LEST WE DRIFT AWAY
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· 18 viewsThe Danger of drifting away from God
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
The author of The Epistle To The Hebrews was concerned about the spiritual well-being of his initial recipients...
The author of The Epistle To The Hebrews was concerned about the spiritual well-being of his initial recipients...
They were fellow Jews who had become Christians
His concern is that they not drift back into Judaism
He deals with this problem in two ways:
By emphasizing the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant
By a series of exhortations for them to remain steadfast
In chapter one thus far we have seen...
In chapter one thus far we have seen...
The superiority of Christ to the prophets - Heb. 1:1-3
The superiority of Christ to the angels - Heb. 1:4-14
Now we come to the first of several exhortations
Now we come to the first of several exhortations
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard; 4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
In which we find a warning about the danger of “drifting”
The figure suggested is that of a boat...
Drifting along at an almost imperceptible pace
Carried along in the wrong direction by a subtle current
In this lesson, I want us to examine...
In this lesson, I want us to examine...
The reasons behind such an exhortation
Various “currents” that can cause us to “drift away”
The key to avoiding “drifting away”
Let’s begin, then, with some...
REASONS FOR THIS EXHORTATION
REASONS FOR THIS EXHORTATION
The is a Real Danger of Drifting
The is a Real Danger of Drifting
It is possible for us to “drift away” from our salvation!
We can certainly “neglect” our salvation
3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;
Later, we will learn that we can “depart” from God
12 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: 14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:
Also, that one can so “fall away” that it becomes impossible to renew them to repentance!
4 For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
One can reach a point where the sacrifice of Christ is no longer available for their sins!
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.
The danger of “drifting” is very real!
It is possible for a child of God to so sin as to be lost!
Otherwise, such an exhortation as this is meaningless!
Notice also the Dignity of the One through whom God has Spoken
Notice also the Dignity of the One through whom God has Spoken
As pointed out in Hebrews 1:1-2, God now speaks to us through His Son
We have seen that this Son is:
Superior to the prophets (Heb. 1:1-3)
Superior to the angels (Heb. 1:4-14)
We have seen that this Son is:
The appointed Heir of all things!
The brightness of God’s glory, the express image of His person!
Our Sustainer and Redeemer!
The “Firstborn” who receives worship
“God” enthroned and anointed
The “LORD” (Yahweh) who is the eternal creator
The “Sovereign”, reigning at God’s right hand
When God spoke through angels
His word proved steadfast
Every transgression and disobedience received a just reward - He 2:2
How much more, then, when He speaks through His Son!
Will not His word prove just as steadfast?
Will not every unrepented transgression and disobedience receive a just reward?
Dare we neglect the Word of God spoken through His Son?
Consider as well the Confirmation given this Revelation
Consider as well the Confirmation given this Revelation
The word spoken by the Son was confirmed by His apostles
3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;
The word spoken by the Son was confirmed by individuals who were eyewitnesses
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree. 40 Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, 41 not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
The word spoken by the Son was confirmed by men who endured much to serve Him
9 For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
The word spoken by the Son was confirmed even further!
4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
By God Himself, through signs, wonders, and miracles - cf. Jn. 10:37-38
By the Holy Spirit, with gifts according to His will - cf. 1 Cor. 12:7-11
Shall we neglect that Word to which such have born witness?
What do we lose if we Drift Away?
What do we lose if we Drift Away?
We lose “so great a salvation”! - He 2:3
It is a “great salvation”, because it offers such things as:
The forgiveness of sin
Transformation of character by providing power over sin
Assurance of God’s fatherly presence
A clear and peaceful conscience
A glorious hope for eternity
Dare we lose all this through “neglect”?
Just as those who neglected the word spoken through angels (i.e., the Law of Moses) lost their “promised land”, so there are grave consequences for those who neglect the salvation spoken of by the Son of God!
Just as those who neglected the word spoken through angels (i.e., the Law of Moses) lost their “promised land”, so there are grave consequences for those who neglect the salvation spoken of by the Son of God!
Such “neglect” is possible when we “drift away”.
Following the metaphor of drifting, what “currents” might cause one to drift?
