Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"The World, the Word & You! Broadcast"

DRIFTING!

“HAVE YOU EVER COME ACROSS A WARNING SIGN? PERHAPS THE ROAD AHEAD IS CLOSED, OR THERE’S POISON IN A CERTAIN CONTAINER? WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT? THE ANSWER IS HEED AND OBEY IT!

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the warning signs God gives for those who are Christians …

…Tucked away in the New Testament Book of Hebrews we discover a troubling passage of Scripture that has perplexed Bible scholars for some time. More importantly, it has troubled Christians who read its words of caution and warning. Indeed, the Bible is a Book of warnings to all humanity, that there is a God who not only created us but also holds us accountable to Him for our lives and more, our living to come in eternity. Today on the broadcast, I want to examine one section of such warnings, and I’ll be speaking mainly to Christians, that is those who have confessed faith in Jesus Christ as their God and Savior. Now if you’re not a Christian today, this talk will still be helpful, as it will give you insight into the teachings of the Christian faith to better know and understand your Christian neighbor. So don’t go away, for after our second musical pause, I’ll return with my message – DRIFTING, taken from the book of Hebrews in the New Testament, Chapter 2…

…When I was a young boy, I grew up in the East along the Atlantic Ocean . In the summer, I often went with my family to the beaches of Long Island , New York . There on a hot summer day, literally thousands of people sat and sunbathed and the more adventurous swam in the turbulent ocean. The ocean was a strange place, for each day it held a different danger for swimmers. Mainly, the greatest dangers were the tides that changed rapidly, as well as the undertow of the waves that crashed on the beachhead. But, when one swam out a bit past the waves, and floated in the hot sun and surf, you could easily lose direction, and more, if not careful, the running, shifting tide could carry you away from the spot you entered the water. In fact, I remember distinctly floating for awhile and when I look up, I had drifted almost a mile from where I entered the surf. This was not only dangerous, but imperceptible. In the Christian life, a similar warning and happening can be found among believers who are not careful. God’s Word gives a serious warning that we can “drift” in the faith too and be caught in the tide of sin and neglect. Let’s read the text in question today, that warns us seriously to consider what can happen to any one of us who know Jesus Christ and neglect so great salvation. We read,

Heb 2:1-3 (NIV)  “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.”

In verse one of chapter two, we come across a serious “warning” from God to Christians, that it is possible to “drift away,” in the faith. Now this is the first of five crucial "warning passages" found in the book (Heb.3:7-4:13; 5:11-6:12 ; 10:19 -39; 12:14-29). Why does God put this here? The answer is the Christian life is like swimming against a rapidly flowing tide of water. We must keep swimming against the flow of water, attempting to carry us downstream or away from where we are. In a similar manner, all Christians must continue to make a definite decision of our wills, to not only identify with Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, by faith, but also to “live” for Christ all the days of our lives! TMost important, this living for Christ is not a one time thing that occurs the moment we are saved from our sins. No, it is an ongoing, everyday and forever decision of our wills that must be made to stem the tide taking us imperceptibly away from the place we stand. Many Christians today have drifted away from the mooring anchor of the faith once delivered to the saints. This is a very dangerous and costly thing to happen to any believer, and trust me, God’s Word says it can happen to any one of us, be you a  pastor, missionary or a lay person and people! Now, let’s look more deeply at this passage and consider its application to us today.

The Book of Hebrews was written mainly to Jews, who had embraced the Christian life and message. As they stepped away from Judaism the faith now completed and passing away by the coming of the promised Messiah Jesus Christ, these Old Testament people of the nation of Israel had become new creatures in Christ. The Bible says when anyone embraces the cross of Jesus Christ by faith, and trust in Him alone for a right relationship to God, and the forgiveness of their sins, God remakes them into a brand new creation and being. The Bible says,

2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Gal 6:15 (NLT)  “It doesn’t make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people.”

Yes indeed, the new and different people or creation, is God’s work of bringing all lost sinners, Jew and Gentile alike, into His fold, the Church of Jesus Christ. This is something God does that we cannot see or feel, but is real nonetheless. Now, the writer of Hebrews writes particularly to those Hebrew Christians, who in the past performed the ceremonial law of Moses that was to lead them to faith in their Redeemer to come, who did come, and died for them. You see in the Old Testament, the sheep died for the shepherd, but in the New Testament, the Shepherd, that great Shepherd died for the sheep. But, once having embraced by faith this truth, and accepting it in our heart, mind, will, body and soul – God makes us into His new creation, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ . Now once becoming a “member” by the new birth, God wants us to know that this transaction is an eternal, non-ending, non cancelable transaction. What I mean is, salvation in Christ is a forever happening that literally seals us into the presence of God’s love. Jesus said it best when He declared,

John 10:27-30 (NIV)  “ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.””

