Hebrews 4:1

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering his rest, let us fear, lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed, the gospel was preached to us as well as to them. But the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it... There remains therefore a rest for the people of God... Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:1–16)

Some Scriptures are sweet to swallow; this one is a two-edged sword — and a good Father feeds us both.

A Balanced Diet from the Scriptures

I've discovered something in my eight-plus years as a parent of four kids: my kids love pizza. They'd eat it every single day if I let them — pizza for dinner, frozen yogurt for dessert, loaded up and weighed by the pound. But as parents, my wife and I try to get some balance into their diet. We sneak in vegetables, broccoli, salad — though we have to doctor up the broccoli with Parmesan cheese. They call it "stinky cheese." "I need more stinky cheese on this."

Truth be told, I love pizza too — Felipe's down on Grand Avenue, and then Esco Gelato just a block and a half up. If I could, I might eat that all the time. But there are health ramifications if you only ever ate that.

The Pizza and Gelato of Romans 8

What does this have to do with Hebrews 4? More than you might realize. Many of us love the pizza and gelato of Romans chapter 8. There are some great verses there, encouraging things we put on cards and commit to memory.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God and are the called according to his purpose.

If God is for us, who can be against us?... For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

That is savory salvation, sweet security, and we eat it up. There is great stuff to be had there. But I'm concerned that only ever living on such a diet might lead to an imbalance — to a flabby faith.

Solid Food and Hard Warnings

That's why the author of Hebrews says in chapter 5:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God... For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

As we've gone through the first four chapters of Hebrews, you may have noticed this is a tough book. There are warnings here that are hard to chew, difficult to swallow, and even harder to digest. Things that sting a bit. The word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. There's the wonderful cutting edge of Romans 8, but there are heavy warnings too.

Think of Jesus at the end of the Sermon on the Mount: many will say in that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do all kinds of mighty works in your name?" And He will say, "Depart from me. I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness." Those are challenging, frightening words. No one can read that and not say, "Lord, I never want to hear you say that." But as a good Father, God knows we need health in our Christian life.

"Therefore" — Looking Back at Israel

We're right in the middle of a warning section that began in chapter 3 and continues through chapter 4. We know it, because Hebrews 4:1 begins with "therefore." Whenever you come to that word, you must ask, "What's it there for?" It always points back. The author — I believe it's Timothy — loves this transitional word, using it 28 times in 13 chapters.

So jump back to Hebrews 3:16:

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?

They could not enter the promised land, could not enter into rest, because of unbelief. Therefore, "since a promise remains of entering his rest, let us fear." Those are heavy words. We don't like to be in a state of fear, yet the author says we must beware of this very thing possibly happening.

Point one: Israel's failure to experience and enjoy God's rest under the old covenant is a warning against our failure under the new.

A God Who Does Not Change

That point invites an objection: just because Israel didn't enter the promised land thousands of years ago doesn't mean the church won't enter the eternal rest of heaven. But if God, who does not change — who is immutable — dealt in times past in one way, can we not conclude He will do so again? Just because I don't like where an argument leads doesn't mean the argument is wrong. I have to take notice of what Scripture says.

The human heart doesn't like tension. We don't like anxiety or fear, so when we come to a passage like this, we want a quick resolution — to jump off the place of tension back onto concrete. Based on the emails and conversations I had this week from last week's message, I know people don't like tension. We want it resolved that "it's not possible." Yet Timothy says, "Let us fear. Let us beware that we don't miss the rest He gives."

Expositional Misconduct

Those who hold a presupposed theology of eternal security have to find ways to get around these warnings — to sidestep them and explain them away. Do people actually do that? Yes. One Bible commentator I respect and often quote wrote on this very passage: "Hebrews is written to Christians, to believers. However, scattered throughout Hebrews are warnings to unbelievers."

Wait — you just said it's written to Christians. But there are warnings here you have a hard time with, so they must have been written to non-Christians? Let me be clear: I highly respect this teacher, but that is what I call expositional misconduct. Look at Hebrews 3:1:

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling...

