Do Not Neglect This Great Salvation
First B Jackson
2019-07-21

Automatically transcribed. Where this and the recording disagree, the recording is the record.

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Alright. Good morning, everyone. How are you on a beautiful day? Hey. How are you?

Sorry. Sometimes people come and visit. They haven't seen him for a long, long time and it's like, woo hoo. So anyway, would you stand with me? We're gonna sing together.

Glorify God. Revelation four, you are worthy, o Lord, our God, to receive glory and honor and power. Amen to that? You created all things. They exist because you created what you pleased.

We thank you, God, that you have created all things, including us, and you care for your creation. God, let us come before you with thankfulness and gratefulness because we love you back. Amen. Alright. Before the world was made.

Before the world was made. Before you spoken to be. You were the king of kings. Yeah. You were how you were.

And now you're reigning still in front of above all things. Angels and saints cry, yeah.

We join them as we sing glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God forever.

Let's sing that again. Glory to you.

Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God forever. Forever.

Alright. Creator God, you gave me breath. Creator

But we sing glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God forever.

Y'all can have a We have a few announcements quick this morning and here they are. Monday nights at first b is not a normal Monday night at first b. We're not doing it at first b. This week, we're gonna do it up at the Hootenanny at Dornings. Do you have more to say about that?

No meal new no music. You can get food obviously while you're there. Sorry. No meal, no message, but there is music there. And really the purpose, the mix mingle, be salt, be light, you know, know our community.

And so please meet out there if you can, carpool if you can, but be there at six

is what's going o'clock, Dornan's, Moose, it's the hootenanny. So we don't know what's gonna happen. We know what we're planning to do, but whether we get to do that or not, we don't know. But it is gonna be fun. We did it a couple years ago.

That's an image. It's down the hall. We have this picture and we're gathering with a couple of other worship leaders from other churches and we're go out and take turns having fun, we hope. So, come see the Hootenanny tomorrow night up in Moose at Dornan's. Next week, we're not gonna have church here.

This is crazy. So, the church has left the building, alright? We're doing church at the fair next week. So, Under The Big Top, it's just a couple of blocks from here. Good news is, 09:00 next week, you should be able to find a parking spot in this parking lot.

Because we're gonna have church at the fair. So, if you go to the fair and under the Big Top, we're gonna be there. The Lions Club is serving breakfast and in the fair book, it's always it's always, always, always right, you know, but it's not right this year. It says we're starting church at ten. We're starting at eleven but if you get there at ten, there will be pancakes still being served.

So come on early, hang out with the Lions Club, mix and mingle like Carl said just a minute ago and hang out. We'll we'll plan on an extra long set of music for anybody who shows up for church at ten at the fair. We'll be playing music probably for thirty, forty five minutes before we start at eleven. Church starts at eleven next week at the fair. It's the only service we're doing that day next week.

We'll put signs up here in case you forget. Okay? Anything else? There are other things. First B camp out is coming up.

Again, we're out of the building. That's good. Coulter Bay, Group Site Number 6. It'll be August the twenty second through the twenty fifth. Talk to Brian McCooey.

There he is. Would you stand and turn face the assembled crowd there? Yeah. So A lot of toys. Yep.

Yep. So that's the end of August twenty second through twenty fifth ish. Youth group trip is happening August the ninth and the tenth. That's coming up quick. I am working on the brakes for the van right now.

Anybody who's ever been in that van before? Okay. Yeah. Anyway, it's great. With youth group trip is coming August the ninth and the tenth.

That'll be fun. They'll go down on the ninth and go to Lagoon and and camp out that night at the Lagoon Camping area or right there nearby and then come back the next day. Probably a little shopping and eating on the way home. That's a lagoon trip coming up. If you miss a message, can find one.

We we do record them every week and there are various ways to get them but either Facebook or on the Internet. If you feel like you're drifting away yeah. Go ahead, Carl.

Can I give one more announcement? And that is next Sunday night, all church worship right here at church at 06:30. And so if you'd like to come back, we'll have some snacks and stuff at 06:30, worship at 07:30, few different churches around the area, just know that you're invited.

Yep. Cool. That's good. If you feel like you're not connected, connect hour happens between services at 10:00 ish down the hall when when we finish in here. It starts down there, and that helps us all stay connected.

