Hebrews 2:2-3a
18 August 2024
For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable,
and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
So the structure of the book of Hebrews, we've come to chapter two and the first exhortation, the first application, because the first chapter entirely is simply but gloriously building an argument about Christ being greater. And think all that we unpacked in chapter one, is that Christ is the One who is truly God. As we see in verse 8, it says of the Son, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever." He is the One who was before the foundation of the earth, who created this earth and all that is in it. He is the One who came to this earth to purge our sins for the people of the Living God, born-again believers in Christ Jesus, who come to worship Jesus Christ, who is the risen and exalted King. We see He is seated, verse 3, at the right hand of the Majesty on high. He is the One who is greater, better than the angels, these monumental celestial figures who cannot compare to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And with all of the doctrine that we have drawn out in Hebrews chapter one, we came last week to this opening exhortation in chapter two, beginning, therefore, Therefore, we, Christians, must pay much closer attention to what we've heard. We must pay much closer attention to the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the exhortation. That is the challenge. Where we then come to a warning, lest, verse one, we drift away from it. And we reflected last week that it isn't simply a case of, well, this is a warning to the church now, which it most certainly is, but also that this is something that even in our own land, we have seen happen. Denomination after denomination, church after church, drifting away from the Word and the truth of who the Lord Jesus Christ is, drifting more and more into error, apostasy, and heresy. And so we have this warning.
Then we come to verses two and the beginning of verse three, which is what we're going to be dealing with this afternoon. And there is another challenge, another great warning at first glance. Verse two, "For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution," and here we come. "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" How shall we escape? How shall we escape?
Now, when we look at a verse and a question like this, how shall we escape such a great salvation? Maybe some people may read a verse like this and prepare to listen to a sermon like this and think, I'm already struggling in this issue. Is this going to be another really weighty message that's going to make me feel even more burdened in my Christian faith? And the answer depends on one crucial thing. Who are you looking to this evening, brothers and sisters? Because if you approach a question like this, "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" And the focus in your mind is yourself. Then you have every reason tonight to feel the weight and burden of your sin and the weight and burden of what is before our eyes.
But if your focus, if your attention is upon Jesus Christ and so great a salvation, what we are going to be finding as we unpack this text is that what we have this evening is not a burden added, but praise be to God, it is the burden lifted. This is an encouraging text. If we're struggling with the subject of the assurance of our salvation, these texts are not meant to beat you further into the ground, but to fix your gaze all the more clearly upon Jesus Christ. This is what we're being exhorted to do. In verse one, pay much closer attention to what? What have we heard? What has chapter one been about? Us? No, Christ. What is our life? What is our hope built upon? Is it us or is it Christ?
This is the question. This is what we wrestle with as we come to a subject like this because there are some weighty points that we come to deal with. As we reflect on what Christ has done, as we've already considered also who He is. This is a serious matter, brothers and sisters. This is not to say, oh, burdens are lifted. Let's make this a nice casual and light time. No, this is a weighty and serious matter. And upon understanding that, there is great comfort. There is great peace. There is great joy. And there is great assurance. Because we're looking to Christ.
So this is what we're dealing with as we work our way through this text. Now for the first part, we're not going to be dealing with that question explicitly. We need to spend some time in verse two in order to frame our understanding of what is being asked and it deals with "the law" and "sin". So verse two is dealing with "the law" and it's dealing with "sin". And verse three's question then takes us to "the gospel". We need to know "the law", we need to understand "sin", and then we come to "the gospel". So these are our three points that we're going to be dealing with here in our time.
