Hebrews 2:3, commentary and pictures

Salvation was first announced by the Lord Himself as mercy from the Father for all the world, and it was confirmed to others by those who heard Him, with God bearing witness by signs and wonders and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Because it was spoken by Christ who is greater than angels, it demands especially earnest heed lest it slip away, for if the word spoken by angels was steadfast with just punishment for disobedience, neglect of this greater salvation leaves no escape. Its greatness is measured by its infinite cost, that Christ who is equal with the Father left heavenly glory, took the seed of Abraham and was made a little lower than the angels, and as substitute and merciful High Priest suffered death and shed His blood to purchase redemption and offer pardon, purity, and eternal life. There is no escape from just condemnation and eternal ruin for those who refuse it, for the opportunity belongs to probationary time before mediation ends, and judgment will be proportionate to light and privilege. Neglect need not be open opposition but indifference and carelessness that crowds out eternal interests, while to heed is to be converted, obey, and follow Christ fully and to tell others of His love and warn them of coming judgment.

Proclamation and Confirmation

The great salvation was at the first begun to be spoken by the Lord Himself, by Christ, as the message of mercy from the Father for all the world, and was confirmed unto others by those who heard Him, His disciples. To neglect that salvation leaves no escape from just judgment and condemnation, for the warning remains fully significant and urgent for believers in the last days, who are to heed and obey it and gain a deep, living experience with God. It calls for earnest attention to the message, since rejecting it or letting it slip brings a sure recompense, and calls people to lay hold of the hope set before them in the gospel as the safe course for present and eternal good. Neglect need not be open opposition or notorious sin, but includes indifference and spiritual idleness in those who know the truth and God's requirements yet fail to make eternal interests first, and such example compounds the harm by encouraging others to neglect salvation.

God also bore witness to that proclamation with signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will, confirming the testimony of those who heard the Lord. That divine attestation lays accountability on people for the wonderful privileges bestowed on them, so that those who come short will have no excuse in the great day of judgment. These are great fundamental truths worthy of study, not to be neglected in order to enter into speculation over what is not clearly revealed.

Because Christ is superior to angels and His ministry and teaching are more excellent, His words require especially earnest attention. Failing to hold fast to God's Word lets its truth slip from memory, leaving people vulnerable to error, distorted teaching, and misapplied Scripture.

The surrounding context connects this salvation with Jesus being made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man, and with sharing in His sufferings and being conformed to His image. Its greatness is enriched with grace by a love so deep, broad, full and free that it penetrates everywhere, lifting poor deluded souls out of Satan's circle to within reach of God's throne.

Call to Earnest Heed

The things heard must be given more earnest heed lest they slip, like water running out of leaky vessels, by carefully treasuring Christ's instruction from the beginning of the Old Testament to the close of the New Testament and by holding firm the beginning of confidence steadfast unto the end in order to remain partakers of Christ. Because Christ is superior to angels and His ministry and teaching are more excellent, His words require especially earnest attention, for the salvation at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed by those who heard Him. Neglecting the words of Scripture lets truth slip from memory and leaves people vulnerable to error, distorted teaching, and misapplication of Scripture. The warning repeats the failure of earlier and later generations of Israel who did not learn wisdom, and it stands as a lesson for both teachers and students upon whom the ends of the world are come, where profession of faith alone does not make Christians and success depends on the spirit cherished in opening the Word, comparing Scripture with Scripture, putting away the spirit of controversy, and each seeking the light and knowledge he needs. Holding fast therefore means refusing strange doctrines and new inventions, exhorting one another daily while it is called today, guarding against an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God and against hardening through the deceitfulness of sin, and putting on every piece of the armor and standing firm as a defense for the gospel.

The argument is from the lesser to the greater: if the word spoken by angels was steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense and just punishment, neglect of the greater salvation first spoken by the Lord and confirmed by those who heard Him leaves no escape and is without excuse. The word of God is wisdom unto salvation and must not be put in the background, but calls for earnest attention to the truth and to the salvation revealed in Scripture. Neglect includes putting the Bible in a secondary place while giving authors who have only a confused idea of religion the most conspicuous place and devoted respect. The Bible is full of the knowledge of God that need not be left behind when probation closes, and it alone is competent to educate for usefulness in this life and for eternal life, while the books generally studied give no instruction about the things coming upon the world.

The warning remains fully significant and urgent for believers in the last days, who are to heed and obey it and gain a deep, living experience with God. It calls for holding steadfastly in every principle of truth given in the early days of the message, which time and trial have not made void and which remains safe instruction to follow in its closing days. Indifference to the light and instruction God has continually given through His Holy Spirit in warning and instruction to confirm the faith of believers leaves no escape from the snares plainly foretold that make those who reject light stumble and fall and be snared and be taken. Here the danger is turning from clear instruction in Scripture and the Testimonies to speculation, strange doctrines, new inventions, and novel doctrines and methods, which can destroy influence for good and weaken the proclamation of the third angel's message.