Paul the great apostle of the Lord Jesus understood this too when He waxed eloquently and said,

Rom 8:35-39 (NIV)  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Therefore we must first come to understand, that when God saves us it is forever, and no true believer in Jesus Christ who has experienced the new birth, can ever be lost. Jesus said to assure us of this,

John 6:39 (NIV)  “And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”

Yes, God the Savior says by His omnipotent power, He will lose not one of the sheep of His fold. Now that’s assurance! But then you might say why the warnings of drifting away found in the Book of Hebrews? The answer is we must understand from “what” we are in danger of drifting away from. Let’s look at our text again.

Heb 2:1 (NIV)  “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

 Now as I said previously, the Book of Hebrews contains five warning passages. These passages contain much exhortation but also some explicit warnings or danger signs. This first passage warns: (1) Do not neglect Christ’s message of salvation! Since God has no greater messenger than His Son’s work to save sinners, He has no more important message than the gospel which the Son has given. The Holy Spirit in writing the Book of Hebrews, is not warning the Hebrew Christians to grasp the gospel more intently, lest they lose their salvation, as some faith’s teach. Rather, he warns them not to drift beyond the gospel, to go further to add or subtract from its message of grace and truth. For when we do, we are in danger of “drifting” away.

I believe today there are millions of saints, who have drifted away from what God’s Word says about Christianity.

Jude 1:3 (NIV)  “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”

Indeed, all that Christianity was and is to be, was completed when God finished writing His revelation to man, the Bible. The Christian faith is founded upon one thing only, “faith alone,” in Jesus Christ, “alone.” Although 2000 years have passed since the founding of the Church on the death, burial and resurrection of God the Savior, Jesus Christ, the faith has drifted in the hearts of many who profess to follow. Someone well categorized the faith of Christianity verses the drifting away faith of others.  You see, there are only two religions and faiths in the world! There is the “do” religion, and the “done” religion. The “do” religion characterizes the thousands of religions today such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and the pseudo-Christian faiths such as Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Adventism, Liberalism, and the various Cults of the world. ALL THESE FAITHS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON – they require their followers to “do” and continue to “do” something religious to be saved or remain saved or in a right relationship to their God! But true Christianity and the “only” faith that can and does please the real God who created all things, is the “faith of Christianity,” founded on that which is “done” or completed.   True Christians are to do nothing to be saved or remain saved! Christ has done it all. When He died on the cross the last words uttered by the dying Savior were,

John 19:30 (NIV)  “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

These words specify not the end of Jesus' life, but the completion of His monumental task. The verb tense is perfect. "It is finished!" The purpose of His hour upon life’s stage had been completed, and the consequences of His work now endure to all generations who accept it. So, the first warning here in Hebrews is, don’t go beyond this truth, and begin to establish a faith that requires you to “do” something to be right with God. God has done it all, and all we must do is rest in the truth God has Himself saved us! Are you resting in this, or are you working to be saved, or remain saved?

“If” we go beyond this and enter religion that begins to call us to “not do” this, or “to do” that, or to “have this,” or to “perform this” – we are in danger of “DRIFTING AWAY!” What is the consequence? Well, let’s read on,

Heb 2:2-3 (NIV)  “For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.”

God says, it is important that we Christians maintain the principle of “salvation by grace alone,” for when we go beyond that, we will come under God’s judgments for sin. The very first judgment then is spiritual discipline where the Spirit of God is grieved, and as a result, God’s love experienced in our Christian joy, peace and assurance, is withdrawn from us. How many Christians today are miserable in their faith? They find no joy in their Christian life. They seek no satisfaction there, and as a result they “drift away” from worship with the saints, and in time drift away from keeping sins out of their lives too. Soon Satan moves in, and offers them the world, and they are hooked, and fall away into a life that God must rescue them from, or take them home. Paul the apostle says it well, in fearing drifting away.

