Imagine a boat, on an anchor, on the shore abandoned. The anchors and the ropes soon begin to rust and to wear out because of one thing – neglect. A neglected boat might, by and by, very slowly drift away as the ropes are weathered by the elements and cut. Some of you have neglected your faith. After days, weeks, months, and years of neglect, it has been rusting and corroding… Why? Perhaps you may have forgotten how great a salvation we have. But the warning today is this: Wake up! Shake up and shake away all the dust of neglect, and arise with a new vigor, new zeal, new energy! If you are a Christian, this is for you to read and act.
While you may afford to neglect your boat, or your vehicle, or your garden, you cannot afford to neglect your salvation at all! If you neglect your salvation, then you condemn yourself to the worst peril, because your condition is infinitely worse.
Hebrews 2:1-4 gives us four things each of us must consider: 1. Your Duty, 2. The Warning, 3. The Reason, and 4. The Possibility.
1. Your Duty: Pay Much Closer Attention to What We have Heard
These four verses apply the previous chapter, which shows us that chapter divisions are sometimes unfortunate. Your knowledge of the supremacy of Christ has to distill into your life and lead to a transformed, sanctified, and obedient Christian lifestyle – you become Christ-like.
What is your duty? “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard…” (v. 1). The teaching on the supremacy of Christ has direct implications on how we live as believers. We must listen to the Word of God, know and understand what He says, and seek to live according to His precepts. When you read your Bible, you must pay attention to every word. When you come to church, you need to be very attentive. When you listen to sermons, you have a responsibility to seek to understand everything said for the purpose of committing it into obedient action. When you fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, you must seek to edify them and to be edified by them.
It is no good to be ever learning, but never to be able to arrive at the knowledge of truth (2 Tim. 3:7). But where there is good learning, then there is walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10). How would you be able to pay much closer attention to your salvation? You need to do the following:
First: Know the Doctrines of the Gospel
The way to know God is by hearing the Word He has given. Faith comes by hearing God’s Word. Be there every time there is an opportunity of hearing the Word of God. Show me a Christian who is present for every ministry of the Word, and I will show a person who will sooner mature in the faith. But show me a Christian not prioritizing church, and I will show you a malnourished spiritual baby, who is still in his spiritual diapers.
Never be tired of hearing the Word of God. God says in His Word, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3). Therefore, long for and crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. This is the way to grow up into salvation. The balanced and regular diet of food for spiritual babes is the pure and unadulterated Word of God. For a man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. And we are told that for us to grow in salvation, we should have a great desire and appetite for the Word of God, which is the proper food for the nourishing and strengthening of the soul.
How will your faith be built since it comes by hearing the Word of God? How will your hope be solidified if you do not highly esteem the Word of God? It should be your great desire to know the truth of the gospel by regularly attending to it by reading, hearing, studying, memorizing, meditating, and applying it in your life. It should be your great delight to highly value and esteem it, to heed with uttermost diligence what God has said, and to be conformed to the Word of God.
Matthew Henry puts it like this:
We must embrace them in our hearts and affections, retain them in our memories, and finally regulate our words and actions according to them.
Second: Consider the Evidence of Salvation in Your Life
The evidence that you are not in your sins, guilt and condemnation, is that you have faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Unless you have gone to the cross of Calvary and repented of your sins, you remain under condemnation. Repent and live. Confess and renounce your sins to Christ. I do not mean that you confess your sins to a priest – I mean to the great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Only He can pardon sin and give salvation by grace.
Anyone who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity. Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:21 that he testified both to the Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So unless you have learnt the doctrine of trusting in the Savior of sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ who died for the forgiveness of our sins, and learnt to renounce your sins, there is no hope that you are paying close attention to what you have heard.
Third: Consider the Fruit of Your Faith
The fruit of your faith is godly living. Living as one whose sins, Christ has taken and atoned for your sins at Calvary. So live as one who has been delivered from the domain of darkness to the light of His marvelous kingdom. Live as a child of light. Walk in the Spirit, not gratifying the desires of the flesh. Be in step with the Spirit in your thoughts and words and deeds. Put to death all the deeds and passions of the flesh and put on Christ. Die to flesh and live to Christ. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness which is idolatry, because on the account of this, the wrath of God is coming. The fruit of your faith is putting them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
The fruit of the Spirit is to put on the new self which is being renewed in the knowledge after the image of its Creator. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May the Lord help us to see where the fruit of the Spirit has not been manifest in our lives that we may seek to grow as we ought by His help. And in so doing we shall keep in step with the Spirit and not neglect our salvation.
2. The Warning: You Could Drift Away
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (v. 2). The fact that a boat could drift away from the shore illustrates that it is possible to drift away from the good news of our salvation and live as if we never heard it! In my pastoral ministry, I know several who once named Christ as Lord and Savior, but who now live in darkness. The Bible gives us a strong warning: lest we drift away from it. We must realize that it is possible to hear the purest gospel, but to have it leak and run out of our heads and hearts. Our minds and memories are like a leaking jug if we do not pay much closer attention. This leaking comes from the corruption of our natures, the enmity and subtlety of Satan (for like birds of the air, he steals away the seed of the word), from the entanglements and snares of the world, when the thorns that choke the good seed so that it does not bear fruit. All these prove that it is possible to make a seemingly credible profession of faith, and yet never get to glory.
