Naracoorte Presbyterian Church

The Unparalleled Excellence of Christ

Hebrews 2:1-18

My dear fellow believers,

Over the last two weeks the Word of God came to us from Hebrews Chapter 1. This chapter taught us much about Christ, the matchless King and High Priest. 

Let’s quickly sum it up. 

God’s children are not simply recipients of His benefits; rather, they worship Him as the gracious giver of life. Empowered by grace, Christians seek to honour and glorify God through their lives.

A deeper understanding of who Christ is, transforms how Christians serve Him. They change from consumers of grace to evangelists because of grace.

In “the past,” God communicated with His people for hundreds of years. He revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Saul, and David. God also communicated with the kings of Judah and Israel. He also communicated His will to the prophets. All the Old Testament is in a sense prophetic. It reveals the will of God, but it always pionted to fulfilment. That’s why there are many references to the “the day of the Lord”. When mentioning “the last days,” the author of Hebrews uses a word that signifies a pivotal moment in time. It marks the end of what was previously expected and now moves into fulfilment.

In this sense then, Jesus is the Word of God. What the Father wanted us to know about all that was prophesied in time past, was fulfilled in Christ. He is God’s Word.

Therefore, Jesus Christ is fulfilment of the Old Covenant Promises. As heir of the throne of David, He inherited the kingship. He inherited the High Priesthood and fulfilled the ceremonial law of sacrifices. Christ was the last sacrifice, His blood cancelled the blood of animals, because He dies once for all. As High Priest He entered into the Most Holy to make atonement for our sins. 

Last week we learned that He is King of the universe. All that was created, was created by Him and for Him. He sustains everything and for Him all will come to an end when He returns.

Christ is also our Saviour. He reconciled us with God because He stood between us and God to bear our sins in our place.  Hebrews says He purified us from our sins.

Christ is God. That’s why we worship Him. With the Father and the Spirit He reigns over all. Time is in his hands. Our destiny is in His hands. He cares for us. He reigns above and over all kings and rulers. All authority in heaven and earth was given Him.

This Great Salvation

This brings us to chapter two of Hebrews. Verse three speaks of this “great salvation.  Verse 9 spells it out,

“But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9, NIV) 

What does this “great salvation” refer to? Let’s ask a few questions. Looking back on the first chapter, we may ask,

• Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Word of God?
• Do you believe that Christ is the fulfilment of the ceremonial law? In other words, do you believe that the blood of Christ succeeds the blood of animals? 
• Do you believe that He died to take away your sins?
• Do you believe that Jesus is the King of the universe and that He now rules over kings and powers? Do you believe that all kings must bow before His authority?
• Do you believe that Jesus Christ took your sin upon Him to wash you clean from unrighteousness to make you a child of God?
• Do you believe that Jesus is eternal God who now reigns at the right hand of the Father?

If you believe these things, what about it? Or shall we say, “So what?” This is exactly what chapter two wants us to know. 

Pay deeper attention

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews warns,

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1, NIV) 

He continues, 

“For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,” (Hebrews 2:2, NIV) 

“For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.” (Hebrews 2:2–3, NIV) 

Let that sink in: the old covenant people were severely punished if they disobeyed the commandments of the Lord. But, keep in mind, at that stage the fullness of time had not come. Now that all is fulfilled and the shadows of the things promised have become reality, there is no excuse. The blood shed by animals for the remission of sins cannot be compared. It contrasts with the complete sacrifice of the Lamb of God. It was His own Son who was sacrificed for the remission of sins. People were punished while they lived in the shadows. What does this mean for us, who have seen the full light of the glory of God in Jesus Christ!

Therefore, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1)

What happens when the attention of a Christian starts focussing on something else? What happens if a Christian claims to believe in the things we pointed out from chapter two? However, his faith may be superficial. The answer is, one drifts away.  

The backdrop of this letter is the people of God in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. What happened to them when they turn aside from the Word of God? Their journey to their inheritance became a lifelong suffering. In the end none of that generation saw the Promised Land. Grace faded and other things took its place. 

The same with us. We must keep focused on Christ. If we let other things influence how we think and live, we will surely drift away. How is it with you? Are you still on track? Are there other things that chew into your time with the Lord? Is your devotion to the Lord pure and undivided?  If not, don’t be surprised if you started to drift away from your Saviour. 

The impossible escape

“How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was fist announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.” (Hebrews 2:3) 

In what way can we “ignore” this great salvation? Well, you hear it, you think about it, but it does not impact the way you live. 

I heard of the fellow who won $M15 dollars, but he did not claim it. The money was there for him. He ignored it, and it had no impact on him. He carried on with life living in poverty as usual.

$M15 dollars is nothing compared to the great salvation of Christ.  See, eternity depends on it. One cannot serve two gods. You will either love one, and hate the other. When it comes to Christ it is a matter of life and death. It is Him, or nothing. 

The inescapable question then remains. “How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” See, it remains a matter of giving account before the throne of God on the day of judgment. How will we escape?

Amen.