How Shall We Escape If We Neglect Christ's Salvation?

The neglect to study the Word of God leads many to neglect Christ's salvation offered to everyone freely.

The atonement of Christ and His suffering upon the cross is a living testimony borne to all humans, that through His merits He should become an accepted substitute for the sinner.

The claims of God are equally upon all - Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Those who choose to serve themselves and remain enemies to God earn their wages - they are sowing to the flesh, and will of the flesh reap corruption.

To neglect Christ's Salvation is to neglect the knowledge of the Father and of the Son whom God has sent.

Moreover, it is to neglect that the individual might become a partaker of the divine nature and thus with Christ a heir of all things.

To disregard the everlasting salvation means the eternal ruin of your soul - How shall we ever get well if we ignore God's plan to heal us?

The danger of indifference to God and neglect of His gift is measured by the greatness of Christ's salvation. 

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Hebrews 2:3.

Will you not ask yourself - "How is it with my soul?" The great gift of salvation for everyone has been placed within our reach at an infinite cost to the Father and the Son.

If sinners:

• remains indifferent to the manifestation of the goodness of God

• neglects Christ's salvation

• rejects the initiation of Divine mercy

• refuses the gift of life purchased by the precious blood of Christ

what could be done to touch their hard hearts?

There will be no second probation

Those who do neglect Christ's salvation will have no second probation provided for them. Thus they will be left without hope.

The Son of the infinite God was the author of our salvation. Christ became human that He might take upon Himself the wrath which sin had provoked. 

The Son of God took step after step down the path of humiliation. He was:

• rejected

• denied

• insulted

• abused

• crucified.

Our Creator and Redeemer threw all His power and love in His wonderful achievement. The Majesty of heaven lay down His life in order that we might be saved.

If this does not move the proud humans hearts then there is nothing that will move them. 

Moreover, If you reject Christ's delegated messengers, you reject Christ. When you neglect:

• salvation, kept before you for years

• justification through the blood of Christ

• sanctification through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit

there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. Hebrews 10:26, 27.

Therefore, humble yourself now and cease your resistance of light and evidence. Say unto the Lord:

• mine iniquities have separated me between I and my God

• Lord pardon my transgressions

• blot out my sins from the book of Thy remembrance.

Praise His holy name. There is forgiveness with Him. Furthermore, He will restore His moral image in you.

The greatness of Christ's salvation proves the peril of its neglect

It can only be spiritually discerned. Moreover, it increases in greatness as we contemplate on it.

As looking to Jesus dying upon the cross, and knowing that it was our sin that placed the innocent Sufferer there, we are bowed down before Him in wonder and love.

What is this salvation able to do for those who accept it? The answer is:

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy;

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both and ever. Amen. Jude 24, 25.

On the other hand, what will those who neglect it encounter?

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, 

being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse;

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; 

but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Romans 1:20-22.

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. Jeremiah 8:20.

When is the "accepted time" for receiving salvation?

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: 

behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2.

While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:15.

When is it to be received in all its fullness?

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; 

and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, 

though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ;

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, 

ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:7-9.

God compels none to accept Heaven's most precious gift. Furthermore, He never coerce the obedience of His creatures. God leaves all free to choose whom they will serve.

He does nothing without the cooperation of His people. God forces none to believe. 

Everyone can choose to rely upon the evidences He has been given, or doubt and perish. It is the matter of life or death.

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life...for he is thy life, and the length of thy days. Deuteronomy 30:19, 20.

The gifts of God's grace through Christ are free to all

There is no election but one's own by which any may perish. 

God has set forth in His word the conditions upon which every soul will be elected to eternal life - obedience to His commandments, through faith in Christ.

God has elected a character in harmony with His law, and anyone who shall reach the standard of His requirement will have an entrance into the kingdom of glory.

Christ said:

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life. John 3:36.

Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; 

but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21.

Furthermore, He declared:

Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14.

