THE PENALTY OF NEGLECT

TEXT: Hebrews 2:1-3

INTRODUCTION: The text speaks of letting the things n-hat we have heard slip, and neglecting this great salvation.. These statements refer to the possibility of procrastination, letting opportunities pass, putting off from day to day this great salvation. The penalty for the negligence will receive a just recompense of reward. Nor unforgiven sins will escape judgment.

I.          THE GREAT SALVATION THAT MAY BE NEGLECTED

A.        Salvation is deliverance from sin

1.      Sin is

a)      Transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil

Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Romans 2:23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

b)      Iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not

Romans 1:21-23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

c)      Error, a departure from light

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

1 John 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

d)      Missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

e)      Trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

f)       Unbelief,

John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

2.      Sin

a)      Originated with Satan

Isaiah 14:12-14  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

b)      Entered the world through Adam

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

c)      Was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

d)      Incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

e)      Has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

made available by faith

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

3.      Sin may be summarized as threefold:

a)      An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to, the revealed will of God;

b)      A state, absence of righteousness; and

c)      A nature, enmity toward God.

B.        The great cost of salvation

1.      It cost heaven the temporary loss f Christ

2.      It cost God His son

3.      It cost Christ His life

C.        It is great because of what it has done, is doing and will do

1.      Saved from the guilt and penalty and is safe.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

a)      Unsaved men are hell-bound

b)      Salvation is their deliverance from eternal punishment

c)      Saves from everlasting punishment

2.      Saved from the habit and dominion of sin

3.      Saved at the Lord’s return, from all the bodily infirmities that are the result of sin and Gods curse upon the sinful world

a)      Gives entrance into heaven

b)      Heaven is an eternal home

c)      If there were no hell, missing heaven would be an awful penalty

d)      This great salvation is a pass into heaven

II.       HOW THIS SALVATION MAY BE NEGLECTED

A.        Reason for neglect of this salvation

1.      Not because the individual underestimates its value

2.      Often because of waiting for a more convenient time

3.      Intentions are good

B.        Its neglected by

1.      Letting that which we have heard slip

Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart This is he which received seed by the way side.

2.      Failing to give heed (v 1a)

a)      It is one thing to hear and another to obey or give heed

b)      The only thing you will have to do to be lost is to go along unheeding, doing nothing, ignoring the gospel

3.      Seeking material things

Luke 12:29-31 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind, For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

a)      Salvation is forgotten in mans aspirations for material things, wealth, and luxury and the pleasures of sin.

4.      Not maintaining after receiving it

1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

a)      Church attendance

b)      Bible Study

c)      Prayer

d)      Witnessing [Talk about your on salvation]

III.    THE PENALTY FOR NEGLECT

A.        The penalty is certain

Hebrews 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

1.      Man stands a chance of escaping penalty before the courts of the land

2.      Men under the law suffered penalty of the law

3.      Much more will men under grace be brought to final justice

B.        The penalty is as sure as the Lord lives

Romans 14:11-12 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

C.        The penalty shall be just

1.      For those who reject shall not inherit

D.        The one extreme penalty

1.      All sinners and hypocrites will be in the same hell

a)      In this life the unsaved are referred to in many classes

(1)  The moral man, the unrighteousness, the ungodly, the hypocrite, the chief of sinners

b)      In judgment all will stand on left hand

(1)  Depart into same punishment

(2)  Moral men, good men who have put off Christ will live in hell with murders, thieves, etc.

2.      The penalty is referred to as death

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

CONCLUSION: Men neglect through thoughtless living. They reject through carelessness. The penalty will be paid in the flames of an eternal hell.