Entering into Rest

Heb4:10-11 "For he who has entered His rest has himself ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience!"   

Most professing Christians are very fond of proclaiming that their salvation is 'Not of Works, lest anyone should boast!' (Eph2:8-9) But they fail to understanding one of the basic fundamental principles of Scripture. That 'Works' are the ONLY evidence that true faith actually exists! (James2:22) Otherwise you possess the faith of devils. (Jams2:19)

Still most people in the church today are convinced that Grace makes absolutely NO demands on their life or personal behavior, and Faith is merely an acceptance of the facts of the Gospel as stated in 1Cor15:3-4. No Conditions apply. The warnings are all hypothetical and NO ONE can fall from Grace into eternal ruin. People have been told they are secure in their sin because no one is perfect, that nothing can snatch them from Christ's or separate them from His love.

But is this REALLY what the Bible teaches about Salvation & Faith? That we 'Cease' from works, enter into the 'Rest' of salvation & nothing done afterward matters. Let's examine the scriptures in the Book of Hebrews.

After you have Entered into Rest, you are told to:

1) HOLDFAST! Heb4:14

2) Remain Diligent! Heb4:11

3) Obey God! Heb5:9                                                       

4) And Patiently endure! Heb6:12

The entire essence of Biblical Faith is Steadfast Endurance. You WILL NOT inherit the promise of eternal life without it! Hebrews Chapter 6 issues a severe warning to those who would not Continue in the faith, as stated above and concludes admonishing you to "Imitate those who through FAITH & PATIENCE inherit the Promise!" (Heb6:12)

In Scripture, 'Patience' is: STEADFAST ENDURANCE. When you see the Word associated with Faith, as in Salvation, it's actually saying, "Imitate those who through faith and Steadfast endurance inherited the promise!"

Abraham was one of these, Rom4:19-22, he:

1) Believed God, was not 'weak' in faith

2) Did not waver through unfaithfulness

3) Steadfastly Endured & was Fully convinced that God was able to perform

4) THEN: it was accounted unto him as 'Righteousness'......that's true faith & nothing else!

God imputes the righteousness of Christ ONLY to those who by Steadfast endurance, remain true to His Calling and DO NOT draw back to perdition!

The Purpose of the Commandant, 1Tim1:5, "Love from a Pure heart, from a good conscience and from sincere faith." IS what Purges you from DEAD WORKS, (Heb9:14) to serve the living God. Since your heart is made Pure by Obedience to the Truth, 1Pet1:22, you are then Cleansed by the Blood of Christ from the corrupting influence of sin, 2Pet1:4

Therefore Grace, True Grace: Titus2:11-14

1) Produces righteous & godly behavior, in the Present age!

2) Redeems you from every lawless deed

3) Purifies you for Good Works

You are then JUDGED according to your WORKS done in Faith, not the dead works of the law.

Miss this and you've fallen into the snare of the devil! "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance (steadfast endurance!) That after you have DONE the WILL OF GOD you may receive the Promise!" (Heb10:35-36)

The DOING is according to the WORK of FAITH with POWER! 2Thess1:11, That's why God will, without partiality, JUDGE according to each one's work, 1Pet1:17. Whether good or evil and render to each eternal life or indignation & wrath. Rom2:7-10 "Those who by Steadfast endurance seek for glory, honor and immorality, receive life. But those who are self-seeking & do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, receive death!"

We Cease from our own work (trying to establish personal righteousness Rom10:1-2) & ENTER IN to HIS WORK, motivated & energized by a Faith that works by Love! Christ is then the end of the LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS to all those who 'believe', not merely know about Him.

The Righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled IF you Walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh, Rom8:4. There's no condemnation in Christ, IF you Walk in the Spirit, Rom8:1

The New Covenant is NOT un-conditional Grace that provides license to the flesh. NO!

1) It Establishes God's Holy Law in Faith! Rom3:31, Matt5:17

2) It Writes His Righteous decrees on the hearts of man! Heb8:10, Rom13:10-11

3) It Provides him with the Power to Walk victoriously over the world, flesh & devil! 1Jh5:4

4) And it REQUIRES him to: 'Continue, Abide, Holdfast & Endure' as evidence of his faith.

The Substance & Evidence of True Faith: Heb11:8-40

1) Noah believed & Obeyed, built the Ark & preached righteousness

2) Abraham Believed & Obeyed, going forth on God's Command

3) Moses forsook the riches of Egypt & esteemed the reproach of Christ as the greater treasure

4) Many braved the trials of persecution & suffered the pains of death to obtain a good testimony through faith. (How does your supposed 'faith' measure up to this?)

"Therefore we also since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight & the sin that so easily ensnares us & let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus, the author & finisher of our faith!" Heb12:1-2