Although, we have three services. We want to stay one church, one body. Is there anything I'm forgetting? I did forget about the worship night because there were no slide for it but that's that's what next week, six o'clock in the evening? Fair?

Correct. Okay. Six and we'll remind 06:30 and we'll remind everybody next week too. Okay. Would y'all stand then?

Y'all can greet one another or stand silently in prayer if you must. We'll bring you back together with some. Hey, Phil. Phil, this is our goddaughter. This is our goddaughter, Abby Kay.

Yep.

Morning. I know now why I'm God's wondrous grace to me beyond speed nor lie know not how the saving faith to me he did him far nor how believing in his word moves and then sitting there on the cell revealing Jesus through the word and faith in. But I know. But I know Let's pause and pray here for a moment. Lord, we thank you for faith.

Thank you, God, for imparting faith to us. Just the fact that we're here right now to listen to you, to meet with you is just a miracle in itself. And, God, would you continue to impart faith as we yield our will to yours? And, Lord, help us in our unbelief. If we are unbelieving this morning, help us in our unbelief.

Keep knocking at the door of our heart, spirit. We don't always know how you move it, but you do, and you desire to meet with us. And, God, we desire to meet with you. Amen. To shake.

My feet. My feet doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. My feet doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. And there's power.

There is power that can break off every chain. There's power that can empty out of grace. There's resurrection

I'm the you're here.

In your love. My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. Amen. God, I we are grateful for a new identity in you that does not include fear.

It includes freedom, and it it includes peace, and includes courage. Thank you, God, for what you give. Thank you, spirit, for how you move. Lord, would you meet with us today? Meet us right where we're at in the way that we need to be met, would you?

In Christ's name. Amen. Your word word above all the voices above all the distractions in this world. Let Let's me sing that again. We'll make it our prayer song.

Let me hear your words above all of your bring light and your boldness responses lord your love offers more anything in this world your words give life your words give us

life that's never ending your words

bring us love that never fails. Everything else will fade away, but who

will remain our your words.

Let us speak. Let us speak

Amen. Would you all pray with me? Y'all can have a seat too. God, thank you for this morning. Thank you that you, lord, you're worthy of praise.

There are a lot of things in our society that are receiving all kinds of press and all kinds of praise and it is not true. It is empty and meaningless. Vanity, lord, but you are worthy of our praise. You you reach out. You're leaning towards.

You have unmerited favor and lord to live in that grace is a blessing above all others. Lord, I thank you for your word as we just sang. They'll they're going to endure. That's going to last forever. Lord, I pray that we would make it a part of our lives.

We may we wake up every morning praying. Lord, I long to do your will. Show me your way and I'll walk in it. In Jesus name, lord, we ask that you would take these tithes and offerings. We're about to place in these plates.

Lord, these resources. Lord, we want to see done what you want to see done on Earth as it is in heaven. We want to see your kingdom advance. May your reign be supreme in our hearts. Lord, and may you take that which we give, multiply it, and advance your good gospel to the very ends of the earth.

Starting right here where we are and extending from there in Jesus name. Would you do your will and your way this morning? Amen.

Speak oh

all your

purposes for your

Amen. There is children's church today. He said inquisitively. There's a slide that says there's children's church today. Everybody sheepishly getting up.

No patter of feet. Is there children's church today, Liz Owens? Yes, go. They're headed downstairs right now. So Cely Aswini, Owings, Liz, and Glenn's little girl had a surgery this week down in Salt Lake City.

And I did not know whether they would be back or not and she is the coordinator of this but that was an amazing thing that this is her fifth surgery on a cleft palate and she is doing very, very, very well. So, thank you for praying for that. I just want to let you know before we get going and I'm glad that there is children's church. Thank you, Liz. Pretty amazing.

We are in Hebrews two. We have been studying in order that the books were written or as best I can tell that the books were written. We've been studying this for six and a half years, not Hebrews two but the Bibles. The New Testament, we've been going forward and we're up to Hebrews two and it is power packed and I had planned to do nine verses today. Three of which I've already covered.

It was just kind of layering over that and when I got here this morning, I I collapsed it a little bit. I think I'm going to get through four verses today. I put a blank slide in there just if we hit a stopping point in the middle and you think it's not nearly time. We have communion today too and looking towards that, I'm a bit overwhelmed, little bit overwhelmed. So, I want for us to be pensive today.

