God's Rest is Available

October 27th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 4:1-3 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just 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.

God led Israel out of Egypt in 1446 BC promising to lead them into the land of Canaan, dubbed “the Promised Land.” While in Egypt they were slaves, in Canaan they would find rest. Yet since many of them failed to trust God’s promise of rest, He kept them from entering. They were thus deprived of the rest God prepared for them. This is the theme of Hebrews 4.

The author’s point in Hebrews 3-4 is that the sin of unbelief kept the first generation of Israelites coming out of Egypt from finding rest in the Promised Land. Having witnessed first-hand the mighty acts of God—the plagues, the parted waters of the sea, the life-giving water from a rock, the manna from heaven, a cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night to guide—the Israelites had God’s good news preached to them. Yet what they heard and saw did not “profit” (Gr. ōpheleō) them because they did not unite the good news they heard with faith.
Hebrews 4:1 exhorts the audience to “fear” (Gr. phobeō)—to be terrified, if they are among those who have not fully committed themselves to Christ. The writer was saying that if anyone had not yet placed their faith and commitment in Jesus as the Christ—the Jewish Messiah, then they should be filled with terror. Since God’s promise of rest still remains for those who choose to enter it, they must seize the occasion. The “rest” that awaits them is spiritual rest that comes only from placing one’s full trust in Christ. This is in contrast from the life of works found in Judaism, although the works prescribed for the Jews were meant to direct Jews to Christ.

In v. 2, the explanation of the problem was that the Israelites in Moses’ day actually had the good news preached to them, and they witnessed God’s mighty acts that attested to His power. The words they heard, however, “did not profit them” because they did not receive God’s word by faith. Likewise, the Hebrews audience had good news preached to them, so they too were in danger of falling short by failing to unite the preached word they heard with faith. One might conclude that hearing it is certainly good, but if hearing is not united to faith, it is empty. Mere intellectual understanding of Jesus has never equated to salvation. Only true faith in Christ saves.

Verse 3 plainly states that eternal rest comes from uniting the preached word with faith. Those who believe in Christ “enter that rest.” What rest? The very same rest that God entered into following the six days of creation. Once God finished creating, He rested, having completed His work (Gen. 2:1-3). Now those who trust in Christ enter the same rest since they cease from works that attempt to please God for salvation. God is pleased solely through our faith in Christ, apart from works. That is what spiritual rest is all about!

Food For Thought
Imagine you and others having tragically fallen off a cruise ship, and all of you are treading water for dear life, praying for a miracle. A safety crew mercifully throws life preservers with ropes down into the ocean to save all who would grab hold of them. To see the life preserver in this illustration is like hearing the word of God. But seeing it dangling in front of you won’t save you; only grasping it will! How sad that so many today hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, perhaps even believing it’s true. But they refuse to receive it—to trust Christ, and be saved. Seeing the life preservers won’t profit anyone. But seeing it and grasping it, well, that’s what salvation is!