The Three Phases of Salvation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking Earnest Heed to the Son’s Words or Drift Away

                                                                                                                                                        

I often look at Hebrews 1 as the “Second Psalm 2”.  It is, of course, Messianic like Psalm 2, but Hebrews goes into more detail on Who Jesus Christ is, as well as our position in Christ.  It starts out by stating that the Father speaks to us by His by His Son Whom the Father has appointed Heir of all things, because the Son is God.  The Father elevates His “Only Begotten Son” From Prophet, to Priest, and to King.  The Son was “Begotten” by the Father’s Decree in Psalm 2:7.  This all happened at Gethsemane/Calvary, at His Resurrection, and His Exaltation to the right hand of the Father.  This Only Begotten Son is now our faithful and merciful High Priest because “In that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.  The Father also makes His Son His “Firstbegotten”, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)  All this does not necessarily have anything to do with being born, or being the first male out of the womb.  Like” hath begotten”, “Firstbegotten”, has to do with an “exaltation to a high position by the Father”. 

Christ’s inheritance is eternal, and we can praise God that we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) and predestinated to conform to the image of His Son.  (Romans 8:29) Can you imagine what that means?  This is a perfect introduction to the rest of Hebrews, as it instructs us to leave the use of milk and be mature and skillful in the use of “strong meat” “having our senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

I believe, as Hebrews admonishes, that we are in danger of letting the Son’s Words slip and neglecting so great a salvation.  Now we are admonished to give “the more earnest heed to the things we have heard” from the Firstbegotten Son, “lest at any time we should let them slip.”  For, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation” In other words go on from Justification through Sanctification so that we will experience the Father’s predestination of “conforming to the image of His Son” at our glorification. (Romans 1-8)


I. The Son is Superior Over the Prophets

Hebrews 1:1-2a God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,

 

A.  The Old Testament Prophet’s message was revealed by God in fragments and often not in chronological order and came bit-by-bit through various methods as the prophets were able to receive them when the Spirit came upon them.  

1.  This was accomplished by:  a.) Visions [Ex. Isaiah 6], b.) Dreams [Daniel 2], c.) Poetry [Psalm 139], d.) Direct Communication [Deuteronomy 5:4; 10:4].

2. “Last Day’s” revelation comes directly from Christ, Who is God, through Holy Spirit filled servants.  These servants wrote the Words down as inspired through the Holy Ghost.

B. The Son is superior because He is God.

 

Hebrews 1:2b whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

 

 

A. The Father Appointed Christ Heir of all Thingskleronomos – “One Who receives His possession by right of sonship”

B. The Father Created the worlds by His appointed Heir – created the eons or “ages” – Much more than created but also formulated the dispensations.

C. Christ is the Brightness of the Father’s GloryApaugasma – or  “perfectly reflects the majesty of God”, as the rays of the sun show the glory of the sun which we also cannot see or it will blind us.

D. Christ is the Express Image of the Father’s Person - Caraktar – from which we get our English word character

E. Christ Upholds all things by the Word of His Power – Phero or to “bear up” or “keep from falling”

F.  Christ by Himself Purged our sins - – The only “purgatory” found in the Bible.

G. Christ sits down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on high – Not for a rest or because He is tired, but because the redeeming of souls part of His work is completed.

 

II. The Son Is Superior Over the Angels by Inheritance From The Father’s Decree

Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.   (When did this happen? – Phillippians 2:9)

Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?

Psalm 2:7 is quoted three times in the New Testament, and each time it is quoted, we find out the definition of “This Day”, the Day the Father made this decree.  We find that “This Day” is not a 24 hour day, but an indefinite period, like the “Day of the Lord” is an indefinite period of time.

A. Hebrews 1:5a is a quote from Psalm 2:7:  (Christ’s inheritance is brought about by the Father’s Decree)

 Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Verses 3-4 gives us the “when” of the Father’s Decree.  It was at His exaltation:

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

 

B. Acts 13:33 gives us another “when” of the Father’s decree.  It was at His Resurrection:

Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Acts 13:34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

 

C. Hebrews 5:5 gives us the third “when” of the Father’s Decree.  It was at His transition from Prophet to High Priest at Gethsemane and Calvary as explained in Hebrews 5:7:

 

Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Hebrews 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

