Lest we Drift

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2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The Founder of Salvation

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,

or the son of man, that you care for him?

7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned him with glory and honor,

8  putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Introduction

One of the reasons I wanted to look at Hebrews is because it continues where we left off with Advent. Hebrews is often summarized as “Jesus is better than” as it goes through a host of people, practices, and covenants of the Old Testament. From that perspective we get to learn what theologians call Biblical Theology, which points us to the way in which God has revealed himself in the Bible.
Last week Allen took you through chapter 1 where we see Jesus better than the Old Testament prophets. Whereas they spoke for God, Jesus is God. Chapter 2 builds on this. Not only is Jesus greater than the prophets, he is also greater than angels. There is a ratcheting up of intensity. It’s interesting as the writer takes us through so many of the important pieces and practices of the Old Testament to show us the significance of the person and work of Jesus.
The other reason to look at Hebrews is that he shows us how this information is important for daily living. Chapter 2 kicks off with a warning.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

The “it” being what the writer calls “a great salvation” in verse 3. We must not neglect our great salvation. Why does the writer feel the need to write this? Because we do. We neglect it. Why? Who knows why. Lots of reasons for it. We get busy. We get depressed. We get excited about other things, whether good or bad things.
The good news is the nature of this salvation, for just as the one who brought is greater than the angels who delivered it in the Old Testament, his salvation is that much greater and that’s what he unpacks for us this passage.

The danger

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(1-2) There is danger is neglecting it. The danger is the “just retribution” for it. This was what the people of the OT experienced when the neglected the word given to them by angels. (Yes, angels were involved in the delivery of the word during the time of the Pentateuch. Even Paul testifies of this, “…it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.” ) When Moses came down from the mountain after receiving the law, he found the camp dancing and singing as they worshiped golden calves (). It was in direct violation of the people’s commitment to listen and “do all the Lord had commanded.” As a result, Moses called those who were on the Lord’s side to rally to his side. Those that did were then instructed to strap on a sword and start killing the others. It was God’s judgment. There are other times that we see this as well.
The writer brings this up to show that the gospel we know comes to us in a way greater than the angels, implying that if those who neglected God’s word delivered by angels suffered, how much more will we? It’s meant to light a healthy measure of fear in the reader. And it should. We may not see the hand of God come down in retribution in the same way, but we see it nonetheless. In Romans Paul explains, “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity…” While there is more to be explored than this, at the very least, there is a sense in which the danger of neglecting such a great salvation is to given over to the consequences of your sin. This means that bitterness slowly eats you up; that complacency leads to depression; that excitement over something to the point of neglect of the Word leads to idolatry; and along the way we find casualties. These casualties can be subtle. They creep up on us. We feel lost, empty, uninterested in reading the Word, in prayer. Neglect leads to more neglect. Lostness leads to more neglect because the joy of that salvation is far away, even forgotten. Then it’s a slipperly slope as the continued neglect leads to greater casualties. The loss of opportunity, the loss of love. We hurt and we hurt others. Even as God commanded the Levites who rallied to Moses, “each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.” () We end up killing our brother, companions and neighbors as a consequence of our sin, which comes when we neglect so great a salvation.

Trustworthy Gospel

(3-4) How do we know we can trust it? Verse 3-4 explains,

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
This is how the good news came to us and this is how it was validated, all of which was designed to show the superior nature to the Old Covenant revelation. In every way, this one surpasses it.
This is how the good news came to us and this is how it was validated, all of which was designed to show the superior nature to the Old Covenant revelation. In every way, this one surpasses it.

Our Great Salvation

(5-13) What is that great salvation? It’s good to fear the consequences of neglect, but more powerful than fear is desire. And our salvation is something to be desired. We see this laid out in this next section, albeit often seems a bit hidden in a first reading because of the difficulties of the translation. So what do we find? To see that, we need to follow the writer’s Old Testament reference.
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5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,

or the son of man, that you care for him?