Usually, I just go through it and I and I I like that. I like to see what's there but there's a lot of deep stuff here. So, we're going to go through, I think, just four verses today. If I get scared, we might go through nine, okay? Two, one through whatever.

Here we go. First of all, we we ended last week with a warning. The first warning from the book of Hebrews. It was in the very first part of chapter two and that warning was, it's kind of an admonition, let's say. That's the Christian word for a warning, right?

An admonition and it was how will we and this is a letter that was written to people professing to know Christ. It's a letter written to second generation Christians, people of a Jewish background because they already know the Old Testament. They know it well. The author of Hebrews when he or she is presenting when they're going forward in this, they present the Old Testament as if it is known, okay? And so, it's to the Hebrews.

They know the old covenant very, very, very well. That's what they had grown up with and this is thirty to thirty five years post cross at this point. Thirty, thirty four years probably post cross. Crucifixion of Jesus and so, knowing what they have always known, the author uses the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures and knowing what they have always known and having that presented over and over, this you can see. This you can see.

Christ is better than. Christ is better than. Christ is better than. Throughout this whole book, that's what we're going to hit. So far, it's been Christ is better than the angels and the instruction given by the angels are pointing towards Jesus.

That's what the author of Hebrews has said so far. So, last week, we ended with this. How then will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? And that is a rhetorical question that is pointing out that there is not another way. This is the way.

If you deny this new covenant, then, you have denied not just the new covenant but the old covenant that pointed towards it. It's I'm telling you, it's deep stuff. You are throwing away your only chance if you neglect this great salvation. So, that was the admonition at the end of last week. So, that was a warning.

You know, so that was this is the takeaway. For this reason, it's the very next verse. For this reason, since there is not another way. For this reason, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Examine all that you know throughout this book.

This author is going to use what they know to be true from the Old Testament to point out what is true about Christ. So, for this reason, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Pay attention to what it actually says rather than what you think or might have thought it said. Consider this Psalm, you've read it wrong. Consider this, you've read it wrong.

Your ideas of Messiah are wrong. So, for this reason, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away from it. So, the gospel that they had heard is that Jesus was the answer to all of these Old Testament prophecies and he is the way of salvation. That anyone who makes it to the father will make it by Christ and Christ alone. He said that himself.

I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life and no one comes to the father except that he come through me. So, for this reason, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away from it. That's the takeaway from last week.

So, being the pastor, preacher person of this congregation and getting up this week and saying, y'all gotta pay super close attention and I've gotta pay. Oh, I had a heavier weight this week. Just dwelling on this. Pay closer attention. I scrutinize every syllable, every little accent mark, every little comma, everything.

I don't want to drift away from it. For this reason, we must pay closer attention to what we've heard so that we do not drift away from it. I said last week that we don't have a neutral in the gearbox. We're either going forward or we're going in reverse or if you want to use a river analogy, then, if you are in the river here in this world and you're a Christian, you are swimming upstream and if you stop paddling and you stop swimming, what are you going to do? Drift away.

You're going to drift. Now, Dolby Gray is in my head. It's on us. Day after day, I'm more confused. I look for the light through the pouring rain.

Sorry. I do that every week, don't I? For if the words spoken through the angels proved unalterable and it did firm, firm, the message that was brought was firm and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty and it it does. If you air in one part of the law, James says, you've broken the whole thing. So, it does.

There and how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Being found in Christ and in Christ alone, that is where salvation is found. That's the point of this book. So, the warning or admonition y'all saw and that's it. We're going to go from there forward this morning.

The second part of verse three is this, after it was spoke first spoken, the gospel after it was first spoken through the Lord. So, slow down a bit and consider that. Was that when Jesus began preaching? The gospel had been presented in prophetic versions all the way back thousands of years before Christ. Couple thousand at least.

After it was first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard. So, before I go any further, I want to say this, Hebrews was This is what I want to say right here. God off after he spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways. In these last days, he spoken to us through his sons. That's a very, that's an exordium way he starts off.

So, this idea that he's speaking through or using that. He spoke through the prophets in many times, in many ways, God has always been communicating but he has spoken to us. Now, in these final days, inaugurated by Jesus, these last days, he has spoken to us through his son. This is a final and authoritative word. That's the argument of Hebrews also.

