The Great Lost Concept of the 21st Century: Personal Accountability (2)

TITLE: The Great Lost Concept of the 21st Century: Personal Accountability

TEXT: 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:

A - William Gladstone –Most Serious thought “My Personal accountability to God.”

I - ACCOUNTABLE FOR EXPOSURE TO THE GOD’S WORD. (Hebrews 2: 1).

Hebrews 2:1 (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 - Pay attention –Listen very carefully.

περισσοτέρως προσέχειν = to give heed to more abundantly, to listen to with extreme care.

1- Ridiculers of Noah were held accountable.

2- Those who spat upon Jesus were held accountable.

B - Pay attention – Don’t drift away!

μήποτε παραρυῶμεν = Lest we drift away

(II Cor. 5:10)

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)

10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

1- How can we drift away? (Matthew 13:18-23)

a- By placing too little value on what God says to us.

b- By becoming too engrossed with “business”.

c- By allowing ourselves to become ensnared by the pleasures of life

d- By procrastinating when it comes to spiritual matters

1) Remember: Delayed obedience is disobedience!

2) Missed opportunities many times can not be reclaimed.

C -Pay attention - Don’t let Salvation “Slip thru your grasp”

1- Today is the only day that you may have.

(Proverbs 27:1)

Proverbs 27:1 (NLT)

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

(2 Corinthians 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.

II - ACCOUNTABLE ETERNALLY (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 -The angelic messages disregarded brought punishment. (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.

1. To Cain, for the murder of His Brother

(Gen. 4: 7-13)

Genesis 4:7–13 (NLT)

7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!

11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.

12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!

2. Lot’s wife turned to salt. (Genesis 19:17, 26; Luke 17:32-33)

(Genesis 19:17, 26)

Genesis 19:17 (NLT)

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.

(Luke 17:32-33)

Luke 17:32–33 (NLT)

32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife!

33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.

B - God’s message disregarded, bears eternal Consequences (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. Spoken by the Living Word

(John 14:6)

John 14:6 (NLT)

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

2. Confirmed by Witnesses and Miracles.

a. In the early N.T.: Peter, Paul.

b. In today’s world: lives changed by Christ.

3. No escape from punishment.

a. Judgment is sure.

(Hebrews 9:27)

Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)

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

(Revelation 20:11-15)

Revelation 20:11–15 (NLT)

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.

12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.

13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.

14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.

15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

CONCLUSION

Christian:

Nothing in the world is easier than drifting. No person drifts upstream, only downstream. It is so easy. All you do is sit back and relax and let the boat go. You are soon lulled into a lazy stupor, not caring where you go. You may not even be aware you are drifting until it is too late and the boat is on the rocks. Satan is very wise. He seldom urges a Christian to leave the church or to give up his faith in the Lord. Instead he causes us to relax, rest on the oars, and drift along in the Christian life.

All around us are Christians who have drifted into a state of coldness and indifference. They have stopped caring about others who need to hear the message of God's saving grace.

Lost Friend:

Don’t be like Agrippa… “Almost Pursuaded”

Hymn: ‘ALMOST PURSUADED’

1

“Almost persuaded” now to believe; “Almost persuaded” Christ to receive; Seems now some soul to say, “Go, Spirit, go Thy way, Some more convenient day on Thee I’ll call.”

2

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today; “Almost persuaded,” turn not away; Jesus invites you here, Angels are ling’ring near, Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wand’rer, come!

3

Oh, be persuaded! Christ never fails— Oh, be persuaded! His blood avails— Can save from every sin, Cleanse you without, within— Will you not let Him in? Open the door!

4

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past! “Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last; “Almost” cannot avail; “Almost” is but to fail! Sad, sad that bitter wail— “Almost—but lost!”

5

Be now persuaded, oh, sinner, hear! Be now persuaded, Jesus is near; His voice is pleading still, Turn now with heart and will, Peace will your spirit fill— Oh, turn today!