7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned him with glory and honor,

8  putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
This Psalm is a contemplation by the Psalmist about man. “What is man that you are mindful of him?” Do you see. As the Psalmist considers the vastness of God’s creation and his created order, its a humbling thing. “You have made him a little lower than the angels.” While we often skip over the OT references to angels when we read it, they are there. Paul refers to the “powers and principalities in the heavenly realms” with which we do battle. He’s talking about the order of angels, more specifically fallen angels. In the OT we see the order of angels in ,
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,

Remember the days of old;

consider the years of many generations;

ask your father, and he will show you,

your elders, and they will tell you.

8  When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,

when he divided mankind,

he fixed the borders of the peoples

according to the number of the sons of God.

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
Angels are given a measure of responsibility over this earth. And they are powerful beings as they always elicit fear from their stature.
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
or the son of man, that you care for him?
or the son of man, that you care for him?
or the son of man, that you care for him?
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
But here’s the great thing about this salvation. It is not to angels that God subjected the “world to come” a reference to the time when the kingdom of God, at present in the heavenly realms, will absorb the whole of creation. It is to man that God subjected the world to come. You. Me. This is God’s order. This shouldn’t surprise as we see it pronounced in the very beginning when God creates man and says to him,
7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
you have crowned him with glory and honor,

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

you have crowned him with glory and honor,
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
And instructs Adam to name every living thing. That’s an act of dominion. Our great salvation has in view this dominion. It’s a salvation to it because, as the writer of Hebrews explains,
8  putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
8  putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
8  putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
8  putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
8  putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 2:5–8). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 2:5–8). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
This is the nature of our fallen condition. This is the result. Our place was lost. But now salvation to this place is in sight. It is in reach. It is there in front of us and the reason we know is because Jesus IS there. The writer continues in verse 9,
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9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor

And the effect of this is found in verse 10,

in bringing many sons to glory

Do you see? This is the goal. This is the great salvation!

How did he do it?

Through suffering. This is now where the author is going.

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

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

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

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.

The things that stood in our way from being what God created us to be, crowned with glory and honor over world has been resolved. We owed our lives to God. We owed death for our neglect, and the Lord took it upon himself. He tasted our death. He was made perfect, that is, brought to his full mission, through suffering, ultimately on the cross, but not only on the cross.
The things that stood in our way from being what God created us to be, crowned with glory and honor over the world has been resolved. We owed our lives to God. We owed death for our neglect, and the Lord took it upon himself. He tasted our death. He was made perfect, that is, brought to his full mission, through suffering, ultimately on the cross, but not only on the cross. He’s talking about the incarnation in verse 11. This is how he could taste death for us. He had to put on flesh in order to suffer like we suffer.

An important tool in our toolbox

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

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Lastly, we see that Jesus’ suffering was thoroughly like ours. He didn’t only suffer when he was on the cross. He suffered every day of his life on earth. He suffered through the struggle of every temptation that you face everyday. He faced it. He felt its tug on his heart, its play with his emotions. He wrestled through it all. The point is that he gets you. He understands you and what you’re going through. He knows how hard it is.
I think we subconsciously avoid prayer and approaching God when we feel guilty, when we find ourselves in the midst of temptation because we feel as though we’ll meet with scorn and shame. But what we meet, if we’re willing to approach him in such time, is understanding. He gets the struggle! He knows our weakness.
And the degree to which he understands us runs deep. As I was thinking through this on a walk this week, I realized that, though I knew this truth, I still struggled because I know that while he suffered when tempted, he never gave in to the temptation. Thus, he couldn’t relate with my guilt. Guilt, I thought, was not something he suffered because he never did anything wrong. As I put this into words I saw the flaw in it. Of course he know the suffering that comes from guilt. He felt every pain, every part of my shame as he hung on that cross. It wasn’t lost on him. It was real. It had to be real or his death would never count as my own. He knows the suffering associated with all of my feelings of guilt and shame, which are some of the biggest things that keep me from approaching him when I feel them. He doesn’t reject me when I’m wallowing in my guilt because he has wallowed in them too.
It is common for someone who struggles with one thing to find solace among others who have struggled with the same thing. This is why AA is so popular. The struggle is common. It’s shared. There is understanding and sympathy even while acknowledging the awful and destructive power of alcohol addiction.
When you find yourself struggling, instead of running away from the Lord, run to him, for there you find a brotherly soul who understands in every way your suffering. When you don’t, you fall into neglect and the danger becomes real again.
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