Let Us

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In the Book of Hebrews Chapter 4, Verse 1, we see the word, “Therefore.” This means, to understand this chapter, we need to look at Chapter 3. In verses 12 through 19 of Chapter 3, we read about the dangers of unbelief.

The key verse of this section of Chapter 3 is Verse 12:

Where the Bible says…

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

Here we discover that the “Therefore” at the beginning of Chapter 4 refers to the problem of “departing from the living God.”

As Christians, we can live defeated, never receiving the fullness of God’s promises.

In this verse, we see the word,

DEPARTING

Vines describes this word as “to cause to depart, to cause to revolt.” It means to apostasize. To apostasize means”

“To abandon or renounce one’s religious faith, beliefs, or principles. People often use this term in a religious context to describe someone formally or publicly leaving their religion or switching faiths.”

According to Kittel, the word in this context “refers expressly of religious decline from God. This apostasy entails an unbelief that abandons hope.” Additionally, the word “implies capitulation to the false beliefs of heretics.”

Thayer describes this word as “becoming faithless.”

So, not only can we lose our hope, we can surrender to false religion, as often did the Israelites in the wilderness.

In Hebrews Chapter 3, Verse 13, we read

“Exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

This describes the urgency with which believers must live vigilantly, that is “today,” to avoid the danger of being hardened by sin.

In Hebrews Chapter 3, Verse 14, the Bible talks about how we are

“Made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”

What does the Bible mean by the word, “Partakers”?

PARTAKERS

Vines defines partakers as “those who share in a heavenly calling, or have held, or will hold, a regal position in relation to the earthly, messianic kingdom.”

Kittel defines this word as “to have a share in.” It also refers to “fellowship with God after death”

So, by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we actually become part of God in this life, and in the hereafter.

Hebrews reaffirms the importance of Today in Verse 15

“While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”

The chapter goes on to illustrate the hardness of our hearts by comparing us to the Israelites in the wilderness.

The Israelites missed “today” and ended up wasting away in the wilderness for forty years! They did not enter into God’s “rest,” but the next generation did.

Hebrews 3:18 again speaks of revolting against God: where the Bible asks the question:

“To whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?”

So, we, like them, could miss God’s “rest” though unbelief, and refusing to act today to keep our hearts connected with God.

What does the Bible mean when it speaks of God’s “rest”?

The rest we miss by revolting against God speaks of actual REST, but the word’s use here has a deeper meaning.

This word literally means “curtain.” When Christ died, the veil (or curtain) of the temple was rent, allowing full access to the Holy of Holies, the most holy place.

Therefore, by “Rest,” we not only see a calming effect, but a place of rest within the presence of God. God’s people rebelled against Him, causing God to shield Himself from them as with a curtain.

Hebrews 3:19 concludes the chapter and sets the stage for the next.

“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

Unbelief.. revolting against God, results in exclusion from God’s presence. Such unbelief causes us to miss out on the promises of God and active participation in God’s being.

That brings us to Hebrews Chapter 4, which begins with the word, “therefore.” In other words, because of their unbelief, we should take several actions.

How do we respond to the dangers discussed in Hebrews 3 verses 12-19?

First, the Bible says,

“Let us Fear”

Let’s read the first verse of the chapter where the Bible says,

Hebrews 4:1

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

“FEAR”

This word speaks of actual fear. Let us be afraid. The thought of missing out on the Divine nature, the Divine presence, and the Divine promises should make us afraid. Consequently, we should urgently stay active in the faith, while it is “today.”

Fear, being afraid of the consequences of abandoning our faith, will keep us in possession of the promise of rest.

Now, let’s look at the next thing we should do in response to the perils of Hebrews Chapter 3:

Hebrews 4:11

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

We don’t want to fall into the same pattern as the Israelites in the wilderness. To do that we must…

LABOR

We are saved by faith, so the labor here doesn’t speak of works that lead to the New Birth. It speaks of diligence and exertion. Staying faithful to God requires action. Failure to stay active in our faith results in our falling away into a state where God prevents us from entering His presence.

The next “Let us” response to Chapter Three is found in…

Hebrews 4:14

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

PROFESSION means acknowledgement of the truth. Our profession refers to the outward expression of what we “profess” to be ours.

Jesus is our Great High Priest who gives us the power to resist apostacy and allow our profession of salvation to reflect the truth

The final action called for in response to the dangers I mentioned earlier from Chapter 3 is found in…

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

This verse requires no exposition because it speaks for itself.

As believers, we have the right and responsibility to enter into the Holy Place. We must urgently ask God for the mercy and grace we need TODAY to stay in a profitable relationship with God.

Conclusion

Knowing the risk of unbelief and the urgency required to guard against it,

  • Let us fear
  • Let us labor
  • Let us hold fast our profession… and…
  • Let us come unto the throne of grace.

The only way we can prosper as children of God, believers, those who have accepted God’s salvation is to take those invitations and act on them today.

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