So verse two begins, "for since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable," You might think, the message declared by angels, what message was that? Because we've already seen many things in Hebrews chapter one about many things that the angels do. We've gone all over the Bible to see the many ways in which the angels are at work as ministers and servants of the Lord. So what does it mean when it says, "for since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable"? Because the writer to the Hebrews hasn't finished dealing with the angel subject, and He brings them in again to make this point. Well, let's turn back first of all to Deuteronomy chapter 33. Deuteronomy chapter 33, and we're going to be reading verse two. Deuteronomy 33 verse 2. "He said, the Lord came from Sinai and dawned from Sir upon us. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the tens of thousands of holy ones with flaming fire at his right hand." This language should be familiar when we think back to Hebrews 1-7, where we noted that the angels are winds, they are a flame of fire. They're invisible, strong, fast, mighty, and they are executioners of wrath. And we see here, givers of the law. Let's also turn to one other verse just to see this, to Acts chapter 7. Acts 7 verse 38, which says, "this is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us." The angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai. We have the thousands mentioned in Deuteronomy, and we have the specific mention of the angel here in Acts. And so when we come back to Hebrews chapter two and verse two, when it begins, "for since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable," this message that the angels are delivering is the message of "the law". This is what this is referring to. And it's why in Galatians 3.19 it states, "why then the law? It was added because of transgressions until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary." It was put in place by angels, "the law". And note what it says about this law which the angels have put in place. It says in Hebrews 2 verse 2 that this message which was declared proved to be reliable. It was reliable, brothers and sisters. And we've seen this. We've seen this in our study in the book of Exodus with the giving of "the law" and the importance of that law.
Let me just briefly summarize what this looked like in the time of Exodus so that it is fresh in our minds, so that as we go through these points again and again, we're going to have more of a doctrinal foundation of understanding our covenant theology as confessionally reformed Baptists. Because God gave "the law", and He gave "the law". First of all we see in the giving of the Ten Commandments, and we'll deal with that in a moment, but He also gave judicial laws and He gave ceremonial laws. Both the judicial and the ceremonial laws are no longer binding for us in the time of the New Covenant. The judicial laws were given and they were perfect for the people of Israel, the congregation of Israel, to know how to function as a set-apart people, governed by the priests, the elders, in what was called a theocracy, governed by God's law. Now, we have such government in the context of the local church. And again, it is why being under the authority of a biblical church is a biblical necessity for the Christian. And then we have the ceremonial laws. And these were given so that this was the means by which the people of Israel could worship God. And this is why sacrifices were given. Sacrifices which we no longer need to give because, as we're going to unpack in great depth through the book of Hebrews, we have the once for all sacrifice, our great high priest, Jesus Christ. And we also have God's moral law. Now brothers and sisters, if we want to understand what our moral framework is, It is given to us by God and we see this in the giving of "the law" because God alone defines what is morally right and upright. People today who seek to define their own morality and ethics based on any other reason or means leads them into chaos.
God has given his law and this gives us the moral parameters for how we are to live in relation to him, that's the first four commandments as we saw, and how we are to relate to each other, the final six commandments. And it is the means by which a society can function in obedience to God. And yet what have we seen? What have we seen? Well, it was summarized in 2 Corinthians 3 when we worked through that a few months ago. This law, which is reliable, it is perfect, is the ministry of condemnation. It is the ministry of death. And that is not because there is any problem with the law. We see yet again, it is reliable. The problem lies with our next subject, which is sin. There is God's law, his holy, perfect law, which has been given to us, revealing who He is and how we are to live and function. But the problem is that the giving of the law highlights the reality of who we are and our standing before God as sinners condemned by the righteous judge.
Verse two goes on. And every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution. Every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution. It is being dealt with in a just, righteous manner. By what standard? by the standard of the living God according to His law. We have the giving of the law, it is reliable, and that is the standard, brothers and sisters, and we all fall short. We are transgressors of God's law, which is exactly the term that is used here in Hebrews 2, verse 2. And the law highlights this. It highlights who we are, It highlights what we've done and therefore what we must face.
