Hebrews 2:3b-4

(Recap) How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? (Recap over)
After it was at first spoken through the Lord
Then confirmed to us by those who heard
God supporting by both signs and wonders and various gifts (powers)
and distributions (gifts) of the Holy Spirit according to his will

Ok first sorry for not posting for a bit. But here we continue

We left off with the idea that if we neglect our faith, what should we expect. The answer is punishment. If men neglected their faith by breaking the Law of Moses, they were punished. How much more so if we neglect this faith in God's Son. And always remember the setting we are talking about here, Jewish Christians being told to return to the Jewish faith and forget about this Christianity stuff.

In the next few lines, Paul provides reason for believing that this salvation is so great and so important through 4 different groups

1. After it was spoken through the Lord
The message of salvation that we have was not brought to us by some nobody who didn't even have the authority to speak anyways. Jesus brought it to us and the reason that is important is because of who he is and the authority he has. As Colossians 1 states, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (referring to the inheritance aspect) of all creation, by him all things were created, things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible...all things were created by him and for him." That is the one who brings us the Gospel message and that is first why it is important. And in Hebrews 1:2, he is the Son, the radiance of God's glory, light of light. What he says has authority and what he says is that the kingdom has come through him and "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now onn, you do know him and have seen him.

2. Then confirmed to us by those who heard
Now this is a simple one for the people Paul is writing to, but tricky for us. Paul here is referring to the Apostles. Now if Paul wrote this letter to Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, most likely the people he is writing to heard the Apostles preach, or knew someone who either saw Jesus or heard his followers tell about the man they saw, or they themselves saw and heard Jesus during his time on earth. However, we do not have that luxury. But we do have the recorded message of the apostles. The men who bore witness to Jesus still speak to us today through their writings, namely the Gospels. So in short, study your Bible. If you question whether or not the Gospels faithfully record the life of Jesus, I can recommend some books to start studying and hopefully build your faith and confidence in these writings.

3. God supporting by both signs and wonders and various miracles (powers)
God the Father also bears witness in this situation (check out the early reference here to the Triuneness, Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit; the NT likes to make this type of Triune reference from time to time). When Moses and Israel were out in the desert, God confirmed that Moses was his special speaker/leader, especially through signs, wonders, and various miracles (read the episodes where Moses' authority is challenged, Numbers 12, 16-17). Jesus' authority is questioned as well, read Matthew 9:1-8. When his authority is question, he lets his miracles through the power and blessing of God do the talking. So too with the apostles. When the authority of the Gospel is questioned, they simply point to God's power to heal as confirmation of their message (Acts 3-4). The three words here are all essentially synonymous. Signs points to the purpose of: as a sign that one is from God and his message is valid. Wonders refers to the wowing effect of the act that it has on the people. And miracles speaks of the power that enables one to do a miracle. Now the question arises if there are still miracles today. I would say yes, I see no reason to believe that God could supernaturally work wonders and powers that we do not usually see. However there are a lot of hooky people out there who want to get into your pockets or get there name out there for a book deal and will fake miracles so you will give them money. Personally, I try to have a healthy skepticism when one claims miracle work. Just allow miracles to be what they are, signs as confirmation that one is bringing the message of God (not the confirmation that one should get a book deal).

4. and distributions (gifts) of the Holy Spirit according to his own will.
Today the Holy Spirit gives us different gifts to enable us to work together as a body in the work of the Lord. But the context here does not call for that sense of the gifts. Rather it seems to imply the gifts that were given specifically by the laying on of hands by the Apostles. One of the themes of the NT that we see is distinguishing who has the true message of Jesus and who does not (we still have these debates today, and if you don't believe me check out what the claims the Mormon religion teaches). Rather this specific idea refers to something that occurred in Acts 8 when the Samaritans first recieved the Holy Spirit. Even though they were "saved," they had not yet receieved the Spirit because no Apostle had some and laid their hands on the peopel.
Side note: in Acts one of the themes you find is that the Holy Spirit affirms a people group can be saved first affirming it to the Jews, then the Samaritans (half-Jews), then Gentiles (not Jewish at all). There is a progression of acceptance into God's kingdom (Jews, Samaritans, Gentiles).
In Acts 8, the message and the Apostles is affirmed by the coming of the Holy Spirit and the laying on of hands of the Apostles. Note: this is a special case. I do not believe that you need to get the hand bones of an apostle to recieve the Holy Spirit, nor the do you need to have signs and wonders affirm you individual salvation. Rather this is a special case at the beginning of the early Church.

Anyways, God affirmed the greatness of his message (Gospel, salvation) through these four areas to the people of that day. Today his salvation is affirmed to us today as well, in similar ways (but not quite like theirs). Regardless, if you know Jesus, you have recieved a great salvation. Do not leave that faith, but grow in it. Pray that God will further mature and use you in his kingdom. Rest on that foundation.

This concludes the first warning passage of Hebrews. We move into the next section and the theme of Jesus > (Jesus is greater than...) continues.

Hebrews 2:2-3a

For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable (unshakable) and every transgression and disobedience received a just end (punishment), how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?


The first idea presented here is the word spoken through angels. A good theme for the book of Hebrews to always keep in mind as you read is Jesus > (Jesus is greater than...). That is one of the general themes of Hebrews. So at this point Paul is saying the message about Jesus is greater than the 'word spoken through angels.'

The word spoken through angels has been interpreted as the Law of Moses. A Jewish tradition (which is reaffirmed by Stephan in Acts 7:35-38) states that angels appeared to Moses at the burning bush and on Mount Sinai when the Law was given to him. This Law spoken through angels was binding for the nation of Israel. In Psalms 1 and Deuteronomy 28 the message is how God provided Israel with two clear options: obedience to him (and the Law) which leads to life or disobedience of him (and the Law) which leads to death. Israel was bond to this reality.

In this age after Jesus has come once, the same kind of contract is presented by Jesus. Look in John 3 (it presents a great contrast between those who believe and those who do not). John 3:14-15 reads, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." If you follow him you will live. Here is the other side though, John 3:18, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believe in the name of God's one and only Son."

Remember now, Paul is speaking to Jews who are being told that they don't need to believe in Jesus, they can just follow the Jewish religion. But Paul states that God punished those who neglected the Law, how much more will he punish those who neglect his Son.

Stand firm in your faith in Jesus. He is the source of grace. Search the depths of the love and grace he provides and do not neglect the One you know. That is the great message for us today.