Ignoring Salvation

I) Introduction

Heed the Word, or we will slip away

II) Warning: Backsliding

Its a strong warning

the truth keeps us from falling away from Christ

The word “EARNEST HEED” means to give attention to; to listen carefully!

We must PAY ATTENTION to the gospel

to listen more closely to the gospel than ever

to pay attention to the gospel more than ever before

salvation is now offered to man

we become acceptable to God because of what Christ did for us

we beat

sin

temptation

bondage

evil

Satan

death

What does drift away mean

Hebrews-James (King James Version) C. Warning One: The Danger of Neglecting Salvation—Of Drifting Away from Salvation, 2:1–4

William Barclay says, “It is regularly used of something which has carelessly or thoughtlessly been allowed to slip away and become lost” (The Letter to the Hebrews. “The Daily Study Bible.” Philadelphia, PA: The Westminister Press, 1955, p. 13).

The word slip or drift is like a SHIP that drifts past the harbor, instead of docking.

maybe because the captain is:

drunk

complacent

sleeping

carelessness

not paying attention

And the list goes on.

We all need to anchor our lives in the truth of the gospel and salvation.

Hebrews-James (King James Version) C. Warning One: The Danger of Neglecting Salvation—Of Drifting Away from Salvation, 2:1–4

Thought 1. Barclay has an excellent comment on this verse.

“For most of us the threat of life is not so much that we should plunge into disaster, but that we should drift into sin. There are few people who deliberately and in a moment turn their backs on God; there are many who day by day drift farther and farther away from Him. There are not many who in one moment of time commit some disastrous sin; there are many who, bit by bit and almost imperceptibly, involve themselves in some situation, and suddenly awake to find that they have ruined life for themselves and broken someone else’s heart. We would do well to be continually on the alert against the peril of the drifting life” (The Letter to the Hebrews, p. 13f).

(NKJV)

38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

(NKJV)

10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings;

11 In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.

(NKJV)

62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Reason 1: Judgement

Given by the angels

Mosiac laws

Still held people responsible

judgement under the law was strict

Every person who broke the law in the OT was given a just punishment

TRANSGRESSION - To step aside, step over the line

DISOBEDIENCE - Means to neglect, refuse , or fail to follow God’s commands.

To deliberately break the law means to die

(NKJV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Reason 2: Salvation

ot had

Reason 2: Salvation

Judgement while having salvation will be more severe than under the law. Why?

Because Salvation is so great

the world is full of hate, envy, murder, theft, assaults, rapes, terrorism, broken homes, disease, death

HOWEVER, there is still salvation!!!

WHAT IS SALVATION?

Deliverance from evil and death

delivers us to God

Gives us a new a perfect world to live in (new heaven and earth)

it is a reward

gives us Christ

Salvation wasn’t given by the angels

it was given by CHRIST!

He brought it Himself

how offended would you be if your child died to save someone else, and the cussed you out every time you saw them?

No one can escape the judgement of salvation.

(NKJV)

3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

(NKJV)

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

The point is this: if we feel ike we are falling away, then we need to realize that we need to get back to God’s word. Falling away is a sin. We need to correct NOW!