Don't Drift Away

INTRO

Yesterday was a session packed with background on the book of Hebrews as well as a look at part of chapter 1. It was a lot. One thing to be aware of is that the book of Hebrews is one of the meatiest books in the Bible. We didn’t even get to verses 4–14 in chapter 1, which includes seven Old Testament passages, tying Hebrews to the Old Testament, and to Matthew 5:17: Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.

TEACHING

Hebrews 2:1: MacArthur outlines six passages in Hebrews that provide warnings. The first is found in chapter 2 and warned the people to pay even more attention to what they had heard so they would not drift away (vv. 1–4). The message of Hebrews 2 is to keep your eyes on the Lord. The other warnings are found in Hebrews 3:1—4:6; 5:11—6:20; 10:19–39; 12:15–17; and 12:25–29.¹

The author emphasized the need to pay even more attention to the things they had already heard. Faith comes from hearing the Word and obeying the Word. Paying attention to God’s Word keeps us from drifting away from Him. Sadly, some of us don’t even know we’ve drifted away because we are not in the Word. In fact, though most Americans may have a Bible, they don’t read it. The writer used the nautical term of “drift away.” MacArthur states, “The warning is to secure oneself to the truth of the gospel, being careful not to pass by the only harbor of salvation. The closest attention must be paid to these very serious matters of the Christian faith. The readers in their tendency to apathy are in danger of making shipwreck of their lives.”²

Robert Robinson came to know Christ through preacher George Whitfield and wrote the hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” However, Robinson drifted away from the Lord and spiritual things. While traveling, he met a young woman who was reading his hymn, and she asked him what he thought of it. He admitted who he was and that he had drifted away from God. She reminded him that God’s “streams of mercy” were still flowing and still available to him. Through her encouragement and his own words, Robinson was able to find his way back to God.³ God always accepts those back to Him, no matter how far they have drifted away from Him.

Hebrews 2:2–4: The language of “greater than” is alluded to in verses 2–3. The message delivered by angels was important and legally binding because it was the Law and carried punishment for breaking it (Deuteronomy 33:2). But Christ would be the only One to speak the message of salvation, and the punishment for not accepting it would be much greater. MacArthur explains, “The greater the privilege, the greater the punishment for disobedience or neglect.”⁴ (Hebrews 10:29; Luke 12:47) God also testified about Jesus through the signs and miracles Jesus did (v. 4). MacArthur states, “The supernatural powers demonstrated by Jesus and by His apostles were the Father’s divine confirmation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, His Son.”⁵

Hebrews 2:5–9: The phrase, “the world,” refers to the inhabited earth, but also to the millennial world. The angels will not be put over the millennial world—Jesus will (v. 5). Verses 6–8 are from Psalm 8:4–6, and speak of the role God gave humankind over the earth—making them a little lower than angels for a short time. However, because of man’s sin, we cannot walk out everything God intended for us to do. According to verse 9, Jesus was made lower than the angels while He was on earth so He could “taste death for everyone” through His death on the cross. Jesus subjected Himself below the angels for that time. He was crowned with glory and honor because of His death (Philippians 2:8–9).

Hebrews 2:10–14: In verse 10 the author explained that through our suffering, we would be brought into glory—we are the “many sons of glory.” MacArthur writes, “Without Christ’s humiliation and suffering, there could be no redemption. Without redemption, there could be no glorification.”⁶ The One who sanctifies, Jesus, and those who are sanctified, believers, have one Father and “Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers” (vv. 11–12). All of this is possible because Jesus is our source of salvation and sanctification.

Jesus serves as our High Priest. In verse 13 the author quoted Isaiah 8:18 to emphasize that Christ was sent to share humanity through flesh and blood, so that through His death He could destroy Satan (v. 14). Nelson’s Commentary explains:

“The devil tempts people to sin and then accuses them of rebelling against God (Genesis 3; Job 1). By inducing them to sin, Satan delivers people over to death, the due penalty for their sin (Romans 5:12). The devil is still active today, but his power over death has been taken away from him (1 Peter 5:8). Christ’s death fulfilled the penalty for sin . . . The judgment of Satan was rendered by the cross, but the execution lies in the future (1 Corinthians 15:54–57; Revelation 20:10).”⁷

The victory has already been given, but the punishment and execution of Satan will come later.

Hebrews 2:15–18: Verse 15 explains that salvation through Christ frees us from the bondage of slavery and the fear of death. Jesus came to be our High Priest (v. 16), by taking on the form of man in service to God. As man, He took on the sin of all humankind and paid the price Himself (v. 17). Since He was tested and because He suffered, He can help us when we are tested, or we suffer (v. 18).

CLOSING

If you feel the weight of the bondage, don’t wait—turn in faith to Jesus (Romans 5:8; 10:9). Jesus understands everything about you, so don’t wait to go to Him.