February 28, 2021

"How Shall We Respond to the God who has Spoken to Us?"(Hebrews 2:1-4)

 Hebrews 2:1-4

 

If asked what the difference between Christianity and other religions, it is that the Christian God came to us and not us going to God.

 

The first two chapters of Hebrews reveals the distinction of Christian religion. Hebrews tells us that God has taken the burden to do the work of our salvation and to reveal Himself to us. Considering that God has spoken to us, how should we respond?

 

In the last sermon, we learned that our responsibility to God's revelation is to respond in obedience. The instances that we go through in our lives and being obedient to His word is how we should respond.

 

In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve are in physical and frequent contact with God and were familiar with God. God fully intended to have fellowship with people. God gave them instructions which foods to eat excluding the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. After Adam and Eve sinned, they were aware of who God was and hid themselves.

 

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:8 ESV

 

There are many other people which God also spoke to, like Noah.

 

And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Genesis 6:13 ESV

 

Another prophet is Abraham to whom God also speaks and reveals himself in physical form.

 

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

Genesis 12:1 ESV

 

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.

Genesis 18:1 ESV

 

As one can see, the Old Testament has many instances of God revealing himself to the prophets or the people of Israel. In the New Testament, it is Jesus and the Holy Spirit who speaks to us.

 

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 1:2-3 ESV

 

The author of Hebrews makes an effort to show how God has sent His Son to us. God has used accommodating communication so we can have some understanding. God is ineffable and greater than what we can understand, but he revealed Himself to us in a way we can understand.

 

These digestible glimpses God reveals to us is an invitation for us to draw closer to God. Through the humbling of Himself to become a human who is then defeated by worldly standards on the cross. God is telling us that He wants us to humble ourselves and live the example that Jesus set.

 

One of hero of the Bible who followed God, but at time failed in faithfulness was Abraham. Abraham does follow God, but there is a famine and then Abraham sins by lying about his wife Sarah to the Egyptians because Abraham did not have faith that God would protect him. Pharaoh and other Egyptians are punished with a plague, yet Abraham is not punished even though he deserved to be punished. Eventually Abraham with his wife, Sarah, leave Egypt. Abraham then does something to show he has learned about God’s faithfulness and mercy; he builds an altar and calls on God as his God.

 

to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord.

Genesis 13:4 ESV

 

Abraham sees that God is merciful and treated him better than Abraham deserved. Soon after making the altar, Lot demands to take the best land for himself. Abraham concedes to keep the peace. Later when Lot is captured, Abraham rescues Lot. Abraham shows obedience to God because he understood how God rescued Abraham when he did not deserve it.

 

God wants us to behave mercifully and be obedient to His word. It is best shown in the book of Isaiah.

 

Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!  Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;

Isaiah 48:18 ESV

 

In Hebrews, the Christian Jews are enduring much affliction and need encouragement to hold onto God's promises. The author tells the readers not only to pay attention, but to pay close attention to what is happening.

 

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Hebrews 2:1 ESV

 

We are not the first ones to suffer hardships or face difficult or impossible situations. The Bible shows us many examples of others who suffered for long times before God intervened. More importantly, God always comes to save and rescue those who seek His assistance. God has been consistent in His promises and plans. We can trust in God because He does not change.

 

There is also a warning to the readers.

 

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Hebrews 2:1 ESV

 

It is easy to doubt God and His promises. We must be intentional with our decision to hold onto God's words. The author uses the word drift away which has an original meaning of slowing slipping through our fingers without out us even noticing. By committing ourselves to knowing and believing His word, we will hold onto it. We also need to take initiative to yield to God's word and respond to it. If we do not commit, His word will not have any effect on our lives.



Majesty
Days Of Elijah
Hallelujah to the Lamb
You are wothy of my praise
Thank You Lord

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