Nov 5, 2010

Seriousness About Salvation

For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2: 2-3a)(HCSB)


Here's a devotional by Dr. Douglas B. MacCorkle from the daily devotional book Beside the Still Waters. It speaks of warnings about salvation and how we can successfully heed one of those warnings.


Seriousness About Salvation


There are seven large and serious warnings about salvation in the epistle to the Hebrews (2:14; 3:7-19; 4:11-13; 5:11-6:20; 10:26-31; 12:25-29; 13:9-15). Our text of the day is central to the first warning. This is a warning against being drifted past the steadfast word which Christ came all the way from heaven to plant in our hearts.


There are two excellent ways to heed this warning successfully.


1.  Let the Word of Christ dominate your thinking process. It will give you permanent stability. Tie your mind tightly (consider) to the Word of Christ. Read it. Memorize it. Study it. Recite it. Review it. Constantly pass it on to others. Only by use will you come to know its real value. We must all be Bible students. Then, 2:2 speaks negatively to the same point--do not take life lightly in view of the Word of Christ. The word of Moses, the Mosaic Law, was severe on the transgressor. The Word of Grace contains far more advantages for the believer and far more severity for the one who takes it lightly.


2.   Let the wealth of Christ delight your thinking process. The greatness of this salvation dawns as we add up the assets and advantages found in this salvation. While we must respect and avoid the severity-side of this salvation, we must see how attractive and great is its value. This means that we are delighted to get into the treasure house of this salvation and explore it for our own spiritual profit. God's salvation intends that we grow in Grace (2 Peter 3:18).


We only see a little of the ocean,
a few miles distance from the rocky shore;
But, oh, out there beyond the eye's horizon,
There's more---there's more!
----Author Unknown


Singing His Praises,
Joey Culpepper

Psalm 122:1

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." (HCSB)