How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him? Hebrews 2:3
Did you think that today’s text is a Gospel verse, a dire warning to the despisers and delayers of the Gospel message? Surprisingly, it’s not. At least not in its primary application. Of course, we use this verse when we present the Gospel message. It points out the terrible danger that sinners are in if they continue in their sins, if they continue to neglect the only message that can deliver them from the wrath to come and lead them to life everlasting. It clearly presents the truth of man’s responsibility to accept God’s remedy for man’s ruined condition. In that, it deals a lethal blow to the fatalistic doctrine of the Calvinists. But consider who the writer of this book is addressing. He is writing to saints, not sinners. He is directing his pointed question to those who have already trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. And he uses the pronoun ‘we’ to include himself in the question. This question is for you and me. And so, we need to find out why we are being warned not to neglect so great salvation, and what happens to us if we do.
Our salvation is so much more than a fire escape from hell and a ladder to Heaven. Although the eternal security of our soul was absolute at conversion’s day, we have a spirit that must be saved every day, if we are to enjoy and extract the greatest benefit from all that our salvation brings us into. We must maintain our relationship with our Lord through regular confession of sins, through prayer and Bible study, through assembling ourselves with the Lord’s people, and through obedience to the Lord’s guidance in service to Himself. Confession of sins will keep our relationship with our Lord intimate and precious. Prayer and Bible study will build us up in our knowledge of God and His Word. Assembling ourselves with other Christians will help us and them become more Christ-like in our relationships with each other. Obedience to God’s direction in our lives will give us purpose and fulfillment beyond anything that the world can offer. If you know Christians who do all of these things, you know Christians who are rejoicing in their salvation, and living in the good of being a child of God. But if you know Christians who do none of these things, you know a Christian who is neglecting God’s salvation, and is suffering for it.
A Christian living with unconfessed sin lives with guilt and shame. A Christian who fails to pray and read the Bible is starved spiritually and learns little about God. A Christian who neglects the gatherings of the Lord’s people will like righteous Lot vex their souls every day with the wickedness of those around them (2 Peter 2:8). A Christian who does not seek or follow God’s direction for their lives will obtain only the passing things of this world and will fail to lay up for themselves treasure in Heaven.
And so you see, there is much to be gained by not neglecting God’s great salvation, and much to lose if we neglect it. – Jim MacIntosh