CURRENTS THAT CAN CAUSE US TO DRIFT
CURRENTS THAT CAN CAUSE US TO DRIFT
The Current of “Time”
The Current of “Time”
In which we grow weary of doing good, a concern expressed in...
9 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As time passes by...
We can gradually lose some of the fervor of our devotion
4 But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.
We may begin to rest on past accomplishments, and cease pressing forward
13 Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before. 14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The Current of Familiarity
The Current of Familiarity
As we become familiar with the truth, it may seem common place to us
We may lose its sense of novelty
We may take it for granted
Again, like the Ephesians we may lose our “first love” (Rev. 2:4)
The Current of Society
The Current of Society
The tides of modern opinion can easily induce us
33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.
Bombarded by the secular humanism, false religions, and even plastic “Christianity” offered as “truth”, it is hard to maintain the course!
Such things can move us away from the simplicity and wisdom of our Lord!
2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.
The Current of the Flesh
The Current of the Flesh
Our warfare is not only without, but also with
11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Our flesh is constantly waging war against our souls, and against the Spirit who desires that we follow Him
16 But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.
The Current of Daily Concerns
The Current of Daily Concerns
The constant pressure of daily cares, anxieties, duties, etc., can distract us
Jesus warned against this on several occasions
14 And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
34 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:
Any and all these things can slowly move us away from the Lord and His great salvation if we are not careful!
Any and all these things can slowly move us away from the Lord and His great salvation if we are not careful!
However, as we return to our text, we can learn...
However, as we return to our text, we can learn...
THE KEY TO PREVENT DRIFTING AWAY
THE KEY TO PREVENT DRIFTING AWAY
We Must Give the More Earnest Heed
We Must Give the More Earnest Heed
Imagine yourself in a canoe, in a river with a slow moving current...
Failure to pay constant attention leads to drifting
The drifting may be subtle, but often by the time you realize it, it is too late!
Last minute corrections may be made, but even then one may still run into the brush,
crash into the rocks, or go over the falls!
Only by giving earnest heed can that be avoided
So it is with our salvation!
We must be “diligent” to the task at hand
5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;
10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:
There is no place to be halfhearted about this!
12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before. 14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:
Note that we must give the “more” earnest heed
We are to be more earnest than those who heard the word of God spoken through angels (i.e., the Israelites)
Because we have the word of God spoken through the Son
Which pertains to a salvation greater than that enjoyed by them
To whom more is given, more is required!
48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
Are you more earnest in giving heed to what you have heard, than those saints in the Old Testament?
We Must Give Such Heed to the Things We Have Heard
We Must Give Such Heed to the Things We Have Heard
The “things we have heard” refer to:
The Word of God spoken through His Son
The great salvation -- I.e., the gospel of Christ in all aspects!
How can we do this?
The Bereans provide a good example...
11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
In the way in which they initially listened (“received the word with all readiness”)
In the way in which they followed up (“searched the Scriptures daily...”)
Certainly we give earnest heed through:
Earnest attention whenever God’s word is proclaimed
Earnest study of God’s Word on our own
Earnest study in preparation for our Bible classes
As we study God’s Word...
Enter into with a prayerful devotion to God
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law.
Concluded with a prayerful desire to please God
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee.
Are you giving “the more earnest heed to the things we have heard”?
Are you giving “the more earnest heed to the things we have heard”?
Another year has past; how did you do?
Another year is already started; how will you do?
CONCLUSION
We have been blessed to receive “so great a salvation”
We have been blessed to receive “so great a salvation”
A salvation spoken to us first through God’s own Son!
A salvation then confirmed by God Himself, the Holy Spirit, and those who heard Him!
A salvation much greater than any offered before!
But please note carefully...
But please note carefully...
One need not “reject” or “actively fight” against this great salvation to “receive a just reward”
Those who simply “drift away” through “neglect” will also not escape!
Escape what?
From what we learn later, it will be “much worse punishment”!
28 A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Have you neglected this great salvation Jesus offers?
Have you neglected this great salvation Jesus offers?
If so, may this first exhortation found in The Epistle To The Hebrews move you to repent, and cause you to give “the more earnest heed” to the gospel of Christ!
If so, may this first exhortation found in The Epistle To The Hebrews move you to repent, and cause you to give “the more earnest heed” to the gospel of Christ!