How Will You Escape?

The title of this blog is provocative for a reason. It’s part of an admonition in Chapter 2 of the letter to the Hebrews. The Bible contains many provocative statements such as, “How will you escape? The purpose is to get our attention and make us think about serious issues we wouldn’t ordinarily consider. The complete statement is as follows:

“For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”

Apostolic Teaching

The writer begins with the phrase, “the word spoken.” Although it was delivered through/by angels, make no mistake, the message is from God. Angels were often used by God as messengers. One such messenger was Gabriel, who proclaimed to Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah, while still a virgin. The message proved to be “unalterable”. It happened exactly as Gabriel announced. God also used human prophets to proclaim His messages. Regardless of the instrument used, it was God’s message.

“Every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty.” This statement speaks to the universal principle of justice. Although it is often flawed by man’s implementation, it has and will be executed perfectly in God’s administration. This means that every sin has a penalty, bar none. The ultimate and “just penalty” is an eternity in hell.

Next, we have a very sobering question: “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3) The word “escape” has an urgency to it, even in today’s vernacular. It means to flee something distasteful. Based on the Bible’s description of hell, it would be an understatement to say it will be a “distasteful” experience. It should prompt serious thoughts of escape. This question is really rhetorical because no one can escape hell, apart from God’s plan of salvation.

This is why the Lord Jesus was sent into the world. He would be the way of escape. God does not want anyone to go to hell “The Lord is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9) Many people are rightly afraid of going to hell when they die, but this verse assures us that this is NOT God’s desire for anyone. Nevertheless, sin must be dealt with and God has provided the solution so that none have to fear.

If we “neglect” God’s way of salvation, then there is no escape from hell. Obviously, no one will escape once they are in hell. The admonition is to escape before sentencing. The Greek word for “neglect” is “ameleo”, which means to make light of or be careless about something. People find it very difficult to think about dying, much less going to hell. Yet, we have the staggering statistic that approximately 150,000 people die daily. That’s over 6,000 people every hour of every day.

How Will You Escape the Penalty of Sin?

While it’s unpleasant to think of death, the reality must be faced – so too the reality of hell. Unless a person receives Understanding Grace Christ as Savior, there is no escaping hell. Who told us about being saved? The verse above says, “After it was at the first spoken through the Lord…” Jesus introduced the Gospel to the world. He declared in John 3:17, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” Paul says in 1Timothy 1:15 that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” He even declared that this saying “is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.”

People often tell me that the Bible is confusing and difficult to understand. Typically, the people that tell me this haven’t even read the Bible. In truth, the vast majority of the Bible is very easy to understand. The confusion stems from a lack of thorough study. Consider the verses in this blog. Are they ambiguous? Does it require a theological degree to understand the plain,  straightforward meaning of what is being stated?

Our verse in Hebrews goes on to say, “It was confirmed to us by those who heard.” What is the “it” and who are those that heard? The “it” is “salvation”, the message of escape. Those who heard this message are those who accompanied the Lord Jesus every day for three years. They heard every word He spoke. They witnessed all the miracles he performed, which confirmed that He was sent by the Father. Then, they were gifted by the Holy Spirit to remember all that they heard and to record everything in writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2Timothy 3:16).

Understanding Grace

Nearly 2,000 years ago a Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas (Acts 16:30), “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Scripture tells us that they told the jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (John 3:16) Next, they explained the Scriptures to him. The jailer did not “neglect” the great message of salvation. Having believed, he escaped! He was then baptized by Paul and/or Silas and today he is in the presence of the Lord. It’s not complicated. It’s straightforward and direct. If you like, you can read a more detailed explanation of salvation here.

Are you going to Heaven?

In the time it took me to write this blog, about 13,000 people have died. Nevertheless, there’s no need to fear – it’s not too late. God does not want you to go to hell; He has provided the most astonishing way of salvation (at tremendous cost to Him). Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “It is the Gift of God.”

“Jesus said I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Those who seek to escape hell must desire eternal life, accept the truth, and follow the way!

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Be sure to forward this blog to someone that needs to know God’s revelation of Himself!