Greatness of Salvation

The salvation is called great because it was secured at infinite cost, for Christ gave Himself, laid down His life, shed His precious blood, and suffered death bearing the weight of the sins of the world though Himself innocent, to purchase redemption. It was bought at an immense and infinite price, and because it cost so much those who share in it are to place a just high estimate upon souls and work to save them. To refuse its blessings is to throw away the one chance for eternal life, scorning divine mercy, trampling on the Son of God, and treating the covenant blood as unholy.

It could be provided only through the union of divinity and humanity in Christ, who is equal with the Father and the only one able to save fallen humanity. He left heavenly glory and the royal courts, took not the nature of angels but the seed of Abraham, was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, and by the grace of God tasted death for every man. In human flesh He could reach humanity across the gulf made by sin, becoming man's substitute and representative and surety, made like His brethren to be a merciful and faithful High Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, having Himself suffered being tempted so that He is able to succor them that are tempted. His death on the cross was caused by human sin though He was innocent, and contemplation of that sacrifice deepens the sense of salvation's greatness and calls forth wonder and love.

Its greatness is seen in what it accomplishes and offers, for Christ's self-offering for the sins of the world fulfilled what the sacrifices of the old dispensation had pictured, rendering what justice required and making an ample sacrifice for all. It lifts poor deluded souls out of Satan's circle and places them within reach of God's throne, reconnecting fallen humanity with God, raising people from the degradation of sin to prepare them for heaven and to restoration to original perfection and the Eden home. It gives pardon, purity, and eternal life that measures with the life of God with an eternal weight of glory, making believers partakers of the divine nature and with Christ heirs of all things, subjects of the grace of God and partakers of redemption. It offers immortal life with Christ, hope and comfort in suffering and death, and resurrection at His return, turning from life that lasts as long as God's own life for earthly pursuits being its neglect.

Its greatness is measured by its Author, the Son of the infinite God, who covenanted from the first to be man's substitute and became man to bear the wrath provoked by sin. Angels watched with wonder the mystery worked out step by step in the life of the Son of God down humiliation to rejection, denial, insult, abuse, and crucifixion, a mystery beyond all finite intelligence fully to comprehend. God collected all the riches of heaven and laid all the resources of His infinite nature on man's return to loyalty, giving all heaven to convince that no love measures with God's love. Through His divine power and His work as great High Priest salvation becomes effective for every believing soul, His intercession availing before God's throne.

Its great cost shows the value of the souls He saves and the tremendous evil of sin, for His death bears witness that sin is transgression of God's law, He taking the sinner's penalty as substitute without releasing believers from obedience. It reveals a love so deep, broad, full and free that it penetrates everywhere, calling for deep earnest full love in return expressed by obedience to His commandments. Calvary shows God's justice unabated, the penalty falling without abatement on Christ as divine-human substitute treated as sinner so that sinners could be treated as righteous, leaving those who refuse and continue in sin without excuse.

Certainty of Judgment

There is no escape from just judgment, condemnation, eternal ruin and loss of the soul for those who neglect so great salvation, and there is no second probation and no hope if it is refused. The salvation was first spoken by the Lord Himself and confirmed by those who heard Him, with God also bearing witness by signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will, so that because Christ is superior to angels and His ministry and teaching are more excellent His words require especially earnest attention lest truth slip from memory into error and misapplication. The warning remains fully urgent for believers in the last days, laying accountability for wonderful privileges bestowed and calling them to heed and obey, to lay hold of the hope set before them for present and eternal good, and to treat these great fundamental truths as worthy of study rather than neglecting them for speculation over what is not clearly revealed.

The opportunity belongs to probationary time before Christ's mediation and pleading for sinners ends, and the present is probation to show whether people value His sacrifice purchased by His precious blood and sinless life given so that none need perish. Every hour of delay is sinful, for refusing salvation refuses Christ's reign and transforming grace, and continued refusal to yield the will and live by light and knowledge hardens the heart and conscience, dulls responsiveness to the Spirit's warnings and appeals, and ends with God leaving people to their chosen course lost to the influence of truth. When probation closes no later repentance or acceptance remains, but those who during probationary life love God, trust Christ's merits by faith, come to Him and believe, serve Him wholeheartedly in obedience to His commandments, and enter covenant relation in which Christ bears their guilt and punishment and imputes His sinless merits so they stand innocent before the Father, have title to the eternal inheritance and the mansions prepared.