So we deal with these two terms. We've got every transgression or disobedience. Now this word transgression, it literally means the wrong things that we do when we cross the line of God's law, when we go against God's law. That's what transgressions means. And disobedience is the heart that produces it. So transgression, these are the actions, the sinful actions that we do, our disobedience, this is. the heart of rebellion against God and His law. We are transgressors of God's law. We are disobedient before God. And therefore it says, we receive a just retribution. Now in the context of the old covenant, with the giving of the law to the people of Israel, God's chosen people, What do we find happens when the people of God break His law? Well, this is where we come to the very strict damning consequences. People are thrown out of the camp. Often, we see them being stoned to death or facing other very severe consequences. But brothers and sisters, this is not a harsh penalty. This is just retribution.
People may look at this and say, well, that's the Old Testament God. Surely when we come to the New Testament God and the gospel, things are a bit different, right? Well, brothers and sisters, anyone who thinks or argues in such a manner has certainly not found that from any page in Scripture. Our God is immutable. He does not change. He is just and He is righteous. And the retribution for sin in the time of the Old Covenant and in the time of the New Covenant, it remains the same. It's not that today God is turning a blind eye to your sin because suddenly He's had a change of heart. Every single sin must face just retribution. This is how we stand before God, as sinners condemned. This is the just retribution that we are deserving of.
And what we find actually in the New Testament is that the consequences for people who have more of an understanding of the word of God face even harsher consequences. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 11. Matthew chapter 11 from verse 20, where it says, then He began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you. This is the word of the Lord Jesus Christ. and the condemnation and judgment against the religious people of his day, the people who ought to know better. Look at what they face, the judgment that they face for hearing, having an understanding of the truth, and making a mockery of it, making an abomination of it. This is what they face. Woe to you!
Turn with me to one other text in the book of Hebrews, chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 28. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. That's the old covenant. Verse 29, how much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which He was sanctified and has outraged the spirit of grace? Where does this apply? It applies in nations like ours, in days like today. What has so much of the church of Jesus Christ done? We have trampled underfoot the Son of God. We have profaned the blood of the covenant by which we have been sanctified, and we have outraged the Spirit of grace. This is the history of the church in our nation. And we see here in Hebrews 2 verse 2, every transgression or disobedience receives a just retribution.
What does that look like for a nation that is awash with Bibles, with Christian literature that we can not only access with our hands but by the click of a button? The mockery that we make of the things of God, of the teachings of Scripture, of the very Word of God. The retribution that we face is that we will be punished and sent to hell. This is what we are deserving of. And this is what verse two is teaching. Now, we come to the question in verse three. How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Now, the first thing to state very clearly, be under no illusion. Make sure that this is understood with great clarity. You cannot escape. If you're sitting here this evening and you are not a believer, If you were to hear the message of the gospel, if you were to neglect the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no escape. There is no other side door. There is no other way. There's no purgatory where you can maybe reconcile the situation. There is no other religion which is another route to God. There is no escape.
And this, brothers and sisters, is where we come to the blessing, the comfort, the joy, the assurance. Everything that we have been dealing with here, the weight of what the law means to sinful people, transgressors of the law, those who are disobedient before Yahweh. What do we sit upon? Upon what foundation do we then dare to stand? Well, it's right here in the verse. The great salvation. The great salvation. This question, let's be clear on this too, is not being asked to an unbelieving audience. It is being asked to the church in this Jewish setting. And this question is not being asked as if we're to then think, well, hang on a second, we might be able to lose our salvation if we neglect it. It is the exact opposite, brothers and sisters. The emphasis and focus for the Christian is the great salvation. The great salvation.
In Isaiah 53, verse five, it says, but He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And with his wounds, we are healed. When we look at verse two and see that every transgression Every act of disobedience faces just retribution. What we need before the righteous judge is not a theology which changes who God is. And to say, well, it can't really mean that. Surely God's standard is a bit lower than that. Absolutely not. It also doesn't mean that God's blowing hot and cold here, there, and everywhere. No, God is the righteous judge. There is retribution for every sin. And what do we find in this passage in Isaiah 53? It is about the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and it's saying that He, Jesus, He is the one who was pierced for our transgressions. That's the hope. That's the hope that we're clinging to every single day of our lives. that the transgressions, that means we face just retribution, Jesus faced it at Calvary. That is the significance, the weight, and the beauty of the cross. That Christ would be the one who would be pierced. That Christ is the one who would be crushed. That Christ is the one who would face this chastisement to bring us what? Peace. Peace. Because the sword of judgment that is otherwise over your head tonight, sending you to hell, Jesus faces that sword of judgment on the cross. He faces it. It is the legal declaration, therefore, that the child of God, the born-again believer, can be declared justified, that is freely forgiven, because of Jesus and His sacrifice, because he has faced this punishment that we deserve to face. He has faced it.
