Lest we drift away

Hebrews 2:1-3a
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

Why is there a danger of drifting away?

Because we live in a constant current that flows away from Christ: our sinful nature plus the schemes of the devil, who desires only destruction for us. Since he is the prince of this world, everything he does is designed to draw us away from Christ and to hinder our holiness. He is happy to accomplish this by subtle means - pleasures, favor, possessions. Anything to distract us from Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2a
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to [fixing our eyes upon] Jesus…

This is not a gentle stroll through life; it is a race that must be run with the whole soul thrown in, for your life depends on it. It is as if you were running from a raging wildfire, knowing that if you let down your guard, if you relax, you may be lost. Or you may arrive at safety, but "only as through fire."

1 Corinthians 3:15
If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

The temptation to sin is something that pulls your eyes away from Jesus, distracting you from That which holds your course steady. If you follow that sin - even that "little" sin that seems so harmless - you may end up drifting off course and slamming into rocks and boulders in the river.  Yes, Christ can bring you back on course and restore your relationship with Himself, but you may be injured by the rocks and carry the scars of that for the rest of your life.

There is no standing still. Those who are not actively fighting the undercurrent will drift downstream. There is no plateau we reach in this life, no place where we can let our guard down and relax spiritually. There is no place where the War does not exist between Christ and the devil. The Church is indeed our oasis, the place where hands join together to make it easier to fight the current; yet even there our flesh and the devil hinder us, and those who relax from their vigilance will begin to drift from course.

Who is sufficient for these things?
The Lord!

Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

The Lord does not throw us into the fray and say "sink or swim!"
He provides HIS strength in which we are to run the race, fight the battle, withstand the current.

Ephesians 6:11-13
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

This is how we are to hold our ground and avoid drifting away: the armor of God.
This is how we are to withstand powerful spiritual enemies: God's armor, not our strength.

Ephesians 6:14-18
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…

Here is God's armor, which He commands us to put on that we might withstand the devil:
• Truth. God's truth holds everything else together.
• The righteousness of Christ that is put upon us
• Readiness to take the gospel wherever we walk
• Faith in God and His Word, to shield us from the devil's flaming arrows
• Salvation, accomplished by Christ, which we can rely on to guard our souls
• God's Word wielded as our sword for the fight, like Christ used it
• Prayer to gain all the wartime help that we need; we must stay alert and persevere, that we might pray at all times, for ourselves and for all the saints

Put on this armor. It does no good to have it sitting on display in your house.

Put it on, every day.
Knowledge of and love for God's truth.
Faith in Christ and the gospel and our salvation.
Prayer at all times, knowing our inability to stand without the Lord's strength.
Readiness to take the gospel - the power of God for salvation - to any person or situation to which God brings us.

So read the Bible, love the Bible, study it, memorize it, meditate on it. Fill your thoughts with it. It is your life, your defensive safety, your offensive weapon.

The offense of the Cross

Galatians 5:11
But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:22-25
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”


The gospel offends.
Man does not want to hear that his righteousness is insufficient; pride runs deep.
The normal and expected response to the gospel is that the unbeliever will not understand it, will mock it, or will take offense at it.
The only way this will not happen is if the Spirit of God opens their heart to see and desire Jesus.

We have tried to take the offense out of the gospel, in hopes that people will like it, agree with it, and accept it that way. As though an offense-less gospel will have more power to save than the Spirit Himself.


1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.


God's way is that we preach "Jesus Christ and him crucified," that we rely not on eloquent words to attract men's minds, but on the Holy Spirit to use the power of the offending message of the cross.

Why should we be "not ashamed of the gospel," when it is likely to be met with a negative response? Because it is the power of God to save everyone who believes!