After it was first spoken through the Lord and affirmed to us by those who heard. The author of Hebrews was a second generation Christian. I've mentioned that a couple of different times but I I don't know if that is ringing a bell with you, making making sense to you. This was someone who heard. Remember when Jesus was praying in the garden and he says, thank you for those who you've given me these folks that you've given me these ones, lord.

I've kept them and I'm praying for them. I pray that you'll strengthen. Pray this and then he says, I pray not for them only but for those who will believe because of their word. When he was talking to Thomas who we call doubting Thomas and he said, blessed are you because you have seen but even more blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. The author of Hebrews was a second generation Christian heard from those who heard directly from Jesus or it could be the authors of Hebrews, I guess.

I I do think this is a treaties. It's it looks like a letter towards the end but the authors of Hebrews were second generation Christians. Since, it says, it was confirmed to us by those who heard. You know, I'm right. We're we're writing this to you.

We know it to be true. Why? Do we know it to be true? After it was first spoken through the Lord, I was, Jesus said it and then, those who heard him say it, delivered it to us. It was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

God also testifying with them both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit. The them right there. Who is them? The them is those who heard. So, I'd say those are the apostles, the 11 remaining apostles, those who had been with Jesus throughout, those who heard him directly.

God is testifying by those who heard. He still does that by the way. He also can testify by the Lord so it could be both of those. God almighty is testifying. Who could be a more reliable witness than God almighty?

I think this section right here is about authentication of the message because it is being presented to Christians. It is being presented to those who profess to be Christians, I should say and since that's the case, take a look at the evidence. Now in a court of law, the same pile of evidence might be seen by some people to be, well, he's guilty. And then by other people might think, insufficient evidence. I can't quite go there yet.

The stakes are too high. God is testifying with those who heard from Jesus. God is testifying through Jesus. It's already said that multiple times in the text. Also, so through those who heard and through the Lord, both by science and wonders, God is testifying with them.

How's he doing that? He's still doing it in various ways. In the past, he had spoken in various ways through the prophets and now, he's spoken through Jesus and by the continuing of the word we just finished with second Peter before we started Hebrews and Peter's word is echoes of everything that Jesus ever taught him. Signs and wonders. I know that the sign outside says, this is a baptist church.

When you came in here, you were like, I don't know about this place. God speaks in signs and wonders. He does. He did. He did.

All through the book of Acts, we see it authenticated and I think this section's about authentication. God has spoken. By various miracles, different types of miracles. Authenticate the message that was spoken first through the Lord and through those who heard and signs and wonders and miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit. Okay, if you won't go with signs and wonders and if you won't go with miracles, can't go there.

Do you believe that there are gifts of the Holy Spirit? Do you see people exercising gifts that you think that has got to be God given? And you can affirm that and it builds up the church. All of these things testify to the truth of this word. God's word.

God's eternal word, Jesus. Now, up to this place in scripture, we have not even hit the name Jesus in Hebrews yet. It's called him a son, a son, a son, the son of God. The Lord. It has called him lord a couple of times but it hasn't mentioned his name yet and all of this is according to his own will.

God is seeking to communicate. He wants to communicate a great salvation and he has made it available. He's given a command that we who know the message would carry the message. We can be those who have heard and carry it forward. And God will testify that with signs, wonders, various miracles, and with gifts of the Holy Spirit.

He will continue to do that. He has done that. Now, this is what this whole passage is about. This great salvation. So, if you understand the bad news which in our society, it's not the same as their society.

It's similar in some ways and I'll try to make the American versus the first century transition here. If we neglect this great salvation, how do we hope to escape the coming doom? We won't. That's the point of the passage. So, don't neglect your great salvation.

That's the warning. Let's make difference in a warning and admonition. You're going forward. Trust what is true. Know what is true.

Hold on to that which is true. Jesus is true. Don't turn back. In that century, don't turn back to old fashioned legal Judaism. Don't turn back to that because that's what you're brought up on.

Don't turn to that. Go with the good old gospel way of Jesus. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life.

You know, you've heard this. Stick with it. He's testifying and his testimony is true and we'll go on for there's another 11 chapters in this book. 11 and a half. I'm not even getting up to the rest of chapter two today.

Don't neglect this great salvation. There's peril if you neglect this great salvation. If you turn away from it, you're doing so at your own risk and that's the reason for the warning. How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? So, back then, speaking to to the Hebrews, this is, well, this is what we've always known.

