Hebrews 3:¹⁸ And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? ¹⁹ And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” The Israelites who came out of Egypt did not enter the Promised Land Rest b/c of their disobedience and their disobedience was b/c of their lack of faith.

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith.” The Jewish Christians that the Hebrews writer was addressing were in danger of not entering the Messianic Rest (Matthew 11:28-30) at the end of the age in 70 AD. Some of them were leaving their faith in Jesus and returning to Judaism. They had the gospel (good news) preached to them with the promise of eternal life and immortality if they would endure to the end, but many were falling away.

Hebrews 10:²⁶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will (the Greek word is mello, “about to”) consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” There was a judgment. of unbelieving and rebellious Jews that was “about to” happen in just a few years in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem, killing over a million evil Jews. But these verses refer to Jewish Christians who were once “sanctified” or saved. If they leave the faith and return to Judaism, they will meet the same fate as the unbelieving Jews in 70 AD.

Hebrews 4:¹¹ Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.” AI: “A double-edged sword cuts both ways, and the word of God is seen as cutting through falsehoods and revealing truth. It penetrates deeper than any physical tool, reaching into the “division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow” to separate the innermost parts of a person. Like a two-edged sword, it cuts through superficiality and deception, distinguishing between the soul (mind and emotions) and the spirit (inner being), and exposing the truth of the heart’s motives. This means it exposes hidden motives and beliefs, helping individuals to see their true selves.”

Many people “go to church” but what’s really going on inside them? Secret sins like greed and lust that are invisible to others but fully “open and laid bare” to God? Hypocrisy: being a part of a church for impure or ulterior motives? Worldliness: preoccupied with worries, riches, and pleasures that cause one to be unfruitful and useless for the Master? So we listen to a sermon and hear the Word preached to us. But are we really letting that Word penetrate into our inner being, judging. our thoughts and intentions? Are we listening just to be entertained, to critique the speaker? How often do you really get deep into the Word so that the Word can get deep into you? That should be a daily thing, not a Sunday church service thing.

Don’t miss eternal llife and immortality b/c of unbelief. God speaks in a lot of ways providentially, but I know He speak through the Word. The Word was written so that we don’t have to rely on oral tradition. We don’t have the originals of the Bible books, but we have totally trustworthy copies. The Word is not a “dead letter”. It is living and active. The Spirit of God who inspred both the old and new testaments is speaking through every word. My mom has been dead since 2010. She left some long letters before she died, expressing her wishes and concerns. I have read them occasionally to see how I think she would want me to think and act. Her spirit is still speaking to me through those letters written 20 years ago. The Spirit of God is still speaking through His Word, both old and new testaments, that was completed 2,000 years ago. It is stll living and active. Will you allow it to come alive and act within you to accomplish God’s purposes for leaving us His Word in writing?