Hebrews 2:1-4
English Standard Version (ESV)
Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Chapter two begins with the word, "Therefore." Based on what was spoken in chapter one, there will be a necessary response. We have read that Christ has the title of Son. He is far superior to the angels in many ways, not exclusive to the following: power to create, righteousness, uprightness, worthy of worship, rules from an everlasting throne, perfect lamb of God, Judge of the living and the dead. Since God the Father said all of this about His Son, we are left to respond to what we have heard. We must pay close attention to "who" Christ is and the salvation which He has brought, lest we drift away from it. There is a picture of salvation given in this first verse that will help us to understand the situation in which mankind finds himself when faced with the Savior. The word attention is used as a nautical term - to bring to, bring near, to bring a ship to land. This would characterize each person as the captain of his or her ship (or life), watching, planning and choosing a direction that will bring the desired destination. The word drift, also a nautical term, means to glide by as an unattended ship, slip away from salvation. Life is like a ship as it drifts near the safe harbor of salvation. The captain who is attending to his course will hear the Savior calling him and steer toward shore. The captain who is not paying attention would simply drift past the harbor of salvation, hardly noticing that he had made a choice through his neglect which would cost him his soul for all eternity. It is easy to conclude that most people who arrive in hell have drifted into it.
I was just imagining where I might like to be positioned, were I literally in such a harbor. My heart's desire would be to have a position just inside the harbor's entrance, moored to the firm and fast anchor of Christ Jesus my Lord. I would stand at the bow of my ship and call out to all who are drifting by so that they might enter into the same safe harbor which I have found. Not by coincidence does the bow of the ship have another old name - pulpit. A pulpit was used for observational purposes and often was a railed platform that extended out beyond the bow.
Verse two states that the message was declared by angels. This statement requires a bit of research into how Mosaic law was established. The law begins with the ten commandments given to Moses (thus the term Mosaic law). The law was given while Moses was on Mount Sinai in the presence of God and a multitude of angels. The angels are said to have a significant role in serving God to accomplish this declaration of law to mankind. The scripture tells us that there were ten thousands of holy ones (angels) who were appointed by God through an intermediary (Christ) to deliver it.
The law proved to be reliable in that it revealed man's sinful nature. Before Christ, there were many who paid a penalty of death for their outright disobedience to God's law. Death is the just reward for sinning against a Holy and Righteous God. However, now we have the promised Messiah - Jesus Christ - who is our intermediary. He stands in our place having paid the full penalty for all sins, provided we accept this gift by faith. This is the only way that our sins can be passed over. Someone has already paid the just retribution for our disobedience and transgression.
How can anyone escape the penalty of death if they drift past the safe harbor of salvation which is such a great and blessed gift from God? First, the message of true salvation came directly from the mouth of God, the Lord Jesus Christ (vs 3). He is the greatest source to deliver this message even as He is the giver of such great grace! Secondly, the message was heard by reliable witnesses who knew Him, experienced life with Him, believed Him, recorded His words and gave their own lives to be a testimony of His grace. Thirdly (vs 4), but not the least of reasons to trust His grace, The Father bore witness of the message by giving signs and wonders (God spoke of His Son from heaven), various miracles (Christ healed countless people) and by giving gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed to all who believe in His Son.
If the people of God did not escape punishment for their disobedience when the Mosaic Law was given to them, how can we think that we could escape punishment when we neglect the testimony of God regarding His Son? God is watching you steer your ship. You must choose today! Will you steer into His safe harbor and know peace with God? Will you take the anchor of Jesus Christ and hold fast to the gift that He has freely given to all who believe in Him? I hope that your answer is "YES." If so, we shall celebrate salvation for all eternity!
I was just imagining where I might like to be positioned, were I literally in such a harbor. My heart's desire would be to have a position just inside the harbor's entrance, moored to the firm and fast anchor of Christ Jesus my Lord. I would stand at the bow of my ship and call out to all who are drifting by so that they might enter into the same safe harbor which I have found. Not by coincidence does the bow of the ship have another old name - pulpit. A pulpit was used for observational purposes and often was a railed platform that extended out beyond the bow.
Verse two states that the message was declared by angels. This statement requires a bit of research into how Mosaic law was established. The law begins with the ten commandments given to Moses (thus the term Mosaic law). The law was given while Moses was on Mount Sinai in the presence of God and a multitude of angels. The angels are said to have a significant role in serving God to accomplish this declaration of law to mankind. The scripture tells us that there were ten thousands of holy ones (angels) who were appointed by God through an intermediary (Christ) to deliver it.
The law proved to be reliable in that it revealed man's sinful nature. Before Christ, there were many who paid a penalty of death for their outright disobedience to God's law. Death is the just reward for sinning against a Holy and Righteous God. However, now we have the promised Messiah - Jesus Christ - who is our intermediary. He stands in our place having paid the full penalty for all sins, provided we accept this gift by faith. This is the only way that our sins can be passed over. Someone has already paid the just retribution for our disobedience and transgression.
How can anyone escape the penalty of death if they drift past the safe harbor of salvation which is such a great and blessed gift from God? First, the message of true salvation came directly from the mouth of God, the Lord Jesus Christ (vs 3). He is the greatest source to deliver this message even as He is the giver of such great grace! Secondly, the message was heard by reliable witnesses who knew Him, experienced life with Him, believed Him, recorded His words and gave their own lives to be a testimony of His grace. Thirdly (vs 4), but not the least of reasons to trust His grace, The Father bore witness of the message by giving signs and wonders (God spoke of His Son from heaven), various miracles (Christ healed countless people) and by giving gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed to all who believe in His Son.
If the people of God did not escape punishment for their disobedience when the Mosaic Law was given to them, how can we think that we could escape punishment when we neglect the testimony of God regarding His Son? God is watching you steer your ship. You must choose today! Will you steer into His safe harbor and know peace with God? Will you take the anchor of Jesus Christ and hold fast to the gift that He has freely given to all who believe in Him? I hope that your answer is "YES." If so, we shall celebrate salvation for all eternity!
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