Judgment is proportionate to light, privilege and spiritual labor, with punishment measured exactly by the light permitted to shine on the pathway, and those who received gospel light and did not benefit face a less tolerable judgment than Sodom and Gomorrah. It would be better to remain in darkness than to receive the truth and refuse obedience, repentance, Christ's pardon and witness for Him, for profession without sanctifying influence, works not corresponding with faith, and partaking of the world while claiming Christ proves neglect and brings no profit, since no one can serve God and mammon. In the day of judgment every transgressor of God's law will be confronted by Christ as Alpha and Omega declaring that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law till all be fulfilled, and the record of each life will be reviewed when the books are opened and sentence pronounced according to deeds done in the body, while Calvary stands as evidence leaving the impenitent without excuse because the penalty fell without abatement on Christ as divine-human substitute treated as sinner so sinners could be treated as righteous.

Neglect is grave rejection that denies Christ who is equal with the Father and the only one able to save, refuses His mercy and the knowledge of the Father and the Son with the life offered through them, treats the Saviour with contempt, tramples the Son of God, counts covenant blood unholy, slights His compassion and love, dishonors God who gave His only begotten Son, makes Christ's death vain for the neglecter, and throws away the one chance for eternal life as partaker of the divine nature and with Christ heir of all things. So great salvation is an infinite ransom, a Monarch dying for rebellious subjects that they may escape sin, corruption and misery and receive pardon, purity, heaven and eternal life, and to look upon that priceless sacrifice with indifference and lightness, with jest and sneers and mocking indifference, or to disregard His long calls and intercession for sinners, brings sure punishment. The goodness, mercy, compassion and love shown in the plan call for humility, consecration, submission, willing obedience, repentance and conversion, giving the heart to God and diligently coming back to Him, which testifies before angels, unfallen worlds and men that Christ is accepted as Ruler.

Forms of Neglect

Neglect of so great salvation need not be open opposition to truth or notorious sin, for indifference and spiritual idleness toward God's gift is itself neglect, and failing to make eternal interests first shows it. Habits of negligence extend to the soul and leave a person unready for the kingdom, while choosing self-service and sowing to the flesh reaps corruption. Exhausting business cares, earthly pursuits, personal pleasure, inclination, and new surroundings and interests must not be allowed to crowd out Christ's invitations, for the salvation purchased by the Son of God is too perilous to neglect. Setting such an example compounds the harm by encouraging others to neglect salvation as well.

Neglect is putting the Bible in a secondary place while giving the most conspicuous place and devoted respect to authors who have only a confused idea of religion, for the Word of God is wisdom unto salvation and alone is competent to educate for usefulness in this life and for eternal life. The things heard must be given more earnest heed lest they slip, for if the word spoken by angels was steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, neglect of the greater salvation first spoken by the Lord and confirmed by those who heard Him is without excuse and without escape. Failing to hold fast to God's Word lets its truth slip from memory, leaving people vulnerable to distorted teaching and misapplied Scripture, and turning from clear instruction in Scripture and the Testimonies to strange doctrines, novel doctrines and methods, and new inventions can destroy influence for good and weaken the proclamation of the third angel's message. Mere profession of faith does not make Christians when faith does nothing to sanctify life and works do not correspond with faith, and partaking of the world while claiming Christ, with success depending on opening the Word, comparing Scripture with Scripture, putting away controversy, and each seeking needed light, is neglect.

Neglect is professed discipleship without humble obedience, refusing to bow to the Redeemer's claims, to take up the cross and follow as His disciples, with punishment following neglect of the salvation purchased at immense cost by Christ suffering death bearing the weight of the sins of the world. Continuing in known transgression and sinful practices rejects the salvation offered, and earnest attention to what God has revealed includes teaching children obedience since disobedience brings consequences. This includes disobedience to God's law and commandments including the Sabbath, failure to be transformed by the Holy Spirit to reflect Christ's likeness, and refusal of light given on health reform, which hinders spiritual life and makes the message of truth ineffective, so that even only attending church on Sabbath while continuing otherwise is rejection.

Neglect is carelessness toward the infinite price paid, failing to receive the living Christ into the heart, to believe and do His words, and to earnestly and intelligently seek the better heavenly country, leaving people blind in a world full of corruption and not guided safely to heaven. It is disobedience marked by carelessness and indifference, failing to recognize God or thank and praise Him and choosing sin despite light, though God has made Himself and His will plain through creation and His Word, while the disobedient reject that light and follow their own imaginations, desires, and ambitions. It is looking upon the priceless sacrifice, the infinite ransom of a Monarch dying for rebellious subjects that they may escape sin, corruption, and misery and receive pardon, purity, heaven, and eternal life through the Son's condescension, with indifference and lightness, with jest and sneers and mocking indifference, and punishment will follow.