This is what we've always known and we're comfortable with it. Yeah, the system seems a little bit but this is what we know. This is what we're going with. What do we know now? What do we know to be true now in our society, in our day?

What not just us in this room but what does America know to be true? All men are created equal. Do we know that to be true? Well, that's in our founding documents. It's what we believe.

Yes. I do believe that's true. Everyone's opinion is equally valid. Wait a second. Who do you want building your house?

Do you want an architect to build your house there there? I mean, maybe not an architect building the house. Sorry. Designing the house. Do you want somebody that knows what they're doing?

You want somebody who has the truth? So, we live in a pluralistic society. I think that I think Hebrews is good for us not because we're in danger of slipping back into old fashioned, old covenant ways. I I don't think that we'll do that. As as Americans, I don't think we're likely to do that.

We've we shun law pretty much wherever we can. We protest. We're protestants, right? We're named by what we're against as we consider this great salvation, if it's true, we are in peril and it's true that there is a great salvation available in one place and that's through the son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ and we neglect that and we go with good old American pluralism. Well, everything's, no, it's all, they're all pretty good ways to live, I guess.

Whatever you believe is fine. As long as you believe it, you're sincere about it. It's fine. That is neglecting this great salvation. Now, to allow someone else believe what they want to believe, that's great.

I don't have any problem with that whatsoever but if I love that person, I need to live out what I believe and I don't need to neglect my salvation. So, from the from the point of having received Christ as the new covenant, we're going to celebrate that new covenant in his blood in just a few minutes. From the position of having received Christ out of Thanksgiving to God for doing something that he did not have to do. He didn't have to make a way. I could have died, then buried, gone to hell, whatever.

I could have gotten death held in the grave which is what I deserve but in his grace and in his mercy and in his love, he leaned towards me. And he lifted me out of that. And if I get that, if I really get that and I get it down that that's that great salvation. It's internalized and I get that. That will allow me to submit my will to the will of God and it will allow me to grow in the grace of God and the knowledge of God and the gifts of the spirit and I will walk ever upward as I submit my will to the will of God.

To do anything else is to neglect your great salvation. So, if the salvation is that great and I think it as Americans, that's what we have the problem with. Is that it's just one way. Well, who knows if there even is? Imagine there's no heaven.

It's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. That's a really really good American thing even though it was a British guy that said it, right? That is the way we want to believe and we want to see people and go, oh, they're fine. They'll be alright.

They're sincere. They're good people. They give. They do. I don't think Americans understand that we are actually in peril.

You'll be fine. Don't worry about that. That's the prevailing nonsense of the day and so, if you don't feel like there is any actual stake that there's any possibility, universalism is the most popular heresy of our day is that everyone eventually will get there. Some of em might believe in sort of a purging purging stage for, oh yeah, there's sin. Gotta burn that off for a while but then, everyone will be released and eventually, we'll get there.

I don't know if it's true but I hope it's true. You're neglecting a great salvation. There is a way that is not, there's no doubt about this way and this is the argument from the book of Hebrews and so as I was considering the the not just the cross but the table this morning, the Lord's supper and the new covenant in his blood, I was thinking, are we doing this by rote? Are we doing this? Just because it's time.

We do this once a month, you know? Or are we doing this because we're trusting in the great salvation that has been made available. So, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? If we hold on to stuff and go, you know, there are several places in the Bible where it says, forgive, forgive, forgive, forgive. If we hold something against somebody, and we are as Christians supposed to forgive just as God has forgiven us in Christ.

We are to be leaning towards in grace. We're supposed to be mercifully extending an offer of peace to people. You can't do that if you're holding on to unforgiveness. You just can't do it. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Do you really want it that way? This is why I thought I'd only get through four verses today. The next part goes into Psalm eight and it talks about the glory and dignity of man. Let's go do that. Here we go.

Hebrews two five through eight says this, for he did not subject to angels the world to come. He's still arguing that Christ is better than angels. He did not subject the world to come to angels. Where did he place that concerning which we're speaking but one has testified somewhere. One, one of the angels actually through one of God's messengers.

This is a Psalm of David, Psalm eight but one has testified somewhere. I think I remember this old song that said, what is man that you remember him? Or what's the son of man that you're concerned about him? You've made him for a little while lower than the angels. You've crowned him with glory and honor and you've appointed him over the works of your hands.

