The Promise of God’s Rest is realized through Christ—Let us strive after it by Him, our Sympathizing High Priest.The rest of Christians is attained by faith, 1–11. “He shows (ver. 1) that the promise of a “rest” yet remains, and that there is still danger of coming short of it.” “The exhortations of this epistle may appear to some difficult to reconcile with the teachings, that the grace of God, once received, through the power of the Holy Spirit by faith, can never be lost, and that they who are born again, who are once in Christ, are in Christ forever… ‘And while we have the assurance of our perfect acceptance, peace, and of the unchanging love of God in Christ Jesus, let us also consider the dangers, from the lower yet most real earthly and time-point of view.” Pink Arthur W.
- Let us therefore fear. ‘Fear’- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and in Pro. 14:26, 27, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence… “Happy is the man that feareth always” (Prov. 28:14). Christ said, “Fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell” (Matt. 10:28). Paul also said, “Be not high-minded, but fear” (Rom. 11:20)” Pink Arthur W. “A man who is in danger of losing his life or health should be watchful… So, we who have the offer of heaven, and who yet are in danger of losing it, should take all possible precautions lest we fail of it.” Bernes & co, Ro. 11:20, 1Cor. 10:12. Lest a promise being left us. God’s promises are presented to faith, and they only become ours, as we appropriate or lay hold of them. The Gospel proclaims salvation to all who believe. The Gospel terms are “whosoever believeth shall not perish.” That promise is “left,” on infallible record, left for the consolation of convicted sinners, “left” for faith to lay hold of. This promise looks forward, ultimately, to the enjoyment of the eternal, perfect, and unbroken rest of God in heaven. 11:13 Nu. 14:34, Rom. 3:3, 4, of entering into his rest. The rest of God—the rest of the world where he dwells, which is heaven. Any of you should …come short of it. Heaven is offered to us, and that a “rest” is promised yet, many may fail to obtain it. Among those will be the following classes: — 1. Those who are professors of religion but who have never known anything of true piety. 2. Those who are expecting to be saved and are looking forward to a world of rest on the ground of what their own hands can do. 3. Those who procrastinate. They defer the subject of heaven to another time, until death arrests them unprepared. 4. Those who have been awakened to see their guilt and danger, but not quite ready to give up their hearts to God. Such were Agrippa, Felix, the young ruler Mk 10:21. Matt 25:1–5, 1Cor. 9:26, 27.
- unto us. The good news of a promise of rest is made to us as really as it was made to them. “Rest”- the land of Canaan—an emblem of the eternal rest of the people of God. Act. 3:26; 13:46. preached. The message exerted no influence over their hearts and lives, and they lived and died as though no such promise had been made Rom. 2:25. not being mixed with faith, the message which was preached was not received into the heart by faith and the message did not profit them. They do not even listen respectfully to it. (2.) Many do not believe it. They have doubts about the whole subject. ver. 6; ch. 3:12; 11:6, 1Thess. 1:5; 2:13, 2Thess. 2:12, 13, Jas. 1:21.
