Failed to Enter Because of Disobedience

“Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.” (Hebrews 4:1-2 ESV)

“Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, ‘Today,’ saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’” (Hebrews 4:6-7 ESV)

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:11-13 ESV)

The “rest” being spoken of here is God’s eternal rest, i.e. eternal life with God in heaven after we die or after Jesus returns and he takes his faithful ones to be with him for eternity. Many of the Israelites, during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, would not submit to God, would not obey his commandments, and would not forsake their sinful practices. So they died in the wilderness, and the Scriptures teach that they did not get to enter into God’s eternal rest. They did not have salvation from sin and eternal life with God because they continued in their sins and would not obey the Lord.

And in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 we are warned against following their example and of facing the same fate as them, too. For they died in their sins and did not have life eternal because they would not forsake their sins of idolatry, adultery, sexual immorality, revelry, debauchery, drunkenness, grumbling against God, and putting Christ to the test by their continued refusal to submit to the Lord and to do his will and to forsake their sinful practices. And these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did and end up facing the same consequences as they did, too.

And that is why we are given these warnings here in the book of Hebrews, for our salvation and eternal life are not secure solely on a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. True biblical faith which saves comes from God, is persuaded of God, and is gifted to us by God, and it is not of our own doing – not of the will nor of the flesh of man. So we don’t get to define what faith and salvation look like. God does. And his word does. And Jesus said if we are going to come after him that we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him.

Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; Luke 9:23-26

So, while the promise of entering into God’s eternal rest still stands, we are to fear lest any of us should seem to have failed to reach it. Why? Because our salvation is not secure on the basis of giving lip service to the Lord alone. Yes, it is by grace we are saved, but through faith, both of which are gifted to us by God, and thus they both must align with God’s will and purpose for our lives and with God’s divine character. But God’s grace trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return (Titus 2:11-14).

Why did many of the Israelites not get to enter into God’s eternal rest? Because of their disobedience, which God calls “unbelief.” So that means that faith = obedience, which is what the Scriptures teach all throughout the New Testament. So, today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts against the Lord and refuse to submit to him as Lord, and refuse to forsake all your sinful practices, and refuse to obey his commandments (New Covenant). For if you refuse, and you go your own way instead, and you continue in your sins, you will not inherit eternal life with God.

Therefore, we are to strive to enter that rest, not of our own flesh, and not of human effort to try to earn our way into heaven. But under the Lordship of Christ, in the power of God, via our submission to the Lord, we must forsake our sinful practices and now walk in obedience to his commands in holy living. But this isn’t just about living a morally pure life, but this is about total surrender of our lives and of our wills to the will of God for our lives, letting him rule supreme in our lives, directing our paths, and leading us in the way he wants us to go each day, one step at a time.

For if we are claiming to be in fellowship with God, but while we continue walking (in conduct) in sin, we are liars. And if we say that we know God, but we are not obeying his commandments, in practice, we are liars. For it is not those who profess faith in Jesus Christ who have eternal life with God, but it is all who follow Jesus Christ in obedience to his commands and who are no longer making sin their practice. For this is what genuine faith looks like. For it is whoever practices righteousness who is righteous, and it is those who no longer make sinning their practice, but who obey God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31] 

I Sing of His Mercy  

An Original Work / April 10, 2014

Based off Psalm 32 

Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven

By the blood of Jesus Christ.

Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does

Not count against them; freedom found.

When, in silence, I did not confess 

My sin to You; had no strength.

Then I owned up to my sin and

You forgave and cleansed me within.

Therefore let the godly pray to You;

Draw near to You; grace they’ll find.

They will not be o’ertaken by afflictions,

But in Christ peace abounds.

Lord, You are my hiding place.

I find my refuge in You secure.

You protect me from all evil.

You give songs of vict’ry in You.

Lord, You teach me to walk in Your ways;

Counsel me in love, I know.

Help me to not be stubborn and

Unwilling to follow in Your truth.

Thank You for Your love and mercy.

I put my trust in You always.

I rejoice in my Lord and 

I sing of Him throughout all my days.

https://vimeo.com/91747192