“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
– Hebrews 2:1
Main Thought: The message which the writer of Hebrews was speaking of to not “drift away from” was the message of the Gospel, the message of Christ’s sacrifice for sin which was prophesied in the Old Testament. The Hebrews knew what happened to their predecessors from centuries earlier when they drifted away from the warnings of God that came through Moses to the Israelite people, which they ignored and suffered great judgment from God. However, what does it mean to drift away from this message? To drift away from this message means to reject the revelation of God’s Son, through whom God the Father delivered the message of salvation, which is based upon the shed blood of Christ. Jesus said in John 5:26 “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” To drift away means to reject the only way, the only payment for sin to God the Father, who is the Son, and the message that came directly from His only begotten Son. When the Jews of Jesus’ day cried out “crucify him, crucify him” to Pontius Pilate, they were rejecting the only way of salvation (Matt. 27:16-26; Mark 15:7-15; Luke 23:18-25; John 18:40). Later on in Hebrews 2:3, the writer asks the rhetorical question “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” The reality is that if we drift away from and neglect such a great salvation, it means sure and certain judgment from God for rejecting His Son, His grace, and His mercy. There is only one sure way of escaping the judgment of God, and that is to listen to God’s message of salvation which is through Jesus Christ. Have you drifted away from and neglected such a great salvation, or have you paid heed to God’s message of salvation in Christ alone? If you have not, then call upon him and do not turn away from this eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, the only Lord and Savior.
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all your good pleasure for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Matthew 16:6
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6
Philemon 1:7
“For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” – Philemon 1:7
Hebrews 12:5-7
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He flogs every son whom He receives.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” – Hebrews 12:5-7
Isaiah 28:15-16
“Because you have said, ‘We have cut a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overflowing scourge will not reach us when it passes by. For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying. Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” – Isaiah 28:15-16
Psalm 84:11-12
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” – Psalm 84:11-12
Psalm 84:1
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!” – Psalm 84:1
John 4:13-14
“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” – John 4:13-14
Matthew 4:17
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17
Romans 15:1-2
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” – Romans 15:1-2