HEBREWS:God's Rest; "They could not enter in because of unbelief. For we who have believed do enter that rest!"

And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:18-19) 

The previous lesson concluded explaining how the generation of the children of Israel that Moses lead out of Egypt were not allowed to enter into the promised land because of unbelief; but after that generation died in the wilderness, God's promise of leading the children into the promised land still remained. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: 

“So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ [Psalm 95:11]”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works” [Genesis 2:2]; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” (Hebrews 4:1-5)

Were people who died before Jesus was born saved? Yes!  How, if we have to confess Christ Jesus as Savior and believe that He rose from the dead?  Because salvation hinges on what we believe, not what we see!  We will study "faith" more in Hebrews 11, but this chapter introduces that truth, to then Jewish converts to Christianity, and today to all of us.  The Word of God proves this: What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [Genesis 15:6] (Romans 4:1-3) 

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” [Psalm 32:1-2] (Romans 4:5-8) Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

God completed ALL that needed to be done at creation in order for man to enter into "His rest", that's why He rested on the seventh, or Sabbath day.  And He will allow all of us who believe to one day enter that final day of rest, with Him: Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” 
[Psalm 95:7-8] (Hebrews 4:6-7) 

 
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. [Joshua 1:12-15] There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:8-10) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” [Luke 23:43]’ (Revelations 2:7)

God has made us many great promises, but the promise of knowing that one day this life with all it's tribulations will be over [John 16:33], and that our souls will shed this flesh body and we will live forever in eternal peace with Him is the greatest promise of all.  As the Apostle Paul said, For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)   

So what should we do when doubt comes into our mind, that this commitment to God, Christ and being a Christian may not matter?  We must remember Who it is we have committed our lives to and understand through the Holy Spirit that For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. (Isaiah 45:18-19) “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit [Matthew 10:28], and of joints and marrow [Job 10:8-12], and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart [John 2:23-25].  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:11-13)   

Jesus said, "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:11-14) All will have access to God's eternal rest, but who will believe?  Choose this today, for this to be the first day of the rest of your eternal life!