We're not sitting here tonight wondering, well, hang on a second, do I need to add some things? What else do I need to do? Am I being a good enough Christian? That is not what saves you. It is only and it is entirely because of what Christ has done and it is the finished, completed work. He has borne the sin, the penalty that we deserve. He has done it. It is a completed work. That is the reason why He satisfies the wrath of God. That is the reason why He conquers sin and death. That is the reason why He rises victorious from the grave. And this, is our great salvation. A salvation so great that welcomes you, filthy, undeserving sinner, into the family of God as His children, as co-heirs with Jesus Christ. And so when we come to this subject of neglecting salvation, we look to Christ and this is something that the Christian will never do. You may be living a life that so often looks inconsistent and at times incompatible with the Word of God. You may give plenty reasons for people around about you to think, you're not a good Christian. You've really messed up. You're really all over the place in this area in your life. What is your hope? As you even think right now, I'm making a mess of it in so many ways. It's Christ and the great salvation that you have in Him. That's what you cling to. Christ is who you cling to. Christ is all you've got. Christ is all you need. Christ is your everything. And this is your great salvation.
And when you understand, as one who has been truly convicted of your sin, as a truly born-again believer, you know Christ is who you need. When you sin, when you mess up, maybe it's for the 10th time this month on the same issue. You know it's Christ that you need and therefore the very next day you wake up and who and what do you praise? Jesus Christ and the glory of the gospel. When everything that you think you are doing doesn't measure up, you praise God that Christ is the one who did measure up and this is what matters. That's our assurance. Every single day, every moment of our waking breath, Christ is your assurance. Christ is your comfort. Christ is your hope. And that's a joy because these burdens are lifted. It's why Christ invites us to come to Him, all who are weary and heavy laden, and He will give us what? Rest. It's what we have. It's what you have tonight, Christian. In Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, you have it, and it will not go away. You are secure in the loving arms of your Father because of the perfect finished work of Jesus Christ, because it has been sealed by the Holy Spirit.
This past Wednesday in Ephesians 1, we were considering the subject of being lavished with God's grace. And that is exactly what we are blessed to have. And yes, you are utterly undeserving of it. Who and what are you to be deserving of such grace? And that is why it is grace. And why it is such a great salvation. Because Jesus Christ has put away our sins forever. His blood is the ransom payment, 1 Peter 1:18-19. That is the payment. It's been paid. It has been done. Jesus has come for a set chosen people that He has decreed. And He died for all of those people and He has secured their salvation, our salvation by His blood. This is what we have been drawn to and this is why and how we will persevere to the end. because of Christ, because of His grace. And this, brothers and sisters, is so great a salvation.
This is not in any way to neglect the importance of what it means to live a life as a Christian and seek to be obedient to the Word of God, but these things don't in any way, shape, or form add to or contribute to your salvation. Your salvation is because of Jesus Christ, full stop. And this is for all who have repented of their sin and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Do you, here this evening, believe that you are a sinner who has transgressed God's law, disobedient before the living God, that there is a just retribution that you deserve to face And do you believe that Jesus Christ has faced that for you at the cross? Do you believe in the risen and exalted Lord as the Lord and Savior of your life? Because if you do, this is by the grace of God what makes any one of us a Christian. And it is why we have such assurance of our salvation. The burden has been lifted. Jesus Christ is Lord. I know what a joy it is to know that we live our lives in the mess and gunk of the ongoing sin we battle against, knowing that we are secure and safe in Christ and Christ alone.