How Shall We Escape

Text: – “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”  “Hebrews 2:3”

Introduction: –

Beside the many and varied answers that Gods Word the Bible gives to us, in regard to the “human condition” there are yet a multitude of questions that deserve, nay demand in light of the eternity that lies ahead of us and our souls very salvation, all of our attention.

In this time together today, I want us to examine the question that demands our attention because of the “final destination” that we all have to face that of – “Heaven or Hell.”

• The question asked is – “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”

In the New Testament there are presented to us three important questions being asked of us all and are still awaiting an answer from countless millions throughout the World, and they are: –

Question No 1: –

• “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” – “Mark 8:36”

Question No 2: –

• “For the time is come that judgement must first begin at the house of God: and if it begin with us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” – “1 Peter 4:17”

Question No 3: –

The third question, and is the most searching of them all in the words – “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”

It is this third question that I want to expand upon today and it breaks into three sections or three peas in a pod they are: –

1	Salvation	The Great Provision
2	Neglect	The Great Peril
3	Escape	The Great Problem

The three are like three peas in a pod with a shell just waiting to be cracked open and that is exactly what we are going to do now.

1. The Great Provision (Salvation)

God has wonderfully provided salvation for the entire human race, from the time of the 1^st Man Adam right through to the smallest of babies being born at this very moment (even now as I speak to you) – lasting right up till the time of Christs return.

Let me say to you today that it is provided for all even as in the Gospel of “John 3:16” tells us “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The word salvation is often misunderstood by many.

Does Salvation simply mean that if we are saved then we are going to Heaven when we die? Most assuredly it does.

However, there is so much more to it than that. Let me ask you today – “What do you think is the pathway into salvation and Heaven?” – “What do you think is the route away from Hell and to Heaven?”. The Bible is God’s Roadmap for us. The road map says: – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” – “Ephesians 2:8-9”.

Many believe that “Going to Church, saying prayers and being religious” is the route to salvation but unfortunately, they are not. We could spend every day in Church, wear the skin of our knees or tear our backs to pieces with whips every day and perform religious activities all our lives and it will not provide even an inch towards Heaven and God’s forgiveness.

The perform religious activities will be seen, but these will be the outworking of the work of grace in salvation not the means whereby it is granted – “Ephesians 2:8-10” says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.“

Take a moment to consider a story told by Jesus in “Luke 15: 3-7” in it we are given the story of a sheep that was lost and had gone astray. The story is by many seen as Jesus seeking the lost/un-saved to bring them to salvation. In fact, it is a story of the work of Jesus as a Shepherd preserving them that are already His. However, it still can be relevant in the context of that which we are considering.

We see Jesus as a Shepherd seeking out a sheep that was “Unhappy, Wandering, Isolated and Constantly in Danger.” Jesus sought the sheep out placed it upon His shoulders and returned it to the sheep fold where it was restored to its destined position.

In a very simple way, the story depicts the situation that so many are in today. The Bible say “…. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way….” – “Isaiah 53:6a”. The majority are in this position and face this dilemma today. The great news however though (and that is why the Gospel is described as Good News) in Jesus Christ there is the gift of Restoration and Renewal. Gods desire is that Men & Women and Boys and Girls are brought back into relationship and fellowship with Himself and it is His desire right here and now.

The writer of out text describes the Salvation as GREAT SALVATION, and this is because of following things.

• It is Great Because of the Great Love that Provided It.

There is an old hymn that used to be very popular and was regularly sung in churches and the words in it said – “Oh the love that drew salvations plan, Oh the grace that brought it down to man” and when we think about it everything about salvation speaks of love. Right back in eternity past, before the idea of time before anything, we now see in the entire universe was brought into being – God had chosen you and me.

We discover in “Ephesians 1:3-14” amongst many of the marvellous things the following: –

1	God has chosen us
2	God has blessed us
3	God knew us before the creation of the world
4	God had adopted us into sonship
5	God has provided for us redemption
6	God the provided the forgiveness of sins

“Ephesians 1:3-14” – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”

Right back in eternity past God had drawn up a plan through which you could obtain both His fellowship and salvation. Even if you up until this time may have neglected it, or even never thought about it does not alter the fact that He had you in mind.

An old-time preacher by the name of Charles Spurgeon once said: – “It’s a good thing God chose me before I was born, because He surely would not have afterwards.”

• You may have taken His Name in vain.
• You may have slandered His people.
• You may have along with it all held your fist up in Proud Defiance against His Will in your life.

Yet, I tell you this He has and still displays only His love and mercy towards us.

So, this Salvation is great because of the love that provided it but: –

• It is Great Because of the Great Price Paid for It.

Salvation for you and me cost God the very best, the most precious He had, it cost the very life of His Son Jesus.

