How shall we
escape, if we neglect so great salvation? (Hebrews
2:3)
This question floods the mind
with other important questions. Who is being
referred to by the pronoun we? How shall we escape
what? What is in view in the expression so great
salvation? What does it mean to neglect this great
salvation?
The so great salvation that is
proclaimed is the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The great salvation is about the great Savior (Lk.
2:30; Jn. 4:22, 42; 14:6; Acts 4:12). Salvation is
synonymous with the Savior. The context is speaking
of the preaching of Jesus who is greater than the
prophets and the angels who spoke with authority
before His incarnation. God is speaking to us in His
Son. Because He is the greater witness of the Father
we must pay much closer attention to what we have
heard (Heb. 2:11). Since the word spoken through
angels proved unalterable, and every transgression
and disobedience received a just recompense, how
shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
(vv. 2-3a). Moreover, after the Lord spoke it was
confirmed by those who heard it, and by God bearing
witnesses with them, both by signs and wonders and
by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit
according to His own will (v. 4).
Jesus Christ revealed God’s
great plan of salvation. In Christ we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
which He lavished upon us (Eph. 1:7-8; cf. 2 Cor.
5:21; Rom. 3:21-26; 5:6-8; 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9).
The gospel of your salvation is
the power of God unto salvation to everyone who
believes (Acts 3:26; 16:31; Rom. 1:16). The
excellency in this so great salvation is in the
person who saves the lost sinner. Jesus, the Son of
God, is the salvation of Yahweh.
What is it from which we are
saved? It is the wrath of God that every sinner
deserves. The most frightful conception comes
infinitely short of the most dreadful reality,
observes A. W. Pink.
What are the benefits of so
great salvation? It is the blessed fact of a full,
free, and everlasting forgiveness of our sins, a
perfect purity, and perfect relationship forever in
the eternal presence of the LORD God (1 John 1:9).
How were these blessings
obtained for us? It was through the vicarious
suffering of our substitutionary sacrifice on the
cross at Calvary. The only begotten Son of God was
also the Lamb of God that takes away our sins (John
1:29). This so great salvation is free to all who
will receive the Savior, and His finished work of
salvation by faith (John 1:12-13; 3:16, 36).
How can a person neglect so
great salvation that God has provided in His grace
and mercy? The writer of Hebrews is stressing the
personal responsibility to hear and respond to the
word of salvation (Matt. 10:32-33). The sinner must
accept this great message of salvation. It deserves
our full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). To neglect the
great salvation is nothing short of despising God
Himself. The good news of Jesus Christ is a divine
mandate, and to disregard it is to put the sinner in
imminent danger of eternal suffering. God pleads for
every person to repent of their sins and unbelief,
and trust in Christ as their Savior today. To fail
to do so will only lead to eternal punishment (John
3:18; 1 Peter 4:17-18; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; Heb.
10:26-31).
Why would anyone want to make
light of this wonderful salvation in Jesus Christ?
To neglect is to remain inattentive and unbelieving?
Neglecting will render escape impossible. What do
you have to do to be lost? Nothing. Absolutely
nothing!
How then shall we escape
eternal damnation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).
The greatness of this great
salvation is in the offer of the LORD God who comes
to us. The Lord Jesus preached, the Father bore
witness, and the Holy Spirit came as the power of
God to do His work in us. How great a salvation!
In one sense they had been
saved (from the penalty of sin), in another sense
they were still being saved (from the power of sin),
in still another sense they were yet to be saved
(from the presence of sin). But God ever deals with
His people as accountable creatures. As moral beings
. . . He addresses their responsibility, writes Pink
(An Exposition of Hebrews, p. 89). And so it is with
us today.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
Bible word studies for sermon preparation, messages, devotions and personal Bible studies with abiding principles and practical applications.
Reports on what God is doing through Bible believing evangelical Christians in Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, India and Ecuador. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).
Study the master theme of the Bible with these prophecies and types in the Old Testament of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Free Sermons and Bible studies indexed by Scripture reference and doctrinal studies .
