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Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 2:1-4

Our Great Salvation

Intro.
1.  Devil tempts Christians with wrong thinking about being a Christian, like:  “Why should I bother?”  “What is the point?”  “What difference does it make?”

2.  Book of Hebrews teaches us why it matters:  The great salvation we have in Jesus Christ! 

I.  SALVATION, Lk. 19:10; Acts 4:12.  (Deliverance, preservation, safety)

  A.  It is a Superior (so great) Salvation, Heb. 2:3.

    1.  The superlative nature of our salvation is noted due to the superiority of Jesus over the angels (Heb. 1:4-14, name, worship, ruler, creator, master).

       - Superior mediator:  Christ vs. the angels (Heb. 2:2-3).

    2.  To the word spoken through angels (OT, Gal. 3:19; Acts 7:53) – no salvation from the OT law, Gal. 3:18, 21.

       -Superior salvation: Salvation vs. continual remembrance; substance is superior to the shadow, Heb. 10:1-4.

  B.  It is a Spoken Salvation, Heb. 2:3.

    1.  How salvation is made known & made available to mankind:

      a.  Not “felt”, although joy is associated w/ being saved.

      b.  Not “thought”, although the thoughtless will not be saved.

      c.  Not “experienced”, although without experiencing some things there is no salvation.

    2.  Spoken first by the Lord, Acts 10:36-38.

      a.  Jesus did not come teaching LOM; Gospel, Lk. 4:18-21; 16:16.

      b.  Jesus spoke words of life the Father gave Him, Jno. 12:49-50 (Heb. 1:1-2).

    3.  Spoken by the apostles, Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 13:46-49; Rom. 10:8 (1:15-17); Col. 1:4-8.

  C.  It is a Confirmed Salvation, Heb. 2:3.

    1.  What?  To make firm, to establish as true, authentic; to validate as genuine, Gal. 1:11 [make known: “certify” (kjv)].

    2.  How?

      a.  Eyewitness testimony, Heb. 2:3 (Acts 1:8; 10:38-43).

      b.  Divine testimony (God bore witness), Heb. 2:4, Mk. 16:17-20.

        1)  Signs:  Signaled God’s approval (Jno. 3:2).

        2)  Wonders:  The effect of miracles on others, Acts 2:7, 12.

        3)  Miracles (mighty works):  The power (source), Acts 10:38.

    3.  Why?  To convince people to listen to the word of salvation, cf. Exo. 4:1-5, 29-31; Acts 2:12, 14; 11:3, 15-18.

      a.  In order to proclaim a genuine message (see Acts 14:3, 27; 15:12).

      b.  In order to produce a genuine faith, 1 Cor. 2:4-5 (Rom. 10:17).

II.  HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE…

  A.  If We Neglect our Great Salvation? Heb. 2:3 (careless, make light of).

    1.  By failing to grow, Heb. 5:12-6:3.

      a.  By not teaching what we have learned (5:12).

      b.  By not progressing beyond first principles (5:13).

      c.  By not using (living) the word we have learned (5:14).

    2.  By becoming spiritually sluggish (lazy), Heb. 6:9-11 (10:36).

      a.  Must give “the more earnest heed” to the word of God, Heb. 2:1.

      b.  All the more careful attention, cf. 1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim. 3:10.

    3.  By willfully sinning, Heb. 10:26-27.  (Presumptuous, high-handed)

      a.  cf. Forsaking our assembling together, Heb. 10:25.

      b.  “I don’t care what God says” attitude, cf. Deut. 1:41-44.

    4.  By pursuing the pleasures of sin, Heb. 11:25-26.

  B.  If We Drift Away? 

    1.  Sin gradually produces a hardened, insensitive, unbelieving heart, Heb. 3:12-13.

    2.  The fallen Christian, by setting a pattern of apostate living, makes it impossible to renew him to repentance, Heb. 6:4-6.

    3.  Faces perdition (eternal misery in hell), not salvation, Heb. 10:39.

Conclusion

1.  There is no escape if we neglect our great salvation!

  a.  LOM shows God justly punishes sin (Heb. 2:2; 10:28-31).

  b.  Our God is a consuming fire against those who refuse Him who speaks!  Heb. 12:25-29

2.  May God perfect us “in every good work to do His will,” Heb. 13:20-21.