Don’t Drift away Hebrews 2:1–4 READ

• Imagine a man who gave his life to ministry. He traveled from city to city preaching the gospel. He helped plant churches, prayed with leaders, and carried the message of Christ to people who had never heard it before.  His name was respected. His reputation was solid. His closest friends were spiritual giants whose names still echo through history. 
• If you saw him, you would have said, “That man will finish strong.”
• But his story didn’t end that way. The last line written about him is this: “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” 2 Tim 4:10.
• If Demas could drift, so could we. That’s why Hebrews warns us: “We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” Heb 2:1.
• This isn’t about scaring you into thinking one sin equals death. It’s about the slow danger of drift

• There’s an important distinction we need to cover this morning before we get into the meat

• We do not simply lose salvation as if it slips away; I don’t like using the term ‘lose your salvation’ you cannot lose your salvation like you lose your car keys, stock trade or business. don’t fear it
• The apostle John, who walked with Jesus, wrote a letter to a church family (in the faith)
•  1 Jn 1:8–9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.1 Jn 2:1 If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. James- Jesus’ brother said- James 3:2 We all stumble in many things.
• Pr 24:16 A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again. Eccl 7:20 There is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. Gal 6:1 If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one.
• What we see from these- Christians can sin (I’m sure of this one) We have an advocate (Jesus) We all stumble (you know this) We have to keep getting up (don’t stay in our sin) restoration is always the heart of God (we all need it at some point) ONE SIN doesn’t equal SEPARATION
• The point of Hebrews (and the bible repeatedly) is that it IS possible to be in the faith and then not in the faith.
• These are Hebrew believers that are saved, walking with Jesus and are being challenged to NOT go BACK to Judaism. (in the faith right now) he’s not trying to convince them OF salvation, he’s trying to convince them to STAY in their salvation (many times in Hebrews)
• Scriptures: we can neglect so great a salvation Heb 2:3, fall away Heb 6:6; Luke 8:13, turn aside from the faith 1 Tim 1:19; 4:1, cast away our confidence Heb 10:35, draw back to perdition Heb 10:39.  depart from the living God Heb 3:12, shipwreck the faith 1 Tim 1:19. 
• I think another distinction that is important, is when you start to talk about this type of theology, people erroneously jump to this idea that “salvation is on us” or “I’m the author of my salvation” or “if I didn’t earn it I can’t lose it” or “you’re taking credit for your salvation”
• I do not, and you should not take any credit whatsoever for your salvation. None. 100% him
• Salvation Is God’s Work, But We Must Respond Rom 1:5 given grace for obedience to the faith
• God initiates No one can come unless the Father draws him John 6:44 
• God gives grace By grace you have been saved through faith, it is the gift of God Eph 2:8–9 
• God saves by mercy  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us Titus 3:5 
• The Spirit convicts and draws He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment John 16:8 
• Spirit opens hearts The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to heed the things spoken by Paul Acts 16:14 
• gospel proclaimed How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? Rom 10:14–15
• We must respond Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
• We must repent and believe Repent, and be baptized… an Acts 2:38 
• The spirit does the work Gal 5:16 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
• We MUST NOT harden our hearts if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts Heb 3:15
• Salvation is 100% God and 0% us, He provides the rope, you decide to grip. He gives the grace, you choose to stay. Here’s what some Church fathers said- Clement (200s) – “The believer, through negligence, falls away and perishes.” Tertullian (200s) – “It is possible for one who has believed to fall away.” Origen (2c) – “The saints must labor earnestly, that they may not fall away.” Eusebius (3 c) – “Many who appeared to believe fell away.” Jerome (4c ) – “Those who once believed can afterwards be overthrown if they do not stand fast.”