You've put all things in subjection under his feet. Actually, Psalm eight is a very optimistic look at humanity at human beings, at mankind and it is saying that God has that in the world to come that that's where we're going to be but it goes on from there. Let me actually go back and read Psalm eight four through six two. Psalm eight four through six says, what is man? That you take thought of him.

You're almighty God. What are we? Insignificant little beings. What is man that you take thought of him, God and and a son of man that you care for him. We're humans.

Yet, you have made him mankind for a little while lower than God and it does say God right there in the in the translation. It says, angels but and you crown him with glory and you crown him with majesty and you make him to rule over the works of your hands and you put all things under his feet and God has given us the the the earth and the power, right? But this goes on in Hebrews to say this, for in subjecting all things to him, mankind. God, he left nothing that is not subject to him. How are we doing?

How are we doing as mankind? Do we see the world peace that we're always praying for? That we're all striving towards every single day. Do we see answers to the eternal problems in our own or do we just keep on dividing? It goes on from here to this.

It says, but now, thank you author of Hebrews but now, we do not yet see all these things subjected to him. We're not seeing that. Is that your experience? Is the world just a shiny, happy place with rainbows all over all the time? And then it gets to this.

I wanted to get to the name of Jesus before we do this. Considering our great salvation and I don't want us to neglect it. So, Hebrews two nine says, but we do see, we do see him who was made for a little while lower than angels. Jesus emptied himself and he came in the form of man. He came fully God, fully man, and he came.

He was made for a while, a little lower than the angels. Namely, Jesus. Jesus Christ, our lord and savior. Because of the suffering of death that was crowned with glory and honor so that by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone. Universalism being the most popular heresy of our day.

People key in on the word everyone there. There are people who try to and I used the word last week, proof texting. I said proof texting several times. Somebody asked me afterwards what it was. Proof texting is where you pick out an isolated verse, you ignore all the context, and you say, what I believe is true because it says it right here.

Like, I don't like heights, right? I don't like heights myself. I'm six six but I don't like heights. I don't like to be over about this high on a ladder. I'll do it if I have to but I don't like it because Jesus said, hello, I'm with you always.

Okay? That is a terrible proof text but it is. Alright. You can you can twist scripture if you want to. So, if if I were to say that he might taste death for everyone.

Well, there it is. We don't have to worry anymore because he tasted death for everyone. Universalism kind of rules our theological heretical day. It's eclipsing all other heresies right now. But if I say at a meeting, a staff meeting, well, our staff meeting is kind of small but if I were to say, before we start something, if I say, is everybody here?

Let's say we go on a mission trip to Gillette and I'm driving the van and there are 10 people with me and Michael Adams is one of the quietest human beings I've ever known. He doesn't say much and so, every time I get in the van, I'd say, is everyone here? Well, y'all aren't there. People in India aren't there. I mean, everyone is expected to be a certain limited group of people.

The context for this, everyone is cleared up later on in the text. I'll get to that. Not today but I'll get to that. Don't key in on the everyone. He might taste death for everyone is what he did.

What you key in on here is that might. It opens up a subjunctive. This is a contingency that he has done what was needed done. Jesus has done everything by living the perfect life and sacrificially offering his death for everyone who would believe. He's done everything that he needs to do and that is that great salvation that this author of Hebrews is pointing towards time and time and time and time again.

So, if we neglect that, then we do so at our peril. The might there is contingent upon whether or not you will accept the offer that's made. This is one of those things where people start to argue over. Oh, the sovereignty of God or the responsibility of man but under the sovereignty of God, he has put the word out there and if you accept it, you are saved. It's tricky.

It'll turn your mind inside of spend too much time on it but if you understand that God did not have to make a way and you stand in peril and he did make a way and this is it. Lord, I'll go with that. I don't understand it completely but I'll go with that. Would you show me your way and I'll walk in? I think that's where we need to live life.

We don't need to neglect this great salvation. Since this book was written to people who profess to be Christians and I'm presenting in a church where y'all showed up at the same time on Sunday morning. I think I can say, most of you in here believe and most of you in here believe and you believe in this great salvation. So, I'm asking you just like he was asking them, don't neglect that in the way that you live your life every day. Keep swimming upstream.

Keep going. First, be a Christian then do as Christ did. Follow me as I follow Christ, Paul said. In actual practice, Let's not neglect our great salvation. I'm going invite the band back up.

