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Hebrews 2:1-4 - Don't Drift Away

  • Writer: Chad Werkhoven
    Chad Werkhoven
  • Aug 18
  • 4 min read

The Holy Spirit keeps you anchored to your salvation.

Man in hat sits on dock, gazing at boat drifting away. Text shows Hebrews 2:1-4, urging careful attention. Calm, reflective mood.


Hebrews 2:1–4 (NIV)


2 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.

Canons of Dordt

Point 4 - Irresistible Grace


Article 11: The Holy Spirit’s Work in Conversion

Moreover, when God works true conversion in the elect, God not only sees to it 


  1. that the gospel is proclaimed to them outwardly, 

    1. and enlightens their minds powerfully by the Holy Spirit

    2. so that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God, 


  2. but, by the effective operation of the same regenerating Spirit, 

    1. God also penetrates into the inmost being, 

      1. opens the closed heart, 

      2. softens the hard heart, 

      3. and circumcises the heart that is uncircumcised. 

    2. God infuses new qualities into the will, 

      1. making the dead will alive, 

      2. the evil one good, the unwilling one willing, and the stubborn one compliant. 

    3. God activates and strengthens the will so that, 

      1. like a good tree, 

      2. it may be enabled to produce the fruits of good deeds.


Summary


Anyone who's had a boat - be it large or small - has experienced the sinking feeling of having had it drift away. The ironic thing is that most of the time this happens in calm water on a windless day, since the presence of wind and waves would lead to extra tie downs and vigilance; it's the lack of challenge that leads to complacency. After a moment's distraction somehow the boat slips far enough away to be just out of reach.


So it is that the author of Hebrews warns his readers right near the beginning of his message: we must pay the most careful attention to what we've heard, so that we do not drift away! In many ways, it's actually easier to hold on to your faith in the storms of life when the danger is obvious and you have nothing else to cling to. But distraction comes so easily when all is good, so these are the times you need to pay the most careful attention!


As the name of this book implies - Hebrews - its original audience knew the Old Testament well, and would have known instantly that the binding message spoken through angels referred to the Law of Moses. God had thundered down the primary categories of this Law for all to hear from Mt. Sinai, and as children they'd been schooled well in all of the Law's details that God had commissioned Moses to write down.


Throughout the storms of its history, Israel had clung to this message that they'd heard. But it was often when the proverbial winds and waves would calm down, and good times returned, that they'd let down their guard and quickly drift away until God would gracefully pull them back in with just punishment for their violations and disobedience.



  Dig Deeper  


Here's the main point: if drifting away from the message of God's Law brought certain punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? At the very least, we'd be stuck in an endless cycle of drifting and punishment. But our sovereign God will not let that happen to us!


Not only was our salvation, which was first announced by the Lord (Jesus) confirmed by those who heard him with their own ears, but God also testified to it. That is, God gave credence and validity to Christ's ministry by signs, wonders and various miracles that Jesus and later on the Apostles performed.


But this testimony wasn't enough. After all, thousands upon thousands of people witnessed these signs, wonders and miracles and never put their faith in that which they signified. Others initially believed, but quickly drifted away.


But our Father wasn't done giving. The signs, wonders and miracles were a temporary provision, and largely ineffective (since they convinced so few people to trust in Christ). It was and still is the gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to God's will that not only enables belief in the first place, but keeps us from continually drifting away from it.



  • ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has testified to salvation by grace alone, in Christ alone, and through faith alone by distributing His Holy Spirit;

  • ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you do not drift away and ignore so great a salvation;

  • ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Corinthians 13

 
 
 

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