• There is a danger of spiritual drift that is a reality for the Christian. The fire must be stoked

• It rarely an act of rebellion in a moment or a declaration. It’s a slow slow drift over time
• You’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. I can tell you story upon story, but the bible stories more important
• In fishing Boat- stay on the compass- stop paying attention-alarms go off- in shallow water
• Here’s what the OT says- Take heed lest you forget (Deut 4:9, 4:23, 8:11) fear the Lord and hold fast to Him (Deut 10:20, 13:4), take heed lest your heart be deceived and you turn aside (Dt 11:16) Take heed to love the Lord, to walk in His ways, and to hold fast to Him (Josh 22:5). If you turn back and cling to the nations, they shall be snares and traps (Josh 23:12–13). If you seek Him, He will be found, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you (2 Chr 15:2). Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go (Prov 4:13), yet return, you backsliding children, and I will heal (Jer 3:22). Israel is stubborn like a backsliding heifer Hos 4:16, for My people are bent on backsliding from Me (Hos 11:7). THEN THE NEW TESTAMENT Lest we drift away Heb 2:1, departing from the living God Heb 3:12, if we hold steadfast to the end (Heb 3:14). If they fall away (Heb 6:6), if we sin willfully (Heb 10:26), and do not cast away our confidence (Heb 10:35), We must not turn away  (Heb 12:25), lest we become disqualified (1 Cor 9:27), hold fast the word we received, unless we believed in vain (1 Cor 15:2). We must continue in the faith and not be moved away (Col 1:23), for some have fallen from grace (Gal 5:4). We are to hold fast the word of life (Phil 2:16), for some have suffered shipwreck concerning the faith (1 Tim 1:19), some will depart from the faith (1 Tim 4:1), and some have strayed concerning the faith (1 Tim 6:21). many turn their ears away from the truth (2 Tim 4:4), and Demas has forsaken me (2 Tim 4:10). becoming again entangled and overcome (2 Pet 2:20), turning from the holy commandment (2 Pet 2:21), and falling from their own steadfastness (2 Pet 3:17). Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold (Matt 24:12), but he who endures to the end will be saved (Matt 24:13). Some believe for a while but fall away in time of temptation (Luke 8:13), yet Jesus said, if you abide in My word you are My disciples indeed (John 8:31), and if anyone does not abide in Him, he is cast out as a branch (John 15:6). We must continue in the faith (Acts 14:22), for many have left their first love (Rev 2:4) and fallen from where they once were (Rev 2:5 to hold fast what we have, that no one may take our crown (Rev 3:11). 
• Cain rejected God’s way Lot’s wife looked back Korah was allowed by the earth, Saul was rejected, Samson was destroyed by sin, Solomon ended in idolatry, Jeroboam led Israel into idolatry, Uzzah touched the ark and was struck dead, Judas walked with Jesus but betrayed Him  Ananias and Sapphira fell dead, Hymenaeus and Alexander shipwrecked their faith, Hymenaeus and Philetus strayed and overthrew the faith of some, Demas once labored with Paul but forsook him for the world, certain disciples turned back and walked no more with Christ, the Galatians were warned they could fall from grace, the church at Ephesus left their first love, the church at Laodicea grew lukewarm and ready to be cast out, and even the Hebrews audience was warned that those once enlightened could fall away with no sacrifice left for sins.
• There is contested scriptures from this viewpoint
• 1. John 10:28–29 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
• Some say: Once a person is truly saved, they can never lose salvation because Jesus promises absolute security. You are in his hand. This is true. He does hold you in his hand. 
• Error: The passage says no external force can snatch believers away but it doesn’t deny the possibility of someone walking away themselves (drifting, falling, departing). 
• The condition of continuing to hear and follow His voice (v. 27) is often ignored.
• 2. Romans 8:38–39 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life… nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Some say: Nothing can break the believer’s union with God; therefore salvation is unconditionally secure.
• Error: Paul lists external threats, not the believer’s own unbelief or rebellion. The text assures us of God’s love, not of automatic perseverance regardless of faithfulness.
• 3. Phi1:6 He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
• Some say: God guarantees the perseverance and final salvation of everyone He regenerates.
• Error: Paul has confidence in the Phils specifically because of their proven partnership in the gospel (v. 5). not a blanket promise for all who ever profess faith, regardless of later conduct.
• 4. Ephesians 1:13–14 “You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise… who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.”
• Some say: The Spirit’s seal proves salvation cannot be lost; it’s guaranteed.
• Error: The Spirit is a pledge (down payment), not an unbreakable chain. Scrip show the Spirit can be grieved, insulted, and even departed from. The seal is conditional on continued faith.
• 5. 1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.”
• Some say: Those who fall away were never truly saved; true believers always persevere.
• Error:  speaking specifically of antichrists in context, not making a universal principle that no genuine believer can ever fall. all the other scriptures clearly warn believers of real apostasy.