Maintain The Course Of Your Faith Series, Hebrews 2:1-9
Christians all over the world, suffer for maintaining the course of faith and the call to follow Christ. It’s hard to live right especially in this world that is increasingly hostile to our faith. People, culture, traditions, human philosophies, and our lack of understanding of the Scriptures can pull us off the path of living for Christ. This is also true in the 1st century. The author was encouraging the Hebrew Christians to remain in the Christian faith because Jesus is greater than all those things they wanted to go back to. To stay on course, there are three don’ts I would like to share with you.
1. Don’t take your eyes off Jesus.
“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 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. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” Hebrews 2:1-4, NIV.
· Don’t drift away: The challenge of listening to Jesus’ message of salvation. v.1
· Believing the message: The challenge of pushing down head knowledge to the heart. v.2
· How shall we escape?: The challenge of keeping our eyes off things that prevent faith from taking roots. v.3
2. Don’t forget what Jesus prepared for you.
“5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8 and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 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 2:5-9, NIV.
· God did not promise that angels will rule the world.
· Adam was designated as ruler of God’s creation but failed when he sinned.
· What Adam lost; Jesus restored because He will rule forever.
· Jesus will allow us to rule with Him in His kingdom in the future.
3. Don’t forget what Jesus gave up for you.
“9 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 did Jesus give up coming for us?
· He temporarily and voluntarily gave up His divine privileges when he took the human form.
· He became a bond-servant of His Father, that He may bring us to God.
· He came down, so he can bring us to a place of honor.
What does Jesus expect from us? He expects us to hold on tight, to persevere and to maintain the course of our faith.