Is that not written to Christians? And right in the middle of the warnings, verse 12:

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

Are non-Christians partakers of Christ? No. I've never met a non-Christian who's a partaker of Christ.

Point two: We cannot disregard warnings just because we don't like them.

Warnings I Don't Like

I've been reading the Bible a long time, and I've come across warnings I don't like. James 3:1: "Let not many of you become teachers, for we shall receive a stricter judgment." I don't like that — I'm a teacher of the Bible. People have told me they don't want to teach because of that verse, and I say, "Yeah, thanks." That warning may not bother you, but it bothers me. Still, I can't disregard it just because I don't like it.

Why? Because Paul said in 2 Timothy 3, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man or woman of God may be mature, thoroughly equipped for every good work. In our modern American Christian context, many books and churches preach a constant happy message and can back it up with Scripture — but in doing so they set other passages aside. The word of God is living, powerful, and sharp. Sometimes it cuts deep, and it hurts. But like the surgeon removing a tumor, God sometimes must remove from us what is not beneficial.

Calvinism, Arminianism, and Holding the Tension

When we venture into whether a person can fail to enter the rest or is always secure, we're into the discussion of Calvinism and Arminianism. Those who say these warnings aren't to Christians accuse others of cherry-picking verses while neglecting Romans 8. But the fact is, saying "this passage is written to Christians, but not that warning" is the exact same cherry-picking.

I don't hold to a Calvinistic position, and I don't hold to an Arminian position, because I believe both are taught in the Bible — that God is completely sovereign and that we have a responsibility. The Calvinist says you can't stand in the middle; the Arminian says the same. But both are taught in Scripture, so I hold a both-and position. They say that doesn't fit because there's tension, and the human heart doesn't like tension.

Yet sometimes in the very same sentence both appear. Philippians 2: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" — that's the responsibility of man. The very next breath: "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" — that's the sovereignty of God. So there's Romans 8, and there's Hebrews 3 and 4, and there's tension.

How do I work it out? I'm able to believe in a God who can bring resolution to the tension even if I can't fully comprehend it. Just because I can't figure God out doesn't make it wrong. If my measly brain could figure everything out, would He really be that great? Isaiah 55: His ways are above our ways, His thoughts beyond our finding out. So it shouldn't be odd that there are things we can't fully resolve.

Is There a Rest Waiting for Us?

So let us fear, let us beware that we don't miss the rest He gives. This leads to two questions: Is there a rest waiting for us, and how can we be sure we don't miss it?

All of us long for rest — even in everyday experience. God built it into creation: six days work, the seventh rest. We anticipate it weekly. Monday comes — "another manic Monday." Wednesday is hump day. "Thank God it's Friday." (I hate to tell you, my day off is Monday, so I love Monday.) People count down to retirement: "272 days." A few months later, "110 days." We plan vacations months out and count the time. I think God planted that desire in us so we'd seek and long for rest. So is there really a rest, or is this a cosmic gyp?

The author of Hebrews defends his points from the Old Testament. Hebrews 4:2:

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

The "them" is the Jewish people taken out of Egypt. Good news was preached to them: trust God and He will take you out of Egypt into a land and life of rest. That sounds like our gospel: trust God and He will take you out of bondage and slavery to sin, out of this Egypt, this world, into a place of rest. But their word didn't profit them because it wasn't mixed with faith.

God Rested, and a Rest Remains

He quotes Psalm 95: "So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest." Israel became faithless and rebelled, so God swore they would not enter — "although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." They could have entered, because God created rest. Verse 4:

And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.

I love how the author quotes the Old Testament: "He has spoken in a certain place." He doesn't fuss over the chapter and verse — it's Genesis 2, "in a certain place," and on the seventh day God rested. So follow the logic: God experienced and enjoyed rest. Yet Israel didn't enter it because of disobedience.

Then in David — in the Psalms — God designates "Today." When is this rest coming? You can enter in now, today. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." And he brings in Joshua, the leader who succeeded Moses and brought Israel into the promised land:

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

Even though they entered the land under Joshua, they still didn't experience that rest — or God would not have said a rest remains. So is there really a rest for us? Yes. God has a rest prepared for us, a place where we cease from all our labors.

