Hebrews 2:1-4
If you ignore the law, you are a lawbreaker. The Jewish people believed that the law had been given to them by God‘s angels. They believed that every violation of the law would receive punishment. The more deliberate, and wicked the disobedience was, the harsher the punishment. They considered the law their means of salvation. Salvation to them meant deliverance from the consequences of sin. If they kept the law, they would be safe from God’s wrath; God reserved his wrath for lawbreakers. In response to the disasters, that disobedience had caused to fall on their nation, the Jewish people made sincere efforts to fulfill the law. They expanded the original 613 laws found in the Torah into the Talmud. The Talmud attempted to define what was legal and what was not legal in every circumstance of life. Instead of 10 commandments, they ended up with thousands of laws (20-38 volumes depending on the edition). Instead of a relationship with God, they ended up with self-righteous legalism.

Christ was greater than the angels were, and he offered a greater salvation than they did. He offered a deliverance and healing found through a reconciliation with God. We find our salvation in righteousness, right relationship with God, our fellow humanity and ourselves. You cannot give someone a static fixed relationship. Relationships are alive and changing. Our relationship with God will grow closer and more intimate, or it will grow distant and stale. Relationships require attention. They do not remain strong and healthy by accident. The writer of Hebrews warns us that we cannot afford to ignore our relationship dependent salvation. If we ignore our relationship with Jesus, even while keeping his commandments, we will find ourselves drifting away from him. Some believe salvation is like a thing, once you have it, you can never lose it. Any salvation that does not include a right relationship with God is worthless. My relationship with the Father grows out of my relationship with Jesus the son. If I were to turn my back on Jesus, I would have nothing left.