“Guilty of Negligence”

Hebrews 2:1-

The most famous diamond…•The most famous diamond in the world, the Hope Diamond, 45.52-carat, described as the most perfect blue diamond on Earth, is one of the most highly prized gems ever, estimated value of $250,000,000•The diamond has a notorious history of being cursed-having been originally in the possession of King Louis XIV, passed to Catherine the Great of Russia, then to King George IV of Britain, and eventually to the United States

The most famous diamond…•Despite the diamond’s enormous value, one of its more eccentric owners often strapped it to her dog’s collar•Eventually the jewel came into the possession of diamond merchant Harry Winston, who donated it to the Smithsonian Institution•Amazingly, Winston sent the diamond to the Smithsonian thru the regular U.S. Post, in the brown envelope you see here

The most precious things…•There are two things that are far more valuable than the Hope Diamond going unappreciated, often in our daily lives•I am speaking of course, of our personal salvation, the incredible gift God gives to every person who puts his or her faith in Jesus Christ and the commands of God through the Bible•They are the greatest things God has given to each of us, yet we often take them for granted

2  For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. 5 For He did not

subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying,

“WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM?OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE

CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?7  “YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS;

YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR,

AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;8  YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.”For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet

see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:1-9 (NASB)

A. Neglect, You will drift…•Vs 1, Take Heed! If we don’t take seriously the things we learn, we WILL drift away from the Lord

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

Hebrews 1:1 (NASB)

A. Neglect, You will drift…•Vs 1, Take Heed! If we don’t take seriously the things we learn, we WILL drift away from the Lord•JV McGee– therefore.. The author is connecting the last three weeks studies with what we’re seeing today•He’s talking about “neglecting” our salvation– complacency– telling us to get/stay on fire (remember this was originally to the Jewish Christians)

A. Neglect, You will drift…•Greek word for ‘drift away’ is ‘pararreo’•The idea is “to slip” like an arrow from its quiver, or food down your windpipe– happens easily without foresight•Ever doze off in a boat?•No born-again Believer wakes up one morning and says, “Today I’m going to start back-sliding!”•It starts by lack of enough prayer time, bible study, fellowship– we must anchor…

B. Transgression and Disobedience•Vs 2-4,

“ 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”

Hebrews 2:2-4 (NASB)

B. Transgression and Disobedience•Vs 2-4, “the word spoken through Angels” is the OT Law•What did angels have to do with it?

“… you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Acts 7:53 (NASB)

B. Transgression and Disobedience•Vs 2-4, “the word spoken through Angels” is the OT Law•What did angels have to do with it?•The main thing here is the importance of the Salvation Message by Jesus, way above the angels•Pay close attention to two words in V2, ‘transgression’ and ‘disobedience’

B. Transgression and Disobedience•Transgression– is a ‘sin of commission’– a willful violation of God’s laws•Disobedience– is a ‘sin of omission’– meaning a willful refusal to comply with God’s laws or commands•Don’t fall into the trap thinking because of Grace, we don’t have to avoid sin•No prophet or angel dies for you, Jesus did– so we should see our post-salvation sins as even worse tan the lost man’s

“But the one who does not know [better] and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

Luke 12:48 (NIV)

B. Transgression and Disobedience•We live in an age of death; from abortion to euthanasia, to race conflict resulting in Police Officers being targeted and killed•The National Cathedral in DC has Muslim Prayer services– exactly the same as when Israel’s kings brought idols into the temple•If we don’t figure out daily time with God in prayer and study, we’ve lost!

C. Glorious humanity of Christ •Vs 5-9,

5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying,

“WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM?OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE

CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?7  “YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS;

YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR,

AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;8  YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.”For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet

see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:5-9 (NASB)

C. Glorious humanity of Christ •Vs 5-9, His humanity comes through, in the sacrifices He made for us– after chapter one so brilliantly explaining His deity and superiority• We must acknowledge that fact about Him– Fully God and Fully Man•People who know little about other religions think they all lead to the same god– if there were another way, would God have allowed His Son to die so horribly?

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Matthew 26:39(NASB)“Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your GodWho contends for His people, “Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, The chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again.”

Isaiah 51:22 (NASB)

C. Glorious humanity of Christ •Jesus tasted death and separation form the Father for everyone– so none of us would ever have to experience it•He became the receiver of God’s Wrath so that we could be forgiven of our sin•There was no other way!•See how valuable and important the gift of salvation is that we have in Christ?•Don’t take it lightly; Jesus paid for it with His life

Take Home!! 1. We can’t and won’t obey the

Lord and His commands as long as we think lightly/neglect our salvation

2. God’s commands for us are not suggestions, like or not

3. Pray daily, read your Bible daily, fellowship regularly