The Answer ot Fear - Faith!

 

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. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” 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 4:1-7 ESV).

 

We also see in the beginning of our reading (Hebrews 4:1-7) that the writer draws another conclusion from the warning he has issued previously. He wrote, “Therefore, let us fear, lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it” (v. 1). Please do not overlook the use of the word “therefore”. It is an indication that he is drawing a conclusion from the fact that Israel was not able to enter God’s rest because of what follows. That which follows is often weaken by English translations, especially the NIV, when they use the phrase “let us be careful” instead of the word “fear.” His conclusion becomes the truth that we should take the possibility of drifting away very seriously. We should fear that, since coming short of God’s rest is disastrous.

 

What is God’s rest that we should be so fearful of missing it? The connection with Hebrews 3:19 surely tells us the thing we are to fear is unbelief: “They were not able to enter [God’s rest] because of unbelief” (v. 19). Therefore, fear that unbelief, because that’s what will keep you from entering God’s rest — God’s haven of salvation and God’s heaven. Fear unbelief. Fear not trusting God.

 

We’ll see this in more detail in the coming days as we explore these two verses further. However, note how the writer confirms this in the second verse. It begins with “for.” That means that he is giving a reason for what he has just written. It is a reason why they should fear. “Fear,” he says, “for indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also [had good news preached to them]; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”

There it is… FAITH! So much can be saif about this simple word. In the New Testament, "pistis" (πίστις) primarily denotes a conviction or belief in the truth of something, often with the implication of trust and reliance. It is used to describe the faith that believers have in God and Jesus Christ, encompassing both intellectual assent and trustful commitment. "Pistis" is foundational to the Christian life, as it is through faith that believers are justified and live out their relationship with God. In the Greco-Roman world, "pistis" was commonly associated with trustworthiness and reliability, both in personal relationships and in the context of civic duties. In the Jewish context, faith was deeply rooted in the covenant relationship with God, emphasizing trust in His promises and faithfulness. The New Testament writers, particularly Paul, expanded on this concept to articulate the believer's relationship with God through Christ, emphasizing faith as a response to God's grace. It is so much more than our English use would indicate. It is not a hope-so, maybe-so word. It is settled and sure. It rises out of the unshakeable truth of the work of Jesus. So, don’t fear what the world might do. Fear what you might lose if you don’t simply trust Jesus!