III. The Son is Superior over the Angels because of the Davidic Covenant

Hebrews 1:5b And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

A. This is a quote from II Samuel 7:14 also known as the Covenant God made with David.  After David had been victorious over the enemies of Israel, he  set up his capitol on Mount Moriah at Jerusalem and brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city.  Then David wanted to build a house for the Lord, because the Lord had resided in a tabernacle since it was constructed by Moses.  But God had other plans, and did not want the warrior David to build the temple, but made a covenant with David:

II Samuel 7:11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

II Samuel 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

II Samuel 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

II Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

II Samuel 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

II Samuel 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

B. In this Samuel became a “type of Christ” as we see in the book of Zechariah.  The antitype, Christ, will build the house of God during the Millennial Kingdom:

Zechariah 6:12  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

Zechariah 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

C. How Did Christ get the name of “The Branch”?  As we read in the Chronicles of Israel, after Solomon, there was a civil war, and Israel was split into two nations, the North and the South.  The Southern kingdom had its capital of Jerusalem and consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.  The Northern Kingdom had its capitol at Samaria and consisted of the 10 remaining tribes with Ephraim becoming dominant.  The line of kings in Judah consisted of a few good kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah, but many did not follow God. The northern line of kings was all bad.  The prophet Isaiah prophesied when the northern tribes were captured and deported to Assyria.  Later, Judah was also deported and spent 70 years in the Babylonian Captivity. The last three kings of Judah were evil.  God had to “cut off” that line of kings.  The Lord said:

Jeremiah 22:24 As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;

Jeremiah 22:25 And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.

Jeremiah 22:26 And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.

Jeremiah 22:27 But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.

Jeremiah 22:28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?

Jeremiah 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Jeremiah 22:30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

 

But God had prophesied David’s seed would be on the throne forever!  Isaiah, long before had prophesied:

 

Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isaiah 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Isaiah 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isaiah 11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Isaiah 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

 

 

Zerubbabel stood in the place of Christ transitioning from High Priest to King of Kings

Haggai, a prophet after the 70 year Babylonian Captivity, prophesied concerning the line of Kings that had lost its signet:

Haggai 2:20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,

Haggai 2:21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

Haggai 2:22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

Haggai 2:23  In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

The Book of Hebrews speaks of this same time when God will shake the Kingdoms of this earth:

Hebrews 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Hebrews 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Hebrews 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

IV. The Son is Superior over the Angels because Righteousness is the Scepter of His Kingdom

Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

A. Verse 7 is a quote from Psalm 104:

Psalm 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

B. Verse 8-9 is a quote from Psalm 45:

Psalm 45: 6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

Psalm 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

C. And is explained in verse 14:

Hebrews 1: 14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Hebrews 1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
Hebrews 1:12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

 

C. Verses 10-12 are quotes from Psalm 102:

Psalm 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Psalm 102:26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

Psalm 102:27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

D. Verse 13 is a quote from Psalm 110:

Psalm 110:1The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

 

 

VII. Take Heed and Do Not Let These Things Which We Have Heard Slip.

Hebrews 2:1 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. (Literally drift away, like a boat without an anchor)

 

A.      Angels had a “steadfast” part in the giving of the Law as they will in the setting up of the Kingdom

 

Hebrews 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

 

B.      When we “Drift Away” we are Neglecting Our Great Salvation – We Will Not Escape Judgment

 

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

 

 

 

 

 

VIII. What is this Salvation that should not be neglected? – Three Phases

A.      The First Phase - Justification – Standing before God’s Judgment and being pronounced righteous

 

1.       The first mention of Justification is found in Genesis after what I like to call World War I:

 

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

Genesis 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Genesis 15:4  And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

 

2.       Paul uses the above Passage to explain Justification in the Book of Romans: When?

 

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

 

3.       But James teaches us the other side of Justification also using Abraham as illustration:

 

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

 

4.       How can Death Bed Repentance Work then? Remember the thief on the cross?

 

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

 

 

 

B.      The Second Phase of Salvation – Sanctification – Being separated unto God

 

Hebrews 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

 

1.       There is a transition from teaching Justification to Sanctification in Romans:

 

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

 

2.       So how are we Sanctified?

 

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Romans 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

 

3.       When we have a problem with sin, we must know that there is a warfare going on in our mind between the Law of God and the Law of Sin.  But we can fight it by walking in the Spirit.

 

Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 

4.       So how do we walk in the Spirit?

 

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8: 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

 

5.       And the Book of Galatians gives the solution:

 

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

 

C.      Glorification – Salvation of the body – The Soul is saved down here, but the Body at the Rapture

 

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.