"How Shall the saved escape?
August 5, 2018
A Warning Given - Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. When you see the word "Therefore", you must remember it is there for a reason. It connects the previous truth with current truth. It means something like this: the previous doctrine given in chapter one (1) is the launching pad or the foundation to hear the message of Chapter two (2
"…give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard…" = should believe the truth that has been preached, taught = that which we know to be true which we have heard and believed:
A Warning to all people
So often you will read or hear a Preacher or teacher say: this portion of scripture is for the saved or unsaved. And to that let me say the Holy Spirit is the One who speaks from the Word to you. He is quite capable of applying the needed message to people.
As we come to this portion of scripture there is a warning given to all people. To the unsaved, the question comes: how shall you escape if you neglect so great salvation and last week's message was concerning this warning to the unsaved.
The point being no one will escape their day of accountability. Here is the question all must answer: How will anyone escape if they neglect so great Salvation? If you neglect Christ, to believe in Him for His offer of eternal life, there is no escape: you will meet Him at the GWTJ. If you believe Christ for that which He has offered you, eternal life( "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life" John 6:47), you will meet Him at the JSOC.
These are two different judgments at two different times. One is for the saved (JSOC) and one is for the lost (GWTJ). It is the Holy Spirit that brings our need to the forefront of our thinking, "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly." Pro_20:27
The warning to the Saved
The common views you hear regarding this warning: 1. Endanger of losing Eternal Life, 2. Warning to the saved about losing their inheritance. The Bible does not teach that you can possess Eternal Life and then lose Eternal Life. It is certainly a warning to one who does not possess this "So great Salvation". However, the main application of these verses is to believers to seek heavenly things, to live now for the eternal, to value the payment of the reward, to live in light of His coming.
The N.T. is full of the blessing we have in Christ. Paul calls them "….the unsearchable riches of Christ" Eph. 3:8. (Beyond finding out) In 2Co_9:15 Paul said, Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (He is inexpressible). Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
It is without question "So great a salvation" Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; "
This so great salvation was spoken first by the LORD, Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
This so great salvation confirmed unto us by the disciples, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:1-3
This so great salvation was manifested to us in His incarnation, Heb_2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Pay attention to the things you have heard. Without attention things get out of order: your house, your workshop, your checkbook but more important your life. This warning is too important to be ignored.
The warnings are God's way of saying don't miss out on the full extent of this So Great Salvation. It is unsearchable and it is unspeakable. As His child God's expectation is for love and obedience to characterized our life, Romans 6:1-2, 6:14, 1 John 3:9
Maturity is God's expectation for the believer
There is to become a time in your life when you understand that God has a divine expectation for your life and maturity is you choosing to fulfill that expectation.
- It comes by possessing that which God has given you, 1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Lay hold upon this prize He has given you. Remember it is His life He has given you, 1 John 3:9.
- It comes by paying attention to the details of life, Psalm 103:1-18. E.g.11 -18 the promises here are only to those who fear Him. "…..so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. " "……so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. "Psa 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; Psa 103:18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. Fear =respect.
- It comes by the daily discipline of your life, 1Co_9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
- It comes by seeing the eternal and not the temporal, 2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. I personally believe that most people see only the temporal. What consumes your life? Is it the eternal or the things that will pass away? Before you answer take a silent inventory.
- It comes by dying to self, Php_3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Your response to the warning is determined by the respect you give to the messenger.
Heb_11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
(GWTJ = Great White Throne Judgment)
(JSOC = Judgment seat of Christ)
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