The Lord in His kindness give us various incentives to enable us to keep in step with the Holy Spirit and to be in His grace. In this passage He employs a strong warning of the possibility of drifting away. Just as a boat that is not anchored can slip, and drift into the sea, and be forever lost, it is possible for a professing believer, even a member of the church, to lose his profession and be lost in his perdition. I did not say that it is possible for a true Christian, a true son or daughter of God, to be lost. I said that a member of a church, including my and your church, can be lost. The phrase means to flow or drift aside like a ship that a contrary wind causes it to drift past its harbor, so that it is prevented from reaching its destination.
This is what happens to spiritual children as Paul describes in Ephesians 4:14, who are tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
I began by pointing out that you need to be solid in your beliefs, which are based on the living Word of God. If this is not the case, then the risk of drifting away is indeed great. It is so great that you should treat this warning with the seriousness it deserves.
It is possible to drift away and make a shipwreck of your faith, just as Hymenaeus and Alexander did. They were unable to hold faith and a good conscience, and the result was catastrophic – they were handed over to Satan! It is possible for you to come to a point where you are lost in sin and in rebellion.
Therefore, I adjure you from the Word of God, pay close attention to what you hear. Hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Do not entertain speculations, dissensions, and seemingly clever doctrines, that lead to doubts and drifting away. Do not invent your own doctrines, or entertain doctrines that have been rejected by the church of Christ over history. Rather, only accept the doctrines that are in the Bible. It is the life-giving truth that will make you a serious believer. Live the truths of the Bible you hear. Put them into action. Walk the talk of faith. Fight the good fight of faith. Run in order to win the prize of the upward call.
3. The Reason: You have Heard God’s Reliable Message
“For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution” (v. 3). Why should you pay a much closer attention to what we have heard? Several reasons are given:
- The message declared by the angels proved reliable
- The Word was declared to us initially by God the Son
- The word of salvation (the gospel) was attested to us by the Apostles
- God bore witness (of the gospel) by signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit through the apostles and their apostolic gifts
- There is a just retribution for those who transgress and are disobedient
This is the logos which was mediated by the angels. The law that was given to Moses by God in Mt. Sinai was through the angels. This is what Paul says in Galatians 3:19 — that the law was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place, through angels, by an intermediary. Stephen’s indictment against the Jews is also clear that, “…You who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it” (Acts 7:53). Therefore, angels somehow participated in the giving of the law. But this participation of the angels, in so far as the giving of the law was concerned, shows that the law was inferior to the gospel, which was given to us through the Son!
But either way, the message proved reliable, and those who did not obey were dealt with accordingly, for every transgression or disobedience (of God’s message) received a just retribution. The threats of the law came into effect; not one of the words was empty rhetoric. God will punish every unrepented lie, every word of gossip, every covetous thought, and every lustful desire. God is holy, and He will vindicate His holiness by His justice in due season. Are you ready to meet your Creator God?
What does it mean that God bore witness? He testified that the messengers were authorized and sent by Him to preach Christ and salvation by Him to the world.
And how did He bear them witness? He bore witness by signs, and wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will:
- Signs of his gracious presence with them, and of his power working by them.
- Wonders, or works quite beyond the power of nature, and out of the course of nature, filling the spectators with wonder and admiration, stirring them up to attend to the doctrine preached, and to enquire into it.
- Miracles, in which an almighty agency appeared beyond all reasonable controversy.
- Gifts of the Holy Spirit qualifying, enabling, and exciting them to do the work to which they were called.
Who were the agents of signs, wonders, and miracles? These were mostly prophets and apostles who were agents of divine revelation. These signs were pointing to the reality of the word of God. So those who were carried by the Holy Spirit, such as the apostles and prophets, with the foundational gifts of the church (Eph. 2:20), had the privilege of being miracle workers. Such is what God did to authenticate the message of the gospel in order that all should believe. Such will be the evidence against those who live in disobedience. Those who refute the claims of God’s Word will attest that they acted against knowledge, they suppressed the truth to their own detriment, for the wrath of God will soon be revealed from heaven against them (Rom. 1:18).
It is God the Holy Spirit who distributes spiritual gifts according to His will. It is not according to the desire of the recipient, or of the preachers, that the gifts of the Spirit are given. All we can do is earnestly desire, and God determines how to distribute according to His own will. It was the will of God that we should have sure footing for our faith, and a strong foundation for our hope, in receiving the gospel. As at the giving forth of the law there were signs and wonders, by which God testified to the authority and excellency of it. Therefore God witnessed to the gospel by more and greater miracles, as to a more excellent and abiding truth. Those who seek miracles today are at a great risk of being led astray by Satan who likes to disguise himself as an angel of light so that he can deceive the elect.