Actually, I'd like to sing Man of Sorrows during the distribution, Carl. Can we do that? So, and the elders, if y'all would come forward, we're going to go straight into a time of of communion right now. Considering this, lord, we look to you, you author and finisher of our faith. Jesus, you are the one, lord.

This is the great salvation, the new covenant in your blood, the perfect life lived in submission to the spirit. Lord, you proved it could be done and you did it and lord, by submitting to you, by submitting to your will, and our limited human understanding. Lord, we pray that you would show yourself to us and that we would know you. Lord, and that our lives and our words would make you known. So, as we come to this time, lord, I pray right now that you'd forgive me of my sins and my all of my foibles.

God, that you would cleanse me, cleanse me completely, search me, and know my heart today. See if there be any wicked way in me. Cleanse me from every sin. Lord, I pray that all of us would be considering our week this week, our day, today, and consider that are we embracing our great salvation or are we denying it by our words and our actions? In Jesus name, lord, I ask that you would cleanse us from that sin and that you would inspire us to do your will, your works here on earth.

God, would you bless this little cracker, this representation of the body of Christ. This morning, for everyone who would partake, I pray that we would live out a a life that is in submission to your will and for everyone, lord, who does not believe that has to let this plate pass that does not partake because they do not believe. Lord, I pray that by the witness of someone in their life, they would see the truth of your word authenticated by one who has heard. In Jesus name, we ask your blessing on this bread as we pass it out. Amen.

Consider the words this night that Jesus was betrayed After supper, he took the bread and after he had given thanks, he told his disciples there and through those who heard, we hear that he's saying to us today, this is my body that is given for you. Take this and eat and do it as often as you will. Not neglecting the great salvation. Do it as often as you will. Considering your way.

Do it as often as you will in remembrance of me. Jesus's perfect life well lived gave him a unique position that he had no sin debt to pay and he offered that in the shedding of his blood without the shedding of blood. There's no remission of sin and the shedding of his blood, he offered the possibility for all who would believe to be cleansed, to be useful, to be transformed. More and more day by day into his image. In Jesus name, lord, I pray that you would bless this cup, this little representation of the blood of Jesus, this grape juice, and a plastic cup.

We are representing, lord, the new covenant and his blood with it and we pray that we would live life not considering that daily. That the precious blood that our savior spilled. It's what makes us free and free indeed. In Jesus name, we ask your blessing on this cup for everyone who partake and for those lord who let it pass. I pray that you would continue to pursue and that they would recognize your relentless pursuit that they would bow the knee and be able to join in with brothers and sisters worldwide at the foot of the cross, all equal.

In Jesus name, amen. Amen. So, as I wait for the elders to get back up here to the front, I'm thinking about that might, the might in there that he might taste death for everyone. He did everything that was necessary to accomplish death to accomplish payment for sin that was necessary. He did that but the might is contingent upon your willingness to take that.

For you, it is, at least, for you, it is. After the fact, we'll look back and say, Jesus died for these because these denied that. But God in his sovereignty knows what he's doing. He's made an effective call. So, might Jesus be your way?

He is the way. He is the only way. So, it's either Jesus or anything else because anything else is all equal but Jesus is the way. Might he be your way? You got it.

Y'all are on top of things. I have my eyes closed for most of this sermon. I like sticking really really close to what it says and I try not to impose anything on the text that's not there. I don't think I have today but I I always am trepidatious when I get far away from it. It's what I've been dwelling on but God, we celebrate, lord, the new covenant in your blood but as we celebrate, it's a somber celebration because your death is what was required to save us, to sanctify us, lord.

So, I pray that as you begin a new work in each of us today, I pray that we would not neglect our great salvation. It would be something that we live out daily and God, would you bless everyone who partakes in through them, the ones who don't. Jesus amen. Just like he had taken the bread, he took the cup after supper and he said to them, this is the new covenant in my blood. It has made the old one obsolete.

Take this and drink and do it as often as you will in remembrance of me. Amen. Now, would y'all stand? We're just going to sing the doxology together because it is from God that all the blessings flow. Praise God from whom all blessings flow praise him all creatures here below praise him above ye heavenly host praise father son and holy ghost Amen.

And the benediction day is may we all grow in the grace and the knowledge of our lord and savior Jesus Christ and to him be the glory both now and forevermore. Amen. Amen. Amen.