Series: The Warning Passages
Sermon: Neglect
Bible Passage: Hebrews 2:1-4
I. There are five warning passages in the book of Hebrews:
1. 2:1–4; 3:12–19; 6:4–8; 10:26–31 and 12:25–29
2. Each one addresses a specific form of unbelief
II. In 2:1-4 is about the believers’ “neglect” of salvation (“such a great salvation”) that will potentially result in their “drifting away” from God and faith
1. “neglect” (verse 3a how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?)
a. “making light of”
b. “disregard”
c. “unconcerned”
d. “lack of appreciation”
e. “opposite of ‘paying close’ attention”
2. What were they neglecting?
a. They were neglecting “salvation”
i. it is God’s deliverance of sinners from the power of the evil
ii. and preparing them for a life in the holy of holies in heaven
iii. Jesus Himself is their salvation
iv. Therefore, it is called “such a great salvation”
b. They needed to be aware of the source of the salvation (three sources) (verses 3b-4)
i. the Lord Jesus Himself who is incomparably superior to the angels (“such a great salvation”)
ii. Jesus’ disciples
iii. Signs, miracles, and the Holy Spirit’s distribution of spiritual gifts (verse 4)
c. If they continued their neglect, they would receive an appropriate punishment from God (Heb 2:2)
3. “drift away” παραρρέω—This is the result of one’s neglect of God’s salvation to them
a. “flow by” or “slip away from,” “loosing ground”
b. “slipping away that is unnoticed”
c. “Inattention or apathy”
d. “carelessness of mind due to preoccupation with things other than Jesus”
III. How do we know that one is drifting away by neglecting the salvation? (what are the symptoms?)
1. Not being connected to a faith community and lack accountability (Heb 10:24 And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, 10:25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing)
2. Lack of focus on Jesus, but having a bent towards sin (or distracted due to sin) (Heb 12:1 we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 12:2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith)
3. Being contentious with fellow believers (Heb 12: 14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord. 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled)
4. Lack of brotherly love (Heb 13:1 Brotherly love must continue. 13:2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it)
5. Sexual excess (Heb 13: 4 Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers)
6. Greed (Heb 13:5 Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have)
7. Craving for strange teaching (Heb 13:9 Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them)
IV. How do they avoid “drifting away” and escape God’s appropriate punishment? Or, what is the cure for neglect?
1. “paying close attention to what we heard from God”—“close attention to what God has spoken”
a. Jesus is God’s Son
b. Jesus is the heir of all things
c. Jesus is the instrument of the creation
d. Jesus is the exact representation of the Father
e. Jesus is the sustainer of the universe that He does through His spoken word
f. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father
g. Jesus is superior to all angels
h. And God speaks through His Son
2. The issue today is that Christians think (pay close attention to) only about themselves
3. Warning: Not paying attention to what God has spoken and neglecting what God has offered in Jesus will deserves appropriate punishment
Take Away:
Identify signs of your neglect of Jesus in your life and fix them immediately by paying a close attention to what God the Father is saying to you