A GREAT Salvation

This week in our study of the book of Hebrews we are looking at Hebrews 2:1-4, in which we receive a warning against neglect. What are we warned against neglecting? Good question!

Hebrews 2:1-4 ^“We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. ² For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding^[a] and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, ³ how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. ⁴ At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will.”

Is there a sense of greatness in your mind about your salvation? I mean think about it… When something truly great is happening, there is an expected response towards that greatness.

Do you respond to the greatness of your salvation? Or do you neglect it?

I mean do you treat your salvation the way you treat the title to your car or the deed on your house? You signed it once and it is in a file drawer somewhere, but it is not a really great thing. It has no daily effect on you....

(In all honesty I’m not even sure where the title to our car is I’ve neglected it that much… It’s in there somewhere and I’m sure I could find it if I looked hard enough but does it really matter?)

You know you have it… You aren’t going to go to hell… Add to the file and search it out when you need it right? Essentially you neglect it. 

So this message to the church and the world should serve as a wake-up call. To neglect our great salvation is to come into a judgment to which there will be no escape. Why? Because being a Christian is serious business. Not sour business, but serious, very serious.

Now listen to what the author is saying here…

“…how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

It's not as if they are saying:

•  don't neglect your arthritis, or…
• don't neglect your allergies, or…
• don't neglect your cranky coworker….

These can all be negatives… He is saying don't neglect your salvation. Your GREAT salvation.

So it's about something GREAT! 

It’s more like:

• Don't neglect your steak dinners…
• Don't neglect your cancer-healing therapy...
• Don’t neglect your safe warm bed…
• Don't neglect your sunrises and sunsets…

This is more in line with what the author is trying to get across only in the terms of salvation... 

In reality what the author is telling us is this:

• Don't neglect being loved by God.
• Don't neglect being forgiven, protected, strengthened, and guided by Almighty God.
• Don't neglect the sacrifice of Christ's life on the cross.
• Don't neglect the free gift of righteousness imputed by faith.
• Don't neglect the removal of God's wrath and the reconciled smile of God.
• Don't neglect the indwelling Holy Spirit
• Don’t neglect the fellowship and friendship of the living Christ.
• Don't neglect the radiance of God's glory in the face of Jesus. 
• Don't neglect the free access to the throne of grace. 
• Don't neglect the inexhaustible treasure of God's promises.

This is a GREAT salvation!

Don't neglect so great a salvation. Else you will perish…

Let us not neglect our eternal joy in God—which is what salvation is.