Lesson #15
We Must Give The More Earnest Heed
We are instructed in God’s word, "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away" (Hebrews 2:1). We must pay close attention to the things written in God’s word, the Bible; because if we don’t we will drift away, fall from God’s grace, and be eternally lost. Jesus says there are those, "who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13).
Why do Christians, who were once saved, fall away? Because they didn’t give the more earnest heed to diligently study God’s word and make it a part of their lives. God says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). God’s word is the spiritual food that all Christians need. If we don’t partake of it regularly and apply it to our lives we will spiritually starve ourselves to death, which is what Satan wants.
A number of times Jesus would say while teaching others, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15). Jesus is saying to listen up and pay attention to His word. Jesus also says to those who He is teaching, "Let these words sink down into your ears" (Luke 9:44). In other words Jesus was saying to take heed and give serious thought to everything He says. But there are those who "turn their ears away from the truth" (2 Timothy 4:4). They are not interested in hearing the truth of God’s word, which is able to save their soul. These are given warning, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Even though the lie of Satan says that one cannot fall from God’s grace and be lost, God says we can, "Christ is become of no effect to you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4). The denominational world believes and propagates this lie of "once saved, always saved". Sadly many people in the Lord’s church have also believed this lie of Satan and will be lost because they have drifted away and are unfaithful. They have fallen from God’s grace and will be eternally lost in Hell if they don’t repent and return to the Lord.
In order to "give the more earnest heed to the things" (1 Corinthians 10:12) written in God’s word we must first know what it says. We must do as the brethern in Berea did as they "searched the scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11). We need to spend time every day feasting on God’s word. We should also take advantage of every opportunity we have of studying God’s word such as Sunday morning and Wednesday evening Bible study, Sunday morning and evening worship, and gospel meetings. If we take advantage of these and other opportunities, and study our Bibles daily at home, and then apply the things we learn to our lives, only then will we be able to give "the more earnest heed" to the things written in God’s word, so we can go to Heaven when this life is over.
Jesus promises us, "Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). If we are faithful until death we will hear our Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:21). We must never give up for Jesus says, "But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22). Jesus says we must be faithful to Him if we expect to go to heaven when this short life is over. Those Christians who become unfaithful will be lost and tormented forever in the burning fires of Hell.
Satan wants us to become unfaithful so we will be lost. "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them" (2 Peter 2:20-21). When one becomes negligent and lukewarm as a Christian, Jesus says, "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:16).
One who looks back longingly into the world will probably go back. Jesus says, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). As one continues in the sin of forsaking the assembly or any other sin, the blood of Jesus Christ will no longer cleanse a person of the sin of which he will not repent, and because of this he will lose his soul to be punished in the eternal torments of Hell. Our soul is worth more than the whole world. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).
How can we stay faithful so we will obtain the crown of life? We can do this by laying, "aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). We must endure and finish the race. We must never give up. "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9). We must never lose our faith and confidence in the Lord. "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward" (Hebrews 10:35). We must not become lax, but we must be even more determined every day. "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10).
This life on earth is so short and every person will be spending eternity in one of two places. Only few will choose to go to Heaven while the vast majority chose to be cast into Hell forever (Matthew 7:13-14). We cannot earn our salvation, but by the grace of God we can qualify for it. God’s word is encouraging us to, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Obtaining the crown of life should be our number one goal in this life. Missing Heaven is the worse thing that could ever happen to an individual. No one will accidentally go to Heaven. Only those who are faithful until death will receive this crown of life.
Questions Lesson #15
We
Must Give The More Earnest Heed
(Click on the button of the answer
of your choice)
1) (Hebrews 2:1) What will likely happen if we don't give the more earnest heed to God's word?
We will drift away and be eternally lost.
Nothing will happen.
We will still go to Heaven.
2) (Luke 8:13) There are some people who believe for a while and in time of temptation they fall away.
3) (1 Corinthians 10:12) One who thinks he stands and cannot fall from God's grace should
Continue with that belief.
Not worry about falling from God's grace.
Take heed lest he fall.
4) (Galatians 5:4) One cannot fall from God's grace and be eternally lost.
5) (Revelation 3:16) What will the Lord do with the lukewarm Christian?
Scold him.
Vomit him out of His mouth.
Save him.
6) (2 Peter 2:20-21) The later end of a Christian who falls away will be worse than the beginning.
7) (Hebrews 12:1) What does sin do to us?
It ensnares us.
It makes us feel good.
It is alright if we don't sin too much.
8) (Luke 9:62) No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back to the world is fit for the kingdom of God.
9) (Galatians 6:9) We will reap Heaven if
We become unfaithful.
We do not lose heart.
We were once saved, but fall away.
10) (2 Peter 1:10) We do not have to become more diligent to make our calling and election sure of going to Heaven.