Hebrews 2:3
Escape From What?
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:23, 24)
Escape from what? The wages of sin is death, man comes into the world as a slave of sin. In the 23rd verse of Romans 7, there is a law of sin. This law preceded the law of Moses, it was placed on Adam when he trespassed in the Garden of God and brought sin into the world. In our modern age man loves his technology, and their imaginations have gone wild. They dream of objects transforming themselves into different objects. They dream of even man transforming himself, then why can’t they believe that when Adam brought sin into the world, he became sin, he was transformed into a sinner with a new DNA of sin (sin nature). Not only do we call Adam a sinner, but Adam became sin. Why is this so important to us, to those who love the Lord Jesus, because when our blessed Lord voluntarily became sin on the cross, He took away The Law of Sin and Death. When we were born into this world, we were born as the children of Adam with his DNA of sin, or as the Holy Spirit declares ‘we are under the law of sin.’ Can we escape this law of sin which bringeth forth death? Can we truly be transformed? Yes! And it is through the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me, that I might be free from the law of sin; therefore, I will live in the newness of life in Jesus Christ. Is it true that God so loves the world that He gave His only begotten Son? Yes! How could this be, when all men are enmity against God. (Romans 8:7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Man could not cancel out sin, nor transform himself from a child of Adam under sin to a being of life and spiritually free from sin and its penalty. How then can man escape? One had to come who had no DNA of sin in him, also this one had to be able to overcome the law of sin and put it away forever. But how?
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3) God the Father had to condemn sin. In the Old Testament, as types, we have the sacrifices that were given in the law of Moses and in his writings. These were shadows of the sacrifice that was to come to take away the penalty of sin. Sin was the master and is the master of a man without Christ. Only through God sending His Son and Christ dying on the cross can sin be removed. For sin is the quicksand of death, so the Creator of all things would come and give of Himself as the sacrifice to take the law of sin away. He who knew no sin, became sin for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. So, by becoming sin for us He paid the penalty of all sin, and also, took sin itself out of the way and nailed it to His cross. By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not only set free from the law of sin and death, but God the Father puts us in the righteousness of Christ. We have been reconciled to God through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this by grace and grace alone.
There are five perfections of grace found in the Lord Jesus Christ. These five perfections are the qualifications of His sacrifice.
1 – 1st John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. He came into the world with no dna of sin (sin nature) in Him. He was free from the law of sin. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death as a servant, that He might deliver us from sin.
2- 2nd Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. God the Father made His Son sin for us. Even though Christ had no sin dna or sin nature, He became sin for us that in turn we were made the righteousness of God in Him. He was qualified to reconcile us to God.
3 – 1st Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: The Lord Jesus is manifested as the immaculate life, for He did no sin; this differs Him from Adam. Adam was innocent until sin, but when he brought sin into the world, he became sin and was guilty before God. Christ, however, who had no sin, and sin was not in Him, lived a life of triumph over sin; although tempted of the Devil, He rebuked the Devil at every temptation. Where Adam was defeated by sin, the Lord Jesus was victorious over sin by bearing our sin in His own body on the cross. (1st Peter 2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
4 – Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Not only is the Devil a tempter, but the world itself lies in the bed of temptation. We live in a present evil world. Not only did Christ resist the Devil, but He resisted the temptations of the world, He completed the will of the Father, and He was without sin. The Jews tempted Him even while He was being crucified as they declared if He really was the Son of God He should come down from the cross, they had no understanding of who this was. In fact, before them was the very Redeemer of all man without sin; yet bearing our sin in His own body on the cross. He finished the work that was given to Him to do, and through that work made a gateway for man to be reconciled to God.
5 – John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. In this verse, the Lord declared that there was absolutely no trace of Adam in Him to respond to the prince of this world, which is the Devil. In this verse we look past His crucifixion to 1st John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Christ was also manifested to destroy the works of the Devil. This also was accomplished on the cross of Calvary.
These five points of perfection are found in our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let’s condense them into a simple outline.
1. In Him was no sin. 1st John 3:5
2. He knew no sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21
3. He did no sin. 1st Peter 2:22
4. He was yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
5. There was nothing in Him to respond to the prince of this world, the Devil. John 14:30
Next time someone brings up the possibility of Christ committing sin, you can go to this outline and show them His sinless perfection. This doctrine of the sinlessness of Christ is the foundation of the sacrifice; without spot, without blemish to fulfill God’s righteousness
The cross itself has no value of reconciliation. It is He who was nailed to the cross who brings forth reconciliation. As man turns His back on this great reconciliation, or salvation, then there is truly no escape from the eternal judgment of God.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:13)
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
This is a solemn moment in time. This is the finality of those without Christ. There is no escape from this point in time, because they have rejected God’s Holy Son. It is only the fulfillment of the judgment that is left. It would be what the world calls ‘the point of no return.’ What lies ahead is eternal damnation, and the wailing and gnashing of teeth, in the darkest dungeon that one could ever imagine with fires tormenting the restless souls without Christ. This does not have to be, for now we have an opportunity to cry out to God for His great salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. In this verse of Hebrews 2:3, we have three speakers; God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and the Apostle calling out to those outside of Christ, How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Romans 16:24)
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25)
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:26)
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. (Romans 16:27)
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1st Peter 4:17)
Amen and Amen.
© Copyright 2015, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)