1 Cor 9:27 (NIV)  “No, I [discipline] my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Even this great apostle, feared drifting away from God in ways that would disqualify him for continued service and rewards in this life, and the next. John the apostle warns us further that when we spiritually drift, we can go so far that one of the disciplines of God, is to even take our very lives in premature physical death! Listen,

1 John 5:16 (NIV)  “If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. [BUT] There is a sin that leads to death...”

This sin, that leads to physical death is the culmination of drifting away from God. For when true Christians do, and enter religious followings that teach them to cast off faith alone in Christ and embrace religious asceticism and works to be saved or remain saved – they incur the anger of God who gave them so great salvation full and free.

Friend, salvation in Christ is “so great,” because God sent His very own Son, Jesus Christ to die for us. If we neglect this, or deny it by our lives, how angry God becomes that we would rather work in our own sinful ways to be righteous, than to accept the righteousness of Christ to be added to our account. The Hymn writer says it best “ nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling!” Friend, are you clinging to the cross where Jesus died as the only means of your righteousness before God, and your salvation and promise of Heaven and eternal life? Or, are you clinging to your own way of goodness, religious service, sacraments and the like to be found of God? DON”T DRIFT AWAY! Keep the faith, trust only in Christ, live only for Christ, serve Him alone and one day we shall all hear those beautiful words,

Mat 25:21 (NKJV)  ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

Now, during Old Testament times, God dealt with those who disobeyed His Word. In these last days, we have a greater obligation to obey because we have the complete Scriptures and the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Friend, there is a “world to come,” and how you live and believe today, will help to determine your place in the future kingdom of Christ . Today, we see man fallen in Adam; but by faith, we see Christ and His victory. Because He is glorified, we shall be glorified in Him! All believers who trust Christ are God’s children and they are on their way to glory. The Redeemer has defeated death and the devil, and He understands how His people feel as they face the temptations and trials of life. When you come to Him by faith, you come to a sympathetic High Priest who can meet your every need. Trust Him, and keep trusting Him! Don’t go off into religion and teachings that lead you to trust in your own righteousness and keeping of the Law to be saved or remain saved. Jesus Christ has done it all. Never leave that truth, and remain steadfast in it.

Remember, this warning of “drifting” is to every true believer, and it is serious! We have a New Testament example of one who drifted away - his name is Demas. Demas was for a long time a faithful follower of Christ, even a dynamic servant who assisted Paul the apostle, but not being careful, he drifted away with the allurement of the world’s glamour and gifts. We read,

2 Tim 4:10 (NIV)  “for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica…”

All we know of him is that he abandoned Paul and the work of the Lord. I’m sure he was saved, and once saved always saved, but alas, the allurement and enticement of living for things in this world overpowered His faith to live for Christ. How about you my friend? Satan has many different ways to entice us away from God’s best for us. It may be financially, socially, spiritually, and even sexually. Don’t drift away! Be alert, keep the faith, and follow it closely. Now, let me share with you five means of growth and keeping that can assure us staying on the path of Christ.  (1) Stay in the Word of God. Have daily devotions and attend bible study regularly, (2) Be prayerful! Don’t neglect to pray every day asking the Lord to keep you alert to dangers and drifting in your life, (3) Be sure to worship each week with the saints, for God wants to hear our praise, our prayers, and petitions together as a body of believers. There in worship God speaks to us with conviction and care, (4) Be sure to keep good Christian friends too! Fellowship regularly with those who are more spiritually ahead than you! They will lead you to higher ground, and lastly (5) Witness and share Christ regularly with others. Your neighbors need to hear of Jesus and His work in you. Your family, workmates, and acquaintances too! Do you witness?

If you follow these five means of growth and keeping, you can have the assurance, you will not DRIFT AWAY! But, if this broadcast finds you have drifted from the faith. Everyone can return by confessing their sins and beginning again. This is my prayer for you today, for Jesus’ sake. Amen…

…Well friends, the Bible is a wonderful Book, and if you my listening friend are not sure of your stand before God, you can become sure, by affirming or reaffirming your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your God and Savior. Remember Jesus died on the cross for your sins. There God the Father poured out His wrath against sin on your behalf and mine. Since then, He offers through Christ to transfer His sin payment to your account. Will you trust Him and thank Him, for saving you? Will you turn over your life to Him for His keeping, care and service? That’s what Christianity is all about. It is a life of saying thank you to God for so great salvation, full and free, given to you once for all the moment you exercised faith. Now go out and life for Christ, and serve Him till He comes for you in glory!.

·         Radio talk #2502

·         Broadcast date: June 23, 2002

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.