“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” Hebrews 2:1
The Greek word translated ‘slip’ means to ‘run out, as a leaking vessel.’ The admonition ‘to heed’ is found at least twenty-five times in the New Testament, and with only a few exceptions the warning has to do with doctrine, true and false, and with those that preach it. Christ warned His disciples, “Take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees,” as the Holy Spirit explains it. He meant to take heed of their doctrine. He warned them in another place, “Take heed how you hear.” It is a most sobering warning and is worthy of diligent investigation. Let me give you five reasons why we ought to give heed to the warnings. First it is God’s final Word, “God, who at sundry times and in diver’s manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, …” (Heb.1:1-2). The Word spoken by the Son is God’s final Word. If you refuse to believe it you have nothing left to believe. It is not only His last Word, it is His best Word. It is the Word of Christ the Son that fulfilled all the words of Moses and the prophets. Second, according to the admonition there is the possibility of His Word ‘slipping’ from those that hear it. His Word is very precious; therefore we ought to put great value upon it. The book of Proverbs tells us to “buy the Truth and sell it not.” The third reason we should heed the warning is because disbelieving the Gospel is a much greater offense than disobeying the law, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Heb.10:25-29). The fourth reason is due to the confirmation of the Word, “…first spoken by the LORD,” second by the angels, prophets, and apostles, and third confirmed by the incarnate Son. Finally, we should heed the warning because of the greatness of salvation which instrumentally the Word begets in the hearts of sinners, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so GREAT SALVATION; which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him” (Heb.2:3). Two cautions I leave with you: make dead sure that you are under a Bible teaching ministry, and be very careful that you make use of and not abuse that blessed ministry.
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