior

“…every transgression and disobedience received a just reward…”

To Transgress or disobey God’s law was a strict offense—violators were punished (some severly)

Joshua 7:25–26 “And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.”

Isaiah 13:11 “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.”

Isaiah 26:21 “For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.”

“…how shall we escape…” (v.3a)

(Warren Wiersbe excerpt) “I have often told the story of the pastor who preached a series of sermons called, “the sins of the saints.” He was reprimanded by a member of the church. “After all,” said the member, “sin in the life of a Christian is different from the sin in the lives of other people.” “Yes,” replied the pastor, “it’s worse!”. We have the idea that believers today “under grace,” can escape the chastening hand of God that we so evident “under law.” But to whom much is given, much shall be required.”

“…if we neglect such a great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” (v.3b)

Neglect—means:

to be careless; or not to care; it can also mean, “to make light of something (it).”

the root of the word indicates the deliberate act of neglect (

The remaining parts of this verse teach us that the means & message of salvation originated with Lord, and with others

With the Lord first and foremost: (The NLT helps understands)

Genesis 3:15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike[a] your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Rev 13:8 “And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.”

With those who heard Him—the witnesses that followed Christ—after His ascension

Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

***What the author is trying to express is there have been so many witnesses, since the ascension of Christ until today, who have testified, preached, and evangelized of the truth of Jesus Christ—there can be no escape from judgment for those who neglect His word, for they are without excuse.***

(ASK) But let us answer this question—can a believer “neglect” the truth of God’s Word (as the Word neglect is defined)

III. (v.4) Remember…Salvation is God’s Plan…Not Yours

Hebrews 2:3b–4 “…It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

God Himself bore witness of the supremacy of Jesus Christ. How?

Through signs and wonders

Through various miracles, and

Through gifts of the Holy Spirit

It was God’s will to express Himself through the supremacy of Jesus Christ

(CLOSING)

(ASK) Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Too many people today take the Word of God for granted and neglect it.” Why or why not?