Grace Fellowship           11/05/06    How Shall We Escape?  Hebrews 2:1-9

 

I want to begin our study today by turning to our text, Hebrews 2:1-9.  The first word of chapter 2 is the word "therefore."  So some review is in order.  Chapter 1 introduces the Lord Jesus as the creator and sustainer of all things, and God's final revelation of Himself.  God has spoken by other means throughout the Old Testament but now, at last, He has sent His own Son to be the means by which men know and understand the Gospel.  The Son is superior to all previous revelations.

 

The Son is also superior to angels.  Even though angels have administered the word of God, Christ is superior because He is the Son of God, because He is the creator of angels, and because angels are subservient not only to Christ but to the elect, to those who will inherit salvation.  So while the world tries to exalt anyone and everyone above Christ, we find inn these verses that the Lord Jesus answers to no one.  He is the most highly exalted person in all the universe, equal to Jehovah God by taking His place at God's right hand.

 

If this is so, then what should our response be to Him as those whom He has redeemed?  On the day of final judgment, where will those people be who were embarrassed in this life to be identified with Jesus?  What will be the condition of those who were quick to acknowledge that "Jesus was a great teacher and a wonderful moral example whom we should emulate, but of course, He isn't God.  He's just the Son of God"? 

 

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33, NKJV).

 

This is not the kind of denial that so many of our emails remind us of: "If you're a REAL Christian, you'll annoy all your friends and relatives by forwarding this anemic story to everyone on your mailing list within the next ten minutes!  And if you do, something miraculous will happen to you yesterday at midnight!" 

 

The denial Jesus speaks of is not a denial of His existence, but of His identity as the Son of God.  He is speaking of denial of His office as Lord and Savior.  The writer of Hebrews is telling us in very clear terms that Jesus is the promised, anointed One, the Messiah, the King of Israel and the King of Kings.  To deny Him is to deny God.

 

With that introduction, he continues in chapter 2 by stating some very logical and profound conclusions:

 

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:1-9, NKJV).

 

Let's look at the first four verses.

 

Verse 1  Heed vs. neglect (v3).  We are all familiar with the word neglect.  We most often hear it in the context of parenting.  Child neglect is something we see far too often, and understand to well.  But there are other forms of neglect.  If you neglect your car, you won't have a car very long.  If you neglect to maintain your house, it will eventually fall down.  If we neglect to balance our checkbooks, or neglect to pay our bills on time, the effects of such are eventually quite disheartening.  When we neglect our responsibilities as parents or spouses or citizens, we eventually suffer for it.

 

The Greek word translated "neglect" in verse 3 is only used five times in the New Testament.  Jesus used this word to describe those who were invited to the wedding feast of the king in Matthew 22:5.  The NKJV says some of those who were invited to the feast by the king "made light of it."  It just wasn't all that important.  So they went their ways, "one to his own farm, another to his business" (verse 5).  Others took the King's messengers and murdered them.  Jesus then goes on to say that in response to their neglect and rejection of the King's invitation, the King "sent out His armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city" (verse 7).  They neglected or made light of God.

 

The author states that it is imperative that the readers of Hebrews give the more earnest heed to the things they have heard.  It is the Son of God who has spoken "in these last days" (1:2).  It is not merely an angel that has spoken, although even those Old Testament laws spoken by angels were binding.  But now, someone infinitely superior to angels has come and spoken in regard to salvation.  THEREFORE, we MUST pay attention! 

 

Verse 2  In v.2, we read that angels spoke the Old Testament law.  The Old Testament itself does not record this happening.  But there are several New Testament passages that allude to it, and therefore it is true.  We just don't have details as to how, when, etc.  In Acts 7, we read Stephen's testimony to the Sanhedrin where he makes this accusation against them: 

"Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, "who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it." (Acts 7:52-53, NKJV).

 

Paul mentions the role of angels in bringing the Old Testament law to Israel also:

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19, NKJV).

 

Old Testament law was given to Israel by angels and was authoritative.  Now, One greater than angels has spoken from God to Israel.  If God held the Old Testament Jews accountable for every transgression of His law which He sent by means of angels, what will be His response to those Jews who neglect the word of God's Son? 

 

Those who do not "give heed" to these things are in danger of drifting away.  During the last space shuttle mission, the astronauts performed many hours of work outside the International Space Station.  On one of their space walks, one of the astronauts accidentally "dropped" a bolt.  But in space, you can't really drop a bolt.  If you let go of something, it just floats away.  Eventually, after years of drifting through space in orbit around the Earth, the orbit of that bolt will slowly deteriorate and it will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere where it will finally burn up.

 

The phrase "drift away" is the same phrase used in other Greek texts to describe a boat that misses its dock as it floats downstream.  Because the captain of the ship isn't paying attention, it drifts past its destination.  The people of Israel are in danger of drifting past their Savior because they aren't paying attention to the things they have heard.  And what are the ultimate consequences of such neglect of heavenly things?  Hell.

 

If the fathers of Israel did not escape the judgment that came from disobedience to the Law given by angels, neglect of the "great salvation" brought to them by the exalted, superior Son of God will bring consequences that are utterly inescapable.  God has not sent another angel, or another prophet, but His Son.

 

Then notice verses 3 - 4.  This salvation was preached by the Lord, confirmed by witnesses, and validated by signs, wonders, miracles and spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit.  So, if someone were to ask the writer of Hebrews, "How do you know this gospel message is true?", or "How do you know it is the Son of God who has come and spoken these things?", the truthfulness of all this is not based upon some CSI team that gathered all the evidence, placed it under all their collective microscopes and proved it scientifically. 