Faith That Leads to Faithfulness

How can we be sure we don't come short of it? Look again at verse 2: the word didn't profit them, "not being mixed with faith." "For we who have believed do enter that rest."

Point three: The people of God take possession of the rest of God by faith in God, leading to faithfulness in God.

Where did "faithfulness" come from? Why did Israel not enter? Verse 6: "because of disobedience." Faith and faithfulness go hand in hand. I can say I love you, but love is intangible until it produces works that demonstrate it. God said, "I have loved you with an everlasting love," yet Israel questioned His love because they kept experiencing punishment.

I was in New York right after 9/11 with some pastors, handing out prayer cards. I gave one to a woman shopping on Fifth Avenue. She walked twenty feet away, came back with tears streaming, and said — she was of Jewish descent — "God doesn't love us anymore." That was her view: all the bad things mean God doesn't love us. Yet God demonstrated His love toward us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Words can be intangible, but the demonstration needs to be there. Faith, too, is intangible until it's worked out.

Point four: Our saving faith is seen in our faithfulness.

James 2 gives another challenging word: "Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." "I will show you my faith by my works." "You believe that there is one God; you do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble." He uses Abraham and Rahab as examples, and concludes: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead." Where there is no faithfulness, no works resulting from faith, we have every reason to question whether there is true faith.

Restful Fearlessness

That's uncomfortable, because right now some of you have a person in mind — someone who once went to church with you, who maybe even shared the gospel with you, but who now shows no evidence of faith, no fruit on the tree. You've consoled yourself that they're okay because they prayed a prayer once. But Timothy says, "Let us fear, lest any of you come short of this rest." There is no rest where there is fear, and no fear where there is rest.

So where does this fearlessness come from? Point five: Faith and faithfulness lead to restful fearlessness. You want certain assurance, absolute expectation. Where does it come from? It begins with faith. Jesus has a word for you today if you find yourself restless and fearful:

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

The danger the author saw was that these Christians would leave the place of trusting in Jesus and go back to their old life. So he says: stay put. Have your confidence in Him, trusting in Him, and it will be seen in your life as the fruit of the Spirit. Yes, the word is living and powerful, and it cuts deep and can be painful. But sometimes God says, "This is an area I have to deal with so I can bring forth fruit." Pruning is painful.

Hold Fast and Come Boldly

Then he reminds us at the end of Hebrews 4:

Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

There is only mercy and grace found at the throne of Jesus — no other place. So come boldly and continually to that throne. The more I walk with Jesus, the more I realize I need that every second of every day.

You say, "I want to be sure." Keep your trust in Jesus. "But what about my family member, friend, coworker who used to walk with Jesus?" They need to come back to Jesus. Scripture says, make your call and election sure — how? Stay with Jesus. There's only one way. You say that sounds narrow. It is. Jesus said the way is narrow; I didn't make it up. If you've got a problem with Him, take it up with Him — but in my experience you might walk away with a limp. I knew a man who said he wanted to wrestle with God like Jacob did. I told him that wasn't a good idea, and he's been pretty broken ever since.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we need Your grace today. We can't function without it. Thank You, Jesus, that You are gracious, that You reveal Yourself as the merciful High Priest. We want to walk in steadfast assurance of Your grace, and there's only one place to have it — in You, trusting in You. So help us to trust You, to follow You by faith, that faithfulness would come forth. Help us to hold fast to our confidence, and not to disregard warnings just because we don't like them, but to trust You more today than we did yesterday, and more every day after that.

If you find yourself restless today, without the assurance of Christ's work in you, He said, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The door is open — Jesus opened it by dying on the cross. If you'd like to put your trust in Him today and receive His grace and forgiveness, lift up your hand. Lord, we thank You for Your grace. We pray You would give us boldness not only to come before Your throne of grace, but to share that grace with others this week. We pray this in Your mighty and precious name. Amen.