International Gospel Hour

Jeff Archey: How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? A question asked within the pages of God's holy writ presents the answer as well. An answer we will study today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.

Jay Webb: Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: Thank you always to our Jay Webb for his kind words. And greetings to all of you. It's great having you with us today for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour.

To give you a little bit of information—and from time to time I try to share this, especially for our newer listeners—our mailing address is PO Box 118, Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. That's PO Box 118, Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. Our program and our work is under the oversight of the elders of the West Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, Tennessee.

The easiest way to reach out to us is our toll-free number of 855-444-6988. That's 855-444-6988. As a matter of fact, if you wouldn't mind, give us a call and tell us from where you are listening to our broadcast. We love to hear from our listeners and we love to know where you are listening to our program from. 855-444-6988.

I'm going to pause here and defer back to our Jay Webb, who will tell you a little bit about our website—another way that you can contact us at International Gospel Hour.

Jay Webb: Hello friends, the "previous shows" tab is available at our website, internationalgospelhour.com, and also available on several podcast platforms. Maybe we are on your favorite podcast site. Just search for "International Gospel Hour" and you can find previous broadcasts. They're always there 24/7 for you to listen or even to download, either at our website or your favorite podcast site. Check it out today.

Jeff Archey: Now friends, our lesson text today is Hebrews chapter 2, verses 1 through 4. "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away" or "lest we let them slip. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?"

The popular escape rooms of today make a lot of money, and the joy when one escapes is great. The pictures are made and the group is very happy. But escaping sin is a greater feeling and know this: from our lesson text, one cannot escape if one neglects what God has placed before them.

Today we're going to study further from Hebrews chapter 2:1-4. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? First of all, man is warned against letting the Lord's word slip or drifting away. The phrase "let them slip" in Hebrews 2 and verse 1 is rendered in the American Revised Version and the New King James Version as "drift away" or "drift away from them."

We should not allow the things we have heard to slip or glide by us without profit. In every situation of life, at all times and all places, we should not suffer the word to slip. Man's first duty is to seek the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33 and Ecclesiastes 12:13), and we should count all things loss to gain Jesus Christ, as Paul affirmed in Philippians 3:7-8.

The danger of permitting salvation to slip away may arise from many sources: a lack of understanding from Matthew 13:19; the cares of the world (Matthew 13:22), expressed in the Bible as seeing some land, proving some oxen, or marrying a wife (Luke 14:16-20); and the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22 and 1 Timothy 6:9-10).

Tribulation or persecution (Matthew 13:20-21) can also be a source; prejudice will do so (Matthew 13:15); the love of the world will allow our salvation to slip away (1 John 2:15-17). Being a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God (2 Timothy 3:4 and 1 Timothy 5:6), a compromise, or a desire to please men (Galatians 1:10) are other causes, along with a lack of love for the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). These are a number of sources that allow salvation to slip from us, but may it never be.

The inspired writer in Hebrews 2 and verse 2, in his warning against the peril of neglect, mentions two truths. One: the word spoken by angels was steadfast. It was not a word that fluctuated or wavered, but it was fixed and settled; it was definite. And second: every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward—a just reward.

Transgression is the going beyond, the sin of commission (1 John 3:4). Disobedience is the refusal to comply with a command; that's a sin of omission (James 4:17). Both classes of sin received a just recompense of reward; they were justly punished.

In 2 Peter chapter 2 verses 4 through 6, it says, "If God spared not the angels that sinned, and spared not that old world, bringing in the flood upon the ungodly and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly." If that's the case, we should not be so blind nor naive as to think we can neglect the great salvation—God's plan to save—and escape condemnation.

Consider also that even though this salvation is great, it will not save man unless he is disposed to listen. Again, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him? The blessing to be effectual must be appropriated. A book may be helpful, but it directly benefits only those who read it.

The shining of the sun drives out the darkness, but for us to see, we must open our eyes. Vegetables in the garden will not sustain life; they strengthen only those who eat and digest them. Medicine in the bottle will not cure; its actual help is found in taking it.

So it is with the truths of Christianity. They came from the Christ and they have been confirmed, as we noted in Hebrews 2 verse 3. But they will not save if we neglect them. Christ did His part in giving the word to us, and man must do his part in obeying it (Hebrews 5:8-9).

How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? The question carries its own answer: there is no escape for those who neglect the great salvation. Not atrocious criminals only are in danger of condemnation, but all who merely neglect salvation. There is no more escape for the negligent than there is for the thief, the murderer, the atheist, or the scoffer.

Neglect alone will destroy a man. A sick man need not shoot and kill himself; he can do it by simply neglecting the means of the cure. A man floating in a rowboat above Niagara Falls need not make an effort to destroy himself; he can do it by merely neglecting to use the oars in his boat.

Neglect has the power to ruin every earthly thing of value. It will destroy teeth, wreck health, break friendships, convert a beautiful farm into weeds and briars, ruin a business, and transform a beautiful house into a shack. Simple neglect will condemn many at the judgment.

The negligent build on the sand; the attentive build on the rock. Jesus taught us that in Matthew 7:24-27. Peter will ask a question concerning the destination of those who neglect obedience to the gospel (1 Peter 4:17). That answer is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. In flaming fire, God will take vengeance on them who know not God and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 25 verses 24 through 30, we learn that the one-talent man's condemnation came as the result of his neglect—not using his talent. In that same text, in the picture of the judgment, we see some condemned because of neglect (Matthew 25:41-46).

We don't want to neglect the great salvation. We want to respond to our Lord through simple trusting faith and to repent of our sins, confessing our faith in Christ, and being buried with Him in baptism to have our sins washed away and to be added to His church.

Maybe we've prompted you to think on these matters and not to neglect a great salvation. This is why we love to offer our Bible studies by mail to help individuals that are seeking God's way to know God's way and His will. I'm going to pause again for our Jay Webb, who will share with you how you can receive that course by mail absolutely free, and I'll be back to wrap up our thoughts today.

Jay Webb: Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say "home study." That's it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab, and leave us the same information: name, address, and type "home study" in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it's free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

Jeff Archey: It is Peter who reminds us in 2 Peter 1 and verse 10 that we should give diligence to make our calling and election sure as Christians. Yes, Christians are to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:2), and to press onward in the calling of Christ (Philippians 3:13-14).

Good resolutions alone will not suffice, and the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Many like Felix neglect to obey because they are waiting for a more convenient season (Acts 24:24-25). We hope your study of the word of God will bring you closer to the decision to obey the gospel and follow Him. Let us know how we can be of help to you here at International Gospel Hour.

Today we turn back the clock with a wonderful study from the late Leroy Brownlow. He lived from 1914 to 2002. His wonderful book, "Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ," has sold over a million copies worldwide—a beautiful book written about the church we read of in the New Testament. His preaching was outstanding, and we're thankful to share a study from him today. Thank you for joining me in this study and I look forward to being with you again soon. I'm Jeff Archey, and friends, keep listening.

Jay Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. God be with you till we meet again.