Such a Great Salvation
As we walked through Hebrews 1 we understood:
- God spoke through the prophets
- God (in these last days) has spoken to us by His Son
- Jesus is called God’s Son
- God calls His angels to worship His Son
- God refers to His Son as God
- God refers to His Son as Lord
- We are told that we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift from it.
For this Sunday, let’s read Hebrews 2:1-18
As you read through this chapter, pay close attention to verse 3. A great question is asked of us.
It asks, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
As we consider this question, two more questions come to mind:
- What is the great salvation? What does this great salvation entail?
- How is this great salvation neglected? What does is mean to neglect such a great salvation?
Verses 3-4 expose the superiority and the validity of this great salvation:
- It was declared at first by the Lord. (Heb. 1:2)
- It was attested to us by those who heard. (Apostles)
- God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
This great salvation is found in Jesus Christ
Verse 5 – God did not subject (cause) the world to come to the angels. God subjected (caused) people to come to Him through His Son, Jesus.
Jesus is the center of this great salvation. God is mindful of man and cares for man by/through the redemptive work of Jesus, and His calling people to faith in Jesus Christ. Read verses 6-18.
By the grace of God Jesus tasted death for everyone.
Read verse 17. Therefore, He (Jesus) had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Now back to the question – how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
Escape? Escape what? Judgment, the wrath of God! It is the place that Jesus speaks of when he says to those on His left – Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
It is the place described in Mark as – where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
Luke refers to it as the place of torment.
How shall we escape? Answer – there is no escape in neglecting faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus said – I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.
Salvation is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. We must believe in Jesus Christ. We must believe what Jesus said and taught. We must trust the work Jesus accomplished on the cross. We believe in His resurrection from the dead. We must believe that Jesus reigns and one day He will return to gather up His Bride - The Church and take Her home.
John 1:12 tells us – to all who did receive Him (Jesus), who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…