 

The author knows all of this is true because of the testimony of hundreds, if not thousands of witnesses.  The miracles, signs, and wonders Jesus and the apostles performed were not motivated primarily by pity, or as a display of power, or (Heaven forbid) for the sake of entertainment.  They were primarily for validating Jesus' claims to be the Son of God.  Clearly, most did not understand these things in this manner which is simply a testimony to the spiritual blindness of the human heart.  Depravity prevents the unregenerate heart from grasping even the most obvious spiritual truths.

 

For instance, when Jesus fed the five thousand, the people sought Him out the next day on the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  In John 6:25, the people asked Him when it was that He had arrived there.  Notice Jesus' response:

Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. (John 6:26, NKJV).

They had followed the Son of God to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, not because He was the Son of God, but because He could provide an unlimited supply of bread!

 

In Luke 17, Jesus miraculously heals ten men with leprosy.  Nine don't get it.  They do not realize that it is God in the flesh who has instantaneously removed their sin.  But the one whose mind and heart are opened realizes and "fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan."  "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"(Luke 17:16 & 18, NKJV).  Some have ears to hear, and see, and understand the obvious.  Most do not.  But the obvious truth that escapes the nine is who Jesus is, in spite of the evidence.

 

In Mark 2, we have the account of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof into the house where Jesus was teaching.  Jesus declares that the man's sins are forgiven, and the scribes who were present heard and understood the implications of what Jesus had said.  "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (v.7).  But in order to remove all doubt regarding Jesus' "true identity" He spells it out for them. 

 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" --He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."(Vs 10-11).

 

The whole point of performing miracles was so that people would know He was God!  Miracles are not an end in themselves, but tools to but the deity of Christ on display, and to prove the validity of the gospel message through the apostles.

 

How many people actually saw the resurrected Jesus?  What was the point of that particular miracle?  Listen to what Luke says in Acts 1:1-3.

 

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3, NKJV).

 

"Many infallible proofs;" "Seen by them during forty days." 

 

The words of the Apostle John as he writes the final words of his gospel:

This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. (John 21:24, NKJV).

 

The words of the Apostle Paul:

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, NKJV).

 

The writer of Hebrews knows the things he is speaking of are true because of the compelling evidence.  Because of consistent testimony from godly men and women.  Because of verifiable miraculous events, the greatest of which was the resurrection.  Because of the testimony of Scripture.  And since all these things are true, he issues this very solemn warning: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"  "What will prevent us from drifting away to our own destruction if we do not give heed to the Son of God?"  This is the first warning of the author to his brethren.  But it will not be his last. 

 

Arthur Pink said something I think is worth repeating because it is so applicable to our situation today: "The Gospel is more than a publication of good news, more than an invitation for burdened souls to come to Christ for relief and peace.  In its first address to those who hear, it is a Divine mandate, an authoritative command, which is disregarded at the sinner's peril."

 

But that is not the gospel we hear today.  We can't even bring ourselves to say that Jesus Christ is God, much less that He is the exclusive means of salvation.  Today's so-called gospel is just as Pink said, "an invitation for burdened people to come to Christ for relief and peace."  Jesus can give you peace.  Jesus can give you purpose.  Jesus can fulfill your empty life.  Jesus can fill that God-shaped hole in your heart.  Jesus can do just about anything for you except deliver you from the condemnation of your sin!

 

The gospel is not an invitation to make Jesus your "spirit-buddy."  It is a command:

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, (Acts 17:30, NKJV).

 

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- (Romans 16:25-26, NKJV).

 

The gospel message is a moral imperative because, according to Jesus' words in John 3:18,

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18, NKJV).

 

It seems evident that the Jews to whom the writer is directing his thoughts have heard these things.  They have knowledge of the Lord Jesus.  They have heard the gospel preached, they have heard the testimony of witnesses, they have experienced the signs and miracles that have accompanied this good news.  Now what?  Are they going to pay attention to the things they have heard, or make light of it all and drift away to their destruction, just as their ancient ancestors did?

 

This man is sounding the alarm.  Why?  Because the danger is real.  It is described as drifting because of the casual nature of the temptation.  It is akin to the frog in the kettle that is gradually, but unwittingly burned to death.  The grave danger of drifting away is not only possible, but probable.  At least some of his readers are being encouraged by unbelieving Jews to disregard all the claims they are hearing about this Jesus fellow.  And it appears those unbelieving Jews were quite persuasive.  What percentage of the Jewish population has converted to Christianity during the last 2000 years?  Practically zero.

 

So what does this have to do with us here in America?  We, like the Jews of the first century, were so close to the truths of the gospel, but because of simple neglect, the evangelical church in this nation is in the middle of a serious drift away from the great salvation that is in Christ Jesus.  This is a call to wake up, pay attention, and remain steadfast and unmovable in our commitment to the authority of the Scriptures and to the doctrines of grace.  The cure for drifting is abiding in the word of God.

 

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32, NKJV).

 

Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. (Acts 11:19-24, NKJV).

 

Will the evangelical church in this nation repent and determine to continue with the Lord, to abide in His word?  Or will we continue to make light of the gospel, continue to be asleep at the switch, and allow the church to drift away from the things we have heard, the things we have known to be the truth of the word of God?  Will we give heed, or drift away?