How serious do we take the faith and are we aware of false teachings?  While writing Bible study, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit just how illiterate people are regarding scripture.  Due to their ignorance, they have fallen victim to false teachers who preach an alternative message than what our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles have given to us.   So, as we continue to study the Book of Hebrews, chapter 2, verses 1 through 4 assists us in this conclusion as the author of Hebrews is trying to correct some of the false notions and understandings regarding the faith. 

Let’s start with verse one, a verse that is fundamental to this understanding: “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard so that we do not drift away”.  Just how are false teachers capable of misleading the masses?  Afterall, aren’t Christians supposed to be vigilant and always on guard?  I guess many have forgotten the infamous scripture by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”.  What about Paul the Apostles writings on the Armor of God found in Ephesians 6?  Isn’t it clear to believers that “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12)?  This is just skimming the surface of the multitude of verses that warn us and encourage us to take guard.  So, how serious do we take the faith and are we aware of false teachings? For the Jews of the time who came to Christ either as 1st generation or 2nd generation believers, they were enticed by false teachings and distractions which made them drift away. 

Satan’s agenda includes distorting the truth just enough where it seems to be in line with the faith, yet it’s far from being doctrinal.  His method has always been to rob, steal and manipulate.  Clearly, for those who understand scripture and have a relationship with the Lord, they are not tempted by falsities and such false doctrines to be led astray. If we ask the solid believer How serious do we take the faith and are you aware of false teachings, the answer would be yes. A solid believer spends time in the word and dwells on it night and day.

In verse two, the author states “for since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment”.  The tone and direction have changed with this shift in the argument by the author.  He further delineates the role of angels as ministering servants in the example regarding bringing God’s message to mankind. However, one thing that is emphasized is the punishment for those who violated the order or message.   In Acts 7:38, 52 and Galatians 3:19, it states:

38 “This is he who was in the [a]congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles[b] to give to us,  

53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

So, we are reminded extensively that that angels did play a role as they brought the message to mankind, and this message was binding.  For those who violated the mandates, they received punishment from God.  The author is preparing us for verse 3, as he is establishing the understanding that the model with which the Old Testament had been executed, is no different in the New Testament; the Age of Grace (dispensation of Grace). 

Thus, we come to verse three “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”.  It’s a magnificent verse which allows us to fully comprehend the author’s approach to say that there is no alternative to salvation through Christ.  Angels will not save you as they are simply ministering spirits, and they serve the Holy Trinity.  The consequence of escaping salvation is basically eternal damnation in hell.  The opposite of salvation is damnation, and to those who reject the Lord, they will be cast down to hell.  Let’s take a few minutes to discuss death and the reality of it both from the believer’s standpoint and from the unbeliever. 

We know that death for the believer is not the end, on the contrary, it’s what we have been hoping for. Physical death means uniting with our God in heaven. In 2 Corinthians 5:8 it states “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord”.  It’s clear that as soon as we shut our eyes here on the earth, we will be in the presence of the Lord.  For the believer, death has lost it’s sting and we don’t have to worry about the eternal suffering.  Here are a few verses to validate this point:

Isaiah 57:1-2

The righteous perishes,

And no man takes it to heart;

Merciful men are taken away,

While no one considers

That the righteous is taken away from [a]evil.

2 He shall enter into peace;

They shall rest in their beds,

Each one walking in his uprightness.

Philippians 1:23

 23 [a]For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

1 Corinthians 15:55

55 “O[a] Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

2 Corinthians 5:8

8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

For the unbeliever, it’s a completely different situation.  Unbelievers fear death and are terrified to the point where they will work towards extending their lives (as much as possible through scientific means), even including something called transhumanism. For the unbeliever, death is the end, and since they don’t believe in God, there is nothing beyond death for them. What a hopeless and pointless life the unbeliever lives, filled with nothing but selfishness and maximum indulgence. Again, these false teachers and false beliefs are plaguing our society, and as for believers, How serious do we take the faith to spend time in the word, analyze it and absorb every word for our edification?

The author then adds an extra layer of validation stating in verse 4 that “God also testified to it by signs, wonder and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.  The reader is reminded that not only is this a statement, there is power behind the salvation through the miracles and the disbursement of supernatural gifts for the body of Christ to fulfill the mission of preaching the Gospel and to minister to each other and show the unsaved God’s glory and majesty.  Hopefully, you have understood the message and comprehend what we mean by How serious do we take the faith because without a thorough understanding of scripture, you will be moved by false teachers and will be strayed away from the faith.