Grumbling and it's consequences #2

March 18, 2021 (Thursday)

 

After detailing the danger of complaining (grumbling) in Hebrews 3, the Holy Spirit trains His sights on a startling warning. “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.” [Hebrews 4:1 ESV] To some this is a warning of something that is possible. Others suggest it is not possible.

 

What if we set aside our polarizing theology for a moment and think of truth as two wings of a bird (A.W. Tozer)? I think we get a somber warning.

 

Let’s start with “Therefore.” The Greek word translated “therefore” is a bridge. The historical lesson is capped by, “So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” [Hebrews 3:19 ESV] The text now turns as a warning to us.

 

Wait a second, why or how could the believer be warned about failing to reach Heaven? I am glad you asked!!! Notice the text says, “let us fear.” Are we to “fear” losing our salvation? Absolutely not! However, fear is a theological term that urges caution and respect. In this case, the Greek suggests it is a warning against the behavior of grumbling (complaining). Chronic complaining is a symptom, pointed out in Hebrews 3, of unbelief (not being saved).

 

 Hebrews 4:2 explains the failure. “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.” [ESV] Yikes, another complication! Let me stay on task. The failure to reach the goal (Heaven) is because hearing the gospel did not benefit them. Hearing has no effect on those infected with unbelief. Truly this is something to fear. The complication is that it appears that true faith is exercised in community.

 

We then read, “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. [Hebrews 4:3a ESV] Complication number three! When God created the “foundation of the world” all His works were finished. Time is irrelevant to God’s work and His foreknowledge is complete (everywhere present includes time as well as place). Yet time is experienced by us moment to moment without foreknowledge.

 

To be clear, those who “believed enter that rest.” (Enter: careful interpretation skills.) The word translated “believed” means “to think to be true.” This flashes us back to verse one: “seem to have failed.” The word “seems” also means “to think.” On one hand we think with failure, on the other hand we have think with success.

 

What is the difference? Another good question, I am so glad you asked!!! “Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience.” [Hebrews 4:6 ESV] There is a belief that saves. It involves transformation and obedience. People who complain do so out of disobedience. It shows they do not have transforming-saving faith.

 

Let’s toss in one more complication! “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” [Hebrews 4:11 ESV] The Bible NEVER relives us of our responsibility. Obedience is our choice. Disobedience points to our guilt. I think the idea of us “striving” is that we are personally invested in being deliberate. Literally the idea here is to give careful diligence to enter.

 

Can we “fall?” Maybe not in the sense we use the English word. Our understanding of “fall” is to be out of control, such as when we trip or slip. However, the idea behind the Greek word is that of descending or deliberately lowering. The verse is actually contrasting two methods of life. Intentional striving (or giving careful diligence) is contrasted to deliberate carelessness resulting in a deliberate descending.