In regards to mankind's everlasting salvation, this is the only election brought to view in the Word of God.

How can heaven regard those who neglect Christ's salvation?

The divine Author of our salvation was the brightness of the Father's glory, the express image of His person.

Therefore, to neglect the rich blessings of heaven, is to refuse Him who was equal with the Father, the only one who could save the fallen race.

The sin of the whole world was laid upon Jesus. His divinity gave its highest value to the suffering of humanity in Him. Thus the whole world might be pardoned through faith in the Substitute.

The most guilty need have no fear. God will pardon. The penalty of the law will be remitted because of the divine sacrifice. 

Through Christ the sinner may return to allegiance to God.

Moreover, He provides for the restoration of the transgressors, making a way whereby they may be accepted as sons and daughters of God. 

Through obedience they may be possessor of love, peace and joy.

Shall we:

• disrespect divine mercy, and trample underfoot the Son of God

• count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing?

We are changed by beholding the captain of our salvation

Christ takes the sinners from the lowest degradation and purifies, refines, and ennobles them. 

By beholding Jesus sinners are transformed and elevated to the very summit of dignity, even to a seat with Christ upon His throne.

Contemplating the fullness of the provision that God has made, whereby every son and daughter of Adam may be saved, we could exclaim as John did:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. 1 John 3:1.

The plan of redemption provides for every emergency and for every want of the soul. If it was deficient in any way, the sinner might find some excuse to plead for neglect of its terms.

The infinite God had a knowledge of every human necessity and ample provision has been made to supply every need.

What, then, can the sinner say in the great day of final judgment, as to why he or she refused to give attention to the salvation offered them?

Salvation is assured on plain and simple conditions

A lawyer came to Christ asking what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said unto him:

What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, 

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; 

and thy neighbor as thyself. Luke 10:26, 27.

Christ confirmed him in his interpretation of the law - And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live. Luke 10:28. 

How beautiful was this truth in its simplicity! This is what God requires of us.

Through faith in Jesus Christ as our substitute, surety, and righteousness, we may lay hold upon divine power, so that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The keeping of God's commandments is an evidence of our faith in Christ as our divine Savior.

John says: This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14.

You may not profess to be Christians

Yet this does not lessen in the least your responsibility. In refusing to render service to God, you rob Him of the service which is His due.

Moreover, God is dishonored by your resistance against His love and rebellion against Him.

Furthermore, by this you have led other souls astray.

If you:

• fail to make use of your given opportunity to know and obey the truth

• bar the door of your mind lest you should be convinced by the word of God

you pervert your given powers.

Thus you fail to occupy the position in the world that God has designed you should. You are to build up the kingdom of God in this world.

You have refused to become a vessel meet for the Master's use and communicate blessings to perishing ones.

Christ has suffered and died to bring salvation within the reach of all. Those who venture to neglect it are responsible for the consequences and results of their influence.

Furthermore, they are accountable for what might have been done had they cooperated with the heavenly agencies which God provided for their help.

Therefore, how can we refuse to be qualified for the work that will bring blessing to our own soul and to the souls of others?

In conclusion

After this great provision for free salvation, what will be the final experience of those who neglect it? The answer is:

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Hebrews 2:3.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Romans 1:16. 

On the other hand, it warns the sinner of the doom that awaits the unbelieving and unrepentant soul.

The love of God has been manifested in the gift of His dear Son to the world, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

While salvation is promised on condition of faith in God's Son, condemnation is pronounced upon sin and upon those that cling to sin. 

He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36.

God has indescribable love for the sinner, but He declares: 

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:20. 

God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

For it is His will that all humanity should have eternal life through faith in the Son of God. 

References:

1. ST, Apr, 1895; RH, Mar, 1891; ST, Nov, 1898; 2T 694; ST, May, 1890; PP 207; TM 97; ST, Jul, 1896 - The Ellen G. White Estate

2. The Bible, King James Version (KJV)