The Bible provides an answer to some of the greatest questions that have ever bewildered humanity. For instance, “If a man dies, how can he live again?” is one of the questions that humans have always asked. The Bible says yes, and another excellent question is, “Am I my brother's keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).
According to God's Word, the answer to that question is yes, we are (Hebrews 13:1; Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9). Christians are commanded to exhibit brotherly love to other Christians, their families, and everyone else. In this way, we are our brother's keeper.
“Is there a heaven, and if there is how do I get there?” is yet another great question that people ask. And the answer is “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
In any case, there is one question that philosophers, scientists, and doctors from across the globe cannot provide an answer to. There is one question that the angels of heaven nor the devil and all of the demons in hell cannot answer.
There is a question that neither God nor any other human can answer. Additionally, it is the query posed in Hebrews 2:3, “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.”
Although God has created a crossing from earth to heaven, if humans will not stroll across that footbridge, there is nothing else that God can do.
Although God has constructed an entryway to heaven for all of humanity and has opened that entryway for them to walk through, and yet they still will not enter through it, there is nothing more for God to do.
There are certain things that God simply cannot accomplish because He is who He says He is. For instance: since God is holy, He cannot commit sin (1 Samuel 2:2). Because He remains the same today, yesterday, and forever; this indicates that He cannot alter (Hebrews 13:8).
Because God’s Word says that God is truth then He cannot lie (Deuteronomy 32:4; Titus 1:2). Because the Bible says that “whosoever will come,” that implies that God cannot save someone against his or her own will (Mark 8:34).
We learn something else from our text that God cannot do to give an answer to that question.
1. Salvation Was Given Due to an Extraordinary Need
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12).
Unregenerate humanity has no hope. Unfortunately, many people believe that the world is getting better.
However, the truth is that we are not improving; instead, we are fallen. A new economic recovery plan or a balanced budget is not the most important thing that society needs right now. Mankind’s greatest need is to turn to God.
2. Salvation Came from a Great God and at a Very High Price
God, who is great in His patience, does not want any to perish.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
God’s love for us is tremendous. All people can be saved for free, but God paid for it with His only begotten son. The “precious blood of Christ” was the price paid for our salvation (John 3:16).
We must inquire like the psalmist did when considering God’s greatness.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:3-4).
We consider cost with regard to financial uses. We live in a free nation, but not everything is free, is it?
3. Neglecting This Great Salvation Is Possible
The Bible says that we are already condemned. We do not have to do anything to be condemned.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (John 3:18).
Similar to when a man wakes up to find his house on fire. All he needs to do to die is stay in bed and do nothing. People claim that would be foolish, but many today are already doomed to an eternity without Christ and do nothing about it.
According to the Bible, the Apostle Paul was on his way to Damascus when Christ saved him. However, Paul was also on his way to hell. All of us here today have traveled that road at some point in our lives, and God alone knows how many of us are still traveling it.
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death(Proverbs 14:12).
4. Salvation Can Be Neglected with Substitution
Many people try to save themselves through religion, but it does not work. Tradition cannot be used as a substitute for salvation by any means.
There are people who put their education ahead of salvation, but one day they will not be with the Lord in heaven.
5. Procrastination Can Lead to Salvation Being Neglected
How many people will say to themselves, “one day I will become a Christian, but not today,” and disregard salvation? Satan would have us accept that we have a lot of time; however, time is truly short-lived. One day, men will cry out to God, but it will be too late (Acts 24:24-25).
In the world before the flood, God provided a way to escape, but they ignored Noah’s message and were destroyed. God offered a way out of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, but Lot’s friends and family laughed at him and mocked his message.
People today will not escape their eternity if they do not listen to God's message. There is no escaping this reality if there is indifference to the salvation that was offered by Christ (Hebrews 2:2).
6. There Is a Biblical Account of Someone Who Neglected Salvation
In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells us about the rich man and the beggar. The rich man had so much of what life had to offer that he did not think about what might happen when he died.
He was not ready for the reality of an eternity spent apart from the Lord, but that did not mean he would not be there for eternity. We are not afforded another opportunity after we die. Judgment comes upon us just as death does.
A person cannot and will not be saved by God against their will. Are you ignoring the significant salvation that God has provided for you? Assuming that this is the case, it is basically impossible for you to escape in the event that you proceed.
It is possible that you are saved, but you have not followed the escape the Lord provided through his Son’s death and resurrection. It is possible that there have been chances for you to serve the Savior that you have missed them. Do not let today pass without completely giving Christ your life.
For further reading:
Is There Anything God Can’t Do?
What Does it Mean to Experience God?
What Does it Mean That ‘Salvation Is Found in No One Else’?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/laflor
Chris Swanson answered the call into the ministry over 20 years ago. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. He is a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service. You can contact Chris here, and check out his work here.