| The Price for Neglecting Salvation:Pastor Tim Lee |
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2:1 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. 2:2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 2:3 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]; 2:4 God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Its important to understand that the Apostle Paul was writing to Hebrew believer's. We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest we should let them slip. Paul is firm in that transgressions ( sin ) and disobedience shall receive a just recompence. We need to understand the question Paul's asking, How shall we escape? There are those that hold to the false teachings that once your saved your always safe. If we neglect so great salvation? Sounds to me like the responsibility of maintaining a good relationship with the Master, comes back to the believers doing their part. Paul speaks about how the Lord spoke and confirmed unto us by them that heard from the Lord. God also bearing witness through signs and wonders ( miracles ) through the gifts of the Holy Ghost. We need to understand that neglect will put some distant between you and God. Consider this, if one don't pray and speak to God on a regular basis, How will God speak to you? If you don't spent time reading and instilling God's word in their heart, How will you know what God expects from you? One can liken this to owning an automobile, not ever changing the oil that's good for 5 to 7 thousand miles. After a while the gunk will build up in the engine and the car will run sluggish at best or might even shut down completely. One can liken this to owning a home that after years of storms and hot weather will take it's toll on the shingles that's good for 10 to 15 years depending on the grade. After a while the sheet rock on the ceiling will begin to show dark wet spots where the rain has leaked through the roof and soaking into the sheet rock. Then in time the ceiling will be laying in the floor all cause by neglecting the up keep of the roof. 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: Paul compares our bodies to an earthly house that will one day dissolve, for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. We must put on that heavenly house, we as believers have a heavenly house that knows not sickness, nor pain. There will be no more sting of death in this heavenly house.
6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 6:3 Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth. Hosea has some very good advise for those that have neglected their walk with God.Let us return unto the Lord, Jesus tells the church of Ephesus in Revelations 2: 5, remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works, or else I will come and remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent . Folks don't realize the Lord hath torn, God raised up armies to come up against backslidden Israel. Then Israel would repent and God would raise up a Moses or a Samson or a King David. God really wants to revive us again that we might be his children that He will be our Father. Those that follow the Lord will experience the rain the former and the latter rains. God truly has only good things in store for those that keep his commandments. |
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