It’s interesting to note that the very creation of the universe simply cost God A Word – “He spoke and it was so”, but in order to provide our salvation it cost God The Word Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in “John 1:1” – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The World was made by Him even as the Scriptures say’s in the Gospel of – “John 1:10” and yet though He came unto His own (in context those of Judea) but in a greater sense the world for the most part all He has faced is rejection.

All He has tried to do was to reveal the true nature of God as the Scriptures again say – “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” – “1 John 4:9”

So, this Salvation not only great because of the love that provided, and the great price paid for it but: –

• It is Great Because of the Great Blessings Included Within It.

The salvation we find in Jesus Christ provides for every single Child of God everything that is required both in this world and into the next in order that life might be complete and fulfilling.

It is not Gods desire for a Christian to be half a person, to live in mediocrity and unfulfilled No! He wants everyone of us to be complete persons, enjoying everything that He has always planned for us.

Here I list a few of those things but there are numerous others: –

• Forgiveness and a Clear Conscience – “Acts 13:38-39”
• An Assurance of the Future “1 John 5:11-12”
• Inner Joy “1 Peter 1:8”
• Inner Peace “Philippians 4:7”

If you recall at the beginning, I mention that there were 3 Peas in a Pod they were: –

1	Salvation	The Great Provision
2	Neglect	The Great Peril
3	Escape	The Great Problem

and now we come to Pea No 2.

2. The Great Peril (Neglect)

The world in which we live is filled with many catastrophes, tragedies, hunger, poverty and disease and because we are constantly being told about it from the Press, Television and Radio it’s so easy to become hardened to it all and unmoved by it all.

On the television when the newscaster is presenting the latest program after relating all the terrible things at the top of the broadcast they then enthusiastically say “Good Evening”. We of course understand what is being said but we have become Tragedy Proofed with the exception perhaps of some niche event that stirs the public sensibilities and arouses an uncomfortable sense of one’s own wrongdoing or attitude.

Yet amid all the catastrophes and tragedies there is a greater peril that is faced.

We could merge all the worlds catastrophes, tragedies, and chaos together and these would all fade into the shadows in comparison to the peril of losing our soul. Jesus said, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul?” – “Mark 8:36”  

I am not going to labour this point, but it is vitally important for us to realise that we have a destinies, and eternal future ahead of us. Is it to be Heaven or the Fires of Hell?

I say to any Preachers today that its beyond my recollection when I last heard a preacher say it the way it is and all I can say is (Shame on Us).

We have a great peril to consider and two words typify this, and they are: –

• The Peril of Rejection
• The Peril of Neglect

Rejection

In “John 5:40” we read “You will not come to me that you might have life” is that any of us today? God is offering Life; Eternal Life in Jesus are we simply Rejecting the Offer? If so let’s remember again what Jesus told us in “John 3:18” – “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Neglect

The second challenge that comes to us is – are we simply neglecting the offer that God has for us. Sure! We are aware of it; we may have been taught it as Children, but we are mentally saying “Oh! I will do something about it in the “sweet by and by” or “someday when I get older.”

Like so many we hear the gospel, attend Church we may even have a Wife or Husband who are Christians and yet are continuing to neglect what God is offering.

We have no problem in devoting our time and energies to our homes, families, hobbies and enjoyments – What would happen if we neglected these (things would start crashing down around us) – Yet even those these things are temporal we give then a higher priority over our eternal soul.

Neglecting our souls bring on us devastation not only now but eternally.

The 3^rd Pea in the Pod is.

3. The Great Problem (Rejection)

• If we neglect Gods provision of our soul’s salvation how will we escape the consequences of that neglect?

• If we neglect Gods provision of our soul’s salvation how will we escape the consequences of that neglect?

These are truly enormous problems indeed, and they are so great to be beyond all human intervention or capabilities to resolve in fact because God has bound Himself by His own will even God cannot resolve them.

Believe me – There is Wrath to Come – In fact, it is already here. The Bible declare: – “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” – “John 3:36”

In addition to this “Matthew 25:46” informs us “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Also, in “Proverbs 6:9-11” we read “How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.”

Oh! My sincerest plea is that none taking time to engage in this short time together will be slacking, slumbering, and folding their hands all the way into eternal condemnation and find themselves robbed of their eternal salvation.

Conclusion: –

The story is told of two men who were standing at the end of a pier, when suddenly they saw another man running along the pier past them and jumped into the cold waters. The men threw him a rope and it literally fell across him and they cried “grab the rope”. He looked up and said “Oh! Your so kind” and sank beneath the waves without an attempt to save himself.

The question is – Has the rope of Cross of Calvary and the Gospel fallen across your life and circumstances? If so, what are you doing about it? Grabbing it and finding safety, or are you just sinking beneath the waters of Gods judgement?