Neglect extends to others by setting an example that confirms impenitence, chills faith, draws souls away, and becomes a stumbling block, including disregarding light and opposing truth after ample opportunity to know it. Teachers who fail to seek heaven earnestly and intelligently lead those under their influence into the same carelessness and neglect, including unfaithful conduct of professed Christians, inconsistent parents laying stumbling blocks before children, and teachers failing to seek heaven and leading pupils to carelessness. A talented and learned person without love and fear of God who neglects salvation is less in God's sight than even the youngest child who loves and fears Him, and even excellent moral character without Christ does not supply the lack.

Neglect includes indifference to the light and instruction God has continually given through His Holy Spirit in warning and instruction to confirm the faith of believers, which leaves no escape from foretold snares that cause rejecters to stumble and fall and be snared and taken. That salvation to be held steadfastly is every principle of truth given in the early days of the message, which time and trial have not made void and which remains safe instruction in its closing days. Rejecting Christ's delegated messengers is rejecting Christ and the salvation they set before people, which includes justification through His blood and sanctification through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, and stubborn resistance leaves fearful expectation of judgment. Failing during probationary time to warn others of doom, to value souls, and to use means to save them is neglect whose guilt the final judgment will reveal for souls that might have been saved, and even marrying an unbeliever despite excellent morals illustrates failure to answer God's claims, as the young man who lacked one thing shows one may have good qualities yet lack what is needful.

Heeding and Sharing Salvation

To heed so great salvation is to arouse and be converted, to give the heart to God and make diligent work to come back to Him with a changed life without delay. It is to humble self that Christ may dwell within and do His atoning work, to learn from Him daily and increase in faith and likeness to Jesus, refusing to let what is heard slip like water from leaky vessels. It is to choose obedience and willing submission, to testify by accepting His yoke and conforming life to His will, to crucify self and strive and pray and watch, putting on every piece of the armor and standing firm as a defense for the gospel, holding the beginning of confidence steadfast unto the end in order to remain partakers of Christ. The call stirs conviction in backsliders and sinners to come forward with fervent prayer and confession of pride and backsliding and worldliness, with determination to live a different life, guarding against an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God and against hardening through the deceitfulness of sin, refusing strange doctrines and new inventions.

Heeding is proved by taking up neglected duties in families, for religion in the home is needed, with instruction that teaches children obedience because disobedience brings consequences. For mothers it brings accountability for the souls of their children, lest by failing to respond to mercy's overtures and to be united with Christ both mother and children be left outside the ark of safety. For parents more broadly it means diligent determination to be Christians under all circumstances and not to act inconsistently with profession by laying stumbling blocks before children, but to lead the family to the cross as part of whole duty, with obedience and thorough consecration in seeking the Lord. Because the salvation proves God a tender, merciful Father and best friend rather than a hard taskmaster, worship and service become pleasure rather than distress, for He is present to bless and comfort and fill hearts with joy and love, giving precious thoughts of His care to cheer daily employments and grace for honest faithful dealing.

Salvation is a blood-bought privilege and heavenly gift won by Christ's death, who gave His sinless life so none need perish and who finished His appointed work lest all hopelessly perish. It is received by faith through trusting God rather than self, entering covenant relation in which Christ bears the repentant believer's guilt and punishment and imputes His sinless merits so the believer stands innocent before the Father. Those who love God and trust Christ's merits and obey His commandments have title to the eternal inheritance and the mansions prepared, while heaven and the crown of life are given only to the overcomer who keeps eyes on Christ the perfect pattern, is purified and clothed with the robe of righteousness, and does not lower the standard. The present is probation to show whether the sacrifice is valued, and neglecting it brings certain loss with no escape.

Those who value the gift follow wherever Christ leads and accept His burdens as privilege, realizing its meaning is life, even eternal life, and turning away from pleasure-seeking and frivolity. They show gratitude by thanks to God and by giving self and means to serve Him and benefit others, having been rescued from ruin. The transforming grace turns the soul fully to God, withdrawing from Satan's influence, rejecting sorcery, and breaking every tie that holds to evil.

Those drawn by Christ and experiencing His converting power must not neglect or undervalue it nor receive grace in vain, but keep the precious words in heart and faithfully communicate them rather than lose opportunity. They are to tell of His love, to enlighten neighbors and associates so they no longer neglect salvation, and to awaken sinners to danger with Christ crucified set before them. Because salvation cost the humiliation of leaving the royal courts to help man in darkness and dying at so great a price, showing the precious value of souls, those who share it are to place a just high estimate upon one another, feel rightly for one another, and labor with Christ and angels in love and simplicity and faith to bring others from sin to righteousness, using their means to save them. They are to warn of coming judgment with the sure word of prophecy as lights and living epistles, laboring through the Holy Spirit to reach thousands at home and those in deep darkness, lest guilt be revealed for souls that might have been saved.