Heb 2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

6. The Avenue of Escape!
1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to man; but
God is faithful, who will not allow you to be
tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will also make the way
of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

7. The Avenue of Escape!
• Who needs it? E = Everyone! (Rom. 3:10)
• Why need it? S = Sin! (Rom. 3:23; Is. 59:1-2)
• Who gave it? C = Christ! (Mt. 20:28; Act. 4:12)
• Who may have it? A = All! (Rev. 22:17; Mt. 11:28)
• What from? P = Penalty/payment! (Rom.6:23)
• Where then? E = Eternity! (Mt. 25:46)
Heb 2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a
salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

8. Prisoners in need of a Pardon!
• When we talk about “captivity” what comes
to mind? What do you think of?
–Likely none of us here been held captive,
prisoner maybe but likely not captive!
–Hopefully none of us have been taken against
our will and held captive, but all of us have
been a prisoner!
• We have willfully & willing given in to sin!

9. Freedom at last!
• So, you have been held captive now for
sometime and you are really starting to miss
and even forget what it was like before.
• Yet, one day you are given a message that
reads “you can be free!”
–How do you respond, how do you react?
–Do you say, “no just go away, I like it in here!”
–Do you say, “I am ready, when can we go!”

10. I. The Need!
• 2 Pet 2:20 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. (cf. 2 Pet. 1:2-3)
• We “need” to start here because many simply
don’t feel like they have a “need” to escape!

11. Every man & every woman has this
need to escape!
• We all need to be set free from the chains of
darkness & the captivity of sin! We need to
“escape!” (Jn. 8:30-36; Rom. 6:16-17)
• When each of us came to the age of
accountability, we all chose to act wrongly &
sin/ned, by going against the will of God!
–Rom. 3:23; 5:12

12. Repent before it is too late!
• 2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to
repentance. (cf. 1 Tim. 2:4)
• Act 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God
overlooked, but now commands all men
everywhere to repent."

13. II. The Notice!
• 2 Pet 2:21 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.
• God has provided us with a way of escape, but He
will not make us take it & He will not force us to
stay, we can leave & return if we want!
– Heb. 6:4-6; 2 Tim. 4:10 & etc.

14. We have been posted, given notice!
• Notice = attention, observation; advance
notification or warning
– How many of us have received a late notice
before? Why do they send them?
• If we fail to heed the warning it will be on us!
– Mt. 25:1-13 “Five wise & five foolish!”
• We have been warned, we have been given
notice! (Heb. 2:1-4; 12:22-29)

15. III. The Neglect!
• 2 Pet 2:22 But it has happened to them
according to the true proverb: "A dog returns
to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed,
to her wallowing in the mire.“
– Pr 26:11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a
fool repeats his folly.
• This last point is very sad, mankind has a need,
God has given notice, but many neglect it!

16. Stockholm Syndrome!
• The condition that cause hostage to develop a
psychological alliance with their captors as a
survival strategy during captivity; these alliances
are irrational in light of the danger or risk
endured by the victims.
• Many of us after escaping choose to return to
our captivity! We give up hope & return to a
helpless position!

17. An ever present problem!
• Js 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you
wanders from the truth, and someone turns
him back, let him know that he who turns a
sinner from the error of his way will save a soul
from death and cover a multitude of sins.
• It is sad to see those that were once faithful to
God return to a world of sin & death! We need
to be doing all that we can to bring them back
again and help them restore their freedom!

18. Conclusion:
• Man has a “need” & God has given “notice”
but will we “neglect” the warning?
• None will escape the judgment of God, our
only hope is to be ready & waiting!
– Our only hope is to hold on to Jesus!
• If you are a Christian then remember to never
return to captivity, enjoy the freedom that God
has graciously given us!