Letter to the Hebrews Volume 34

 The Eternal Rest for All of God the Father's Adopted Children Part 7

Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. KJV

The eternal rest of God that belongs to each and everyone of us who are true believers is certain, however, the certainty of this rest does not belong to every professing believer in God, just as our Lord Jesus declared in His Parables and specifically the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9 & Matthew 13:18-23). Therefore, because of this reality and truth we now find the writer of Hebrews sounding another warning for the Hebrew converts then during the time of the writing of his letter (as well as for us today and those of every generation) with these words, "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4:11) (KJV). The writer here is certainly not advocating a works salvation where someone needs to do good in order to earn his or her reward of salvation and heaven from God, but instead he is declaring to them and to us that we should quickly give diligence to our gift of salvation from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and not take His grace for granted, but seek more grace and to use that grace to get out the Gospel of Grace to as much of the world as we have been given access to by Christ Jesus our Lord. Because the most important thing for every human being on the earth is to hear the Gospel and to know that Jesus Christ is the only way to have rest here and now on the earth (Matthew 11:28-30) and the ONLY WAY to enter into heaven after the death of the body (John 14:6). The little English phrase at the very beginning of this verse 'let us labour' is translated by the Greek word spoudazō meaning to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.

The only sin that the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot cleanse is the sin of (unbelief), that sin locks the sinner out of salvation and forgiveness of sins because he/she refuses the only remedy for their sin. Example, if a person's ailment or illness is determined to be a specific thing and there is only one medicine available that can eliminate the ailment and some people accept the medicine and take it while others reject it and look for another alternative for the same ailment, then when their bodies decline, deteriorate, and die it will be because of their unbelief in that medicine. Likewise, when the sinner chooses to accept an alternative to the Gospel of Jesus Christ/Cross of Jesus Christ as the ONLY payment for their sin and seek their spirituality in other sources, then when they here Jesus Christ say to them (after their death) depart from Me, I never knew you it also will be solely because of their unbelief. When the writer here says 'lest any man fall', he is referring to the example of the multitude of Israelites who came out of captivity in Egypt, yet they still did not believe God despite all of the awesome and mighty miracles He performed in delivering them and keeping them during their wilderness march. They had the visible truth before them but still were unbelievers, just as someone today can be baptized in water and join a Church but still be an unbeliever because of never hearing the Gospel (with spiritual ears) as our Lord Jesus often said at the end of many of His Parables, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." The Hebrews that came out of Egypt fell because of their disobedience and the witer of Hebrews in this verse 11 is giving a warning that none should fall in the same manner as they did, but instead believe God and obey the truth of the Word of God, no matter what standing for the truth brings to you, for truth is not plural, it is singular. The writer is so eager to warn because those Hebrews allowed their disobedience, defiance, and ultimately disbelief to lead them away from believing God and landed them into perdition, that is, hell or everlasting punishment.

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of this verse, "Not eternal rest; this is not to be entered into now; nor is an entrance into it to be obtained by labour; salvation is not by works; eternal life is a free gift; good works do not go before to prepare heaven for the saints, but follow after: nor is the saints' entrance into it a precarious thing; God has promised it, and provided it for His people; Christ is in the possession of it, and is preparing it for them; and the Spirit of God is working them up for the self same thing, and Christ will give them an abundant entrance into it: but the Gospel rest is here meant, that rest which believers now enter into, and is at this present time for them, Hebrews 4:3 and though true believers are entered into it, yet their rest, peace, and joy in Christ, is not full; they enter by degrees into it, and by believing enjoy more of it: and this is to be laboured for by prayer, hearing the word, and attendance on ordinances; and this requires strength, diligence, and industry; and supposes difficulties and discouragements, through the corruptions of the heart, and the temptations of Satan; and this is designed to quicken and awaken a godly jealousy in God's people, over themselves: lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief; into the sin of unbelief, and into punishment through it, as the Israelites did; who sinning, their carcasses fell in the wilderness, and they entered not into God's rest, as He swore they should not: true believers may fall into sin, and from a degree of the exercise of grace, and of the steadfastness of the Gospel; but they cannot finally and totally fall away, because they are kept by the Power of God; yet they may so fall, as to come short, or at least seem to come short of enjoying the rest and peace of the Gospel state: external professors may fall from the Gospel, and the religion they have professed, and come short of the glory they expected; and fall into just and deserved punishment, in like manner as the unbelieving Israelites did."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…