"Therefore…"

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. let...: Gr. run out as leaking vessels - Hebrews 2:1

    "Therefore” – Here, the Holy Spirit calls us to roll over in our hearts and minds the excellence, glory, and superiority of Christ and the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in him. With this word, “therefore,” he tells us to recall, gather up our thoughts, and focus our attention upon what he has just told us in chapter one. The word, “therefore,” might be translated “since.” Since God has spoken to us by his holy prophets and his Son, -- Since the Lord Jesus Christ is the appointed heir of all things, -- Since he who is our Savior is the Creator of all things, -- Since Christ, the God-man, is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of his person, -- Since he upholds all things by the word of his power, -- Since he has by himself purged our sins, -- Since he who is our Savior is the exalted, reigning Monarch of the universe, -- Since our great Savior is so much better than and superior to the angels…

    “We ought” – The apostle does not say, “you ought,” but “we ought!” It is as though he said, "The message I have for you is the message of God to me. I am in the same boat you are. I have the same struggles you have. I face the same dangers you face. I have the same responsibilities you have."

    Gospel preachers are men just like you. Even the apostles and prophets of old were men just like us. All believers are sinners saved by grace alone, -- Sinners in the midst of great conflict, -- Sinners with great trials, -- Sinners in constant need of grace, -- Sinners under the unceasing assault of hell. What is worse, our flesh is in league with hell. Therefore, we must ever watch and pray. We must ever be vigilant. We must constantly press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

    “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed” – We must, each one, personally and diligently apply to ourselves and faithfully lay to heart, “the things which we have heard.” It is our duty and responsibility to bow to the Word of God, to bend our wills to God’s will, our minds to God’s revelation, and our thoughts to God’s gospel. We must set our affection upon Christ; and we must do so constantly. We must bring our whole man, every thought and imagination, every faculty of our being, into willing captivity and subjection to Christ. It is not enough that we have heard and do hear the gospel, we must apply it to ourselves and set our hearts upon “the things which we have heard.” The things we have heard are the glorious truths of the gospel set forth in Holy Scripture.

    “Lest at any time we should let them slip.” – This is a very unusual expression. It is used nowhere else in the Word of God. It is an expression of real danger, the danger of apostasy, the danger of losing the benefit of the gospel, the danger of eternal ruin. It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of this matter. It is absolutely vital that we persevere in the faith, that we continue in the Word. There are many, who once seemed to have a real interest in the things of God, who have made shipwreck of the faith and of their immortal souls (1 Tim. 1:19). Let us take care that we not be numbered among them (John 8:31; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:14; 4:1; 12:25).

    The admonition of Hebrews 2:1 is this. – If we would be saved, if we would continue in the faith, if we would avoid making shipwreck of our souls, we must bind the gospel to our hearts and bind our hearts to the gospel (Prov. 6:20-22).