The Hebrew writer said, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3). The salvation that God has provided for mankind is truly a great salvation. Why is it such a great salvation? Let us see.

1. It is a great salvation because it involves a great Savior. Jesus is a great Savior because He has condemned sin in the flesh by living sinlessly and dying for our sins (Romans 8:3; 1 Peter 2:24); thus, He has saved us from a great wrath (Romans 5:9, 10).

2. It is a great salvation because it involves a great plan (Romans 1:16). The gospel is a great plan because it provides salvation for all men. Salvation is not based on man’s own greatness or physical heritage, nor the color one’s skin. It is not determined by how smart a man may be or on his financial situation. Salvation is based on faith, that it might be by grace (Romans 4:16). Anyone can be saved if they accept Jesus in their life through obedience to His gospel (Hebrews 5:8, 9).

3. It is a great salvation because it involves a great High Priest (Heb. 4:14). Christ is a great High Priest because He understands our infirmities; for He was tempted in all points such as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He is a great High priest because His priesthood continues forever and is unchangeable (Hebrews 7:24), and because as our High Priest, He makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1, 2).

4. It is a great salvation because it involves a great hope. The hope of the one who is saved is heaven, a glorious home of endless joy. Peter said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Our hope is not an earthly hope as is some others. Jehovah’s Witnesses hope to live forever on this earth, that is, if they are not a part of the 144,000 who will go to heaven. Premillennialists hope to live on earth in a state of paradise for a thousand years, then they will go to heaven. The hope of the Christian, however, is to go to heaven. Jesus promised that He would come back to get his saints so that where He is they could be also (John 14:1-3). Jesus is in heaven, and that is where His saints will be in the world to come. Paul said, “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Colossians 1:4-5). What a glorious hope we have. Heaven will be a place where there will be no more sorrow or sadness and no tears of any sort (Revelation 21:1-4). Truly, God has provided us with a great salvation. However, as great as our salvation is, it can be neglected. Let us now consider a few ways this might happen.

1. It can be spurned. Some people are just not interested in salvation. They are too wrapped up in self to consider God. It is ironic that they will only be helping themselves if they respond to God’s invitation to salvation. Peter admonished the crowd to save themselves in his first gospel sermon (Acts 2:40). To spurn the gospel invitation is to place oneself on the road that leads to eternal torment. The best thing one can do for self is obey the gospel and experience the great salvation made possible by the grace of God.

2. It can be missed. Some people plan to someday respond to the gospel invitation; but, unfortunately, that day never comes. How many people have lost their souls over the years because of procrastination? Sadly, the number is high. Too many live their lives as if the end is never going to come, or at least as if it is not near. But the end may be closer than we think. Remember the words of James: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Do not put off salvation. You might just miss it!

3. It can be given up. Some are saved, but then they give that salvation up. This would be the case with the Jewish Christians to whom the Hebrews writer wrote. It can happen to any of us if we are not careful. How might it happen? We can lose our salvation by giving in to some false doctrine (2 Timothy 2:17, 18). We can lose our salvation by not making sure that we are grounded and rooted in the faith (Matthew 13:22). The love of this world can cause us to lose our salvation (2 Timothy 4:10), or one might slowly drift away from God (Hebrews 2:1). If you are saved, do not give your salvation up. If you are not saved, do not neglect it by spurning the invitation of the gospel of Christ or by procrastination.

There is one more thing to consider. If one neglects the great salvation provided by God, there is no escape. The Hebrews writer asked, “How shall we escape?” The indicated answer is that there will be no escape. God has graciously done His part; now we must do ours. Have you obeyed the gospel? How can you possibly pass up such a great salvation? All you must do is obey God and then walk worthy of your vocation, and heaven will be yours to enjoy forever.