SUBJ: Giving due attention to all
things pertaining to the Gospel as an essential part of the believing
life.
AIM: That we might attain to the
joy discovered in giving heed to the things we have heard. 1. The
Bible is not a book to be given over to arbitration or private
interpretation. Rather it is precise and specific in both fact and
precept. 2. There is a tendency to “dumb down” the curriculum that
carries over into biblical requirements. 3. That Gospel which we have
heard declares the power of God unto salvation and we dare not become
indifferent or complacent with reference to God’s terms and our
affection for them. This is a strain to the flesh, but to the delight of
the new man is Christ.
THESIS:
The Word of God is precise, not only, in its teachings about Christ and
salvation, but also, about our approach. We are not at liberty ever to
make determinations about the faith of others, but we may not presume
about our own when we have heard of a Great Salvation.
I. Giving
the More Earnest Heed – The things addressed in chapter 1 – Deity,
Majesty, the preference of Christ over angels and the special emphasis
on the fact that He has spoken. 1. Consider the nature of hearing
with regard to understanding – compare that which is heard by the “head”
and that which is heard by the “heart.” 2. And, think about “he that
hath and ear, let him hear.” 3. The work “slip” speaks of a leaking
vessel and so we are warned to take care that it does not get away from
us. Compare: “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken
me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken
cisterns, that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13 AND Haggai 1:6 Ye have
sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye
drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is
none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag
with holes. 4. Compare the sower: the wayside and the fowls, Stony
places with no root, choking thorns. 5. The gracious reason of this
is not to apply a legalistic precept, but rather that we should know joy
in attending to these things. This brings a precious sense of His love.
II. An exacting Old Testament Ministration is to be compared 1.
Compare the word spoken by angels (From Sinai, the Law, and etc.) 2.
See further that it was exacting and without recompense. 3. The Law
could only condemn and it did just that.
III. To So Great
Salvation (How much greater is our accountability to “no condemnation”
and see For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of
God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that
obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved,
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 1 Peter 4:17-18. S.A.
Heb 10:29 and Heb 12:25. 1. The word “So Great” is one word and
indicates great age and great size or bulk. 2. That which began to be
spoken by the Lord 1) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the
worlds; Hebrews 1:2 2) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to
say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17 3)
And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning
Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before
God and all the people: Luke 24:19 4) Ye men of Israel, hear these
words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles
and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye
yourselves also know: Acts 2:22
3. Confirmed by them that heard
Him 1) 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a
declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were
eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also,
having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to
write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou
mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been
instructed. Luke 1:1-4 2) And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:47-48 3) And
ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the
beginning. John 15:27 4) Him God raised up the third day, and shewed
him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of
God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the
dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that
it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Acts 10:40-42
4. And God bore witness to them 1) And they
went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Mark 16:20 2) But
when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall
testify of me: John 15:26 3) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof
we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted,
and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath
shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 2:32-33 4) Precious
spiritual gifts: See Eph. 4:8-11 5) According to His will: Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ephesians 1:5 AND
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: Ephesians 1:9
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