How can you not believe this truth of the good news? Why would you neglect such great truths, which have proven trustworthy to so many? A salvation that God has so wonderfully bestowed graciously? To whom shall you go if not to Christ? To Mohammed who is dead? To human philosophies which are empty? To whom shall we go except to Christ, who has the words of eternal life? Only God has words of eternal life.
4. The Possibility: Neglecting Such a Great Salvation
The next question does presuppose the possibility, not of rejecting the message of salvation, but of receiving it and neglecting it. To neglect is to let something valuable lie unattended. It should be clear to everyone that being indifferent to salvation is a huge crime. For the youngest believer to contemplate that he can profess salvation and neglect it, and yet think that he is on the right road to heaven, is to deceive himself. Salvation is the supreme solution that every sinner needs, whether he knows it or not. But to receive it and let it lie in neglect is to sign your own eternal death warrant.
Yet, my dear brothers and sisters, some of you have neglected your salvation, not once or twice, but many times. And for some of you – for many years! You wake up to go to work every day Monday to Friday, and sometimes Saturdays as well, and you do well. You go to make money in order to be more comfortable here on earth. And yet, you put so little effort in your intake of the Word of God either privately or publicly. How would you explain your coming to church so late and for so few hours? How would you explain spending so much money on yourself and your family when you spend so little for the cause of Christ? How would you explain your lethargy in building lasting relationships in the church, and yet are so eager to do networking in your profession in order to climb the career ladder? This is a sheer neglect of salvation. This is taking for granted the fact that we have been ransomed, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without spot or blemish.
Do we all realize the magnitude of our salvation? It is substantively a great salvation because God the Father had to give His only Son, and so great that the Son of God had to bring it to us. It is qualitatively a great salvation because the Son of God had to live righteously under the law and die for the salvation of sinners. It is effectively such a great salvation because every single sinner for whom Christ died is saved. It is powerfully such a great salvation that it contains and brings rescue from mortal danger and brings us to the land of safety in the arms of the sovereign God. It is eternally a great salvation for it will bring us to eternal glory with God forever. Ours is such a great salvation that it must not be neglected.
The description of the gospel is: it is a great salvation. It is so great that no other salvation can compare with it; so great that none can fully express its extent. None can yet conceive or perceive how great it is. It is a great salvation that the gospel discovers, for it discovers a great Savior, the Lord of ages, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. The gospel reveals the One who has manifested God to be reconciled to our nature, and reconcilable to our persons. It is a great salvation for it shows how we may be saved from so great sin, and so great misery, and so great guilt, and to be restored to so great holiness, and so great happiness, and so great eternal glory.
This salvation that we have in Christ is so great that we can not afford to neglect it. How can you neglect such a great salvation in sanity? How can you neglect such a great benefit of eternal bliss and joy for your soul and be reasonable? How can you neglect such a great salvation offered so freely? How can you neglect such a great salvation offered so fully? Our salvation is offered full and free – absolutely graciously. Completely priceless!
This salvation is fully secure in Christ. It cannot be reversed or withdrawn. Christ said it is finished! It is complete. It is eternally done. There is a way to come to God and be fully reconciled to Him, to be adopted into His family and made His son or daughter and enjoy all the blessings of eternal bliss. Therefore, this salvation is firm and sure. It is good and perfect. It is well and done. The Christian message of the gospel is the news that those who are saved are actually saved and remain in salvation for ever! Saved not by their good works, for they have none, but forever saved by the perfect good works of Christ, who is our great Savior.
The Conclusion
You began the journey of faith with excitement in your spirit, but this has waned over the years. It has slowly faded. You know that deep within your heart lies the dust of neglect, collecting and choking your spiritual vitality. Perhaps it is cobwebs of worldliness that are rapidly building up, constraining your spiritual life. It may be that your spiritual machine has not been oiled for long, so rust and rot are killing your soul. Or perhaps it is weeds (thorns and thistles) that are making the garden of your spiritual life unfruitful. I have one word for you: Renounce! Renounce them today and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your soul.
It is possible that you have tried to justify yourself with such statements like: “You don’t understand. I’m unwell. I have young children, and my husband, or my boss, is too demanding,” etc. Yet these excuses will not be accepted by God in eternity. As Aaron’s rod swallowed all the magicians’ snakes, your excuses are swallowed by the Word of God. Your excuses are inexcusable!
The way forward is to face the reality of your destiny. Soon you will come face to face with the shocking reality, when you shall stand before God. His glory will shine upon all the rust and cobwebs and weeds, and it will be a great shame. I am here to inform you that the time to appear before the throne of God will be too late for your soul. Tomorrow, you say, I will shape up, and I will win the crown. But the time to turn to the great physician of the soul, the Lord Jesus Christ, is now, and He will permanently and eternally shape your destiny. It is now, my friend, not tomorrow. What do you know about tomorrow? If you are not ready to face the holy God now, then you won’t be tomorrow. Turn to Christ and live! Today! Today is the day of salvation.
Murungi Igweta has served as a pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya since 2010. He is an individual associate member of the Reformed Baptist Network.