Therefore, let us fear, lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have fallen short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news proclaimed to us, just as they also; but the word that was heard did not profit those who were not united with faith among those who heard” (Heb. 4:1 LSB) https://accordance.bible/link/read/LSB#Heb._4:1
Do we fear the possibility of not getting to heaven? What is the alternative to heaven? The Christian alternative is hell, eternal condemnation away from God in eternal suffering for ignoring God and disobeying His commands while living on earth. So do we fear this place, of being sent there by God? Some believe they are good people, better than most in character and virtue, so do not fear being condemned by God. Will their belief gain them entrance into heaven? No, God does not judge men by their belief in their own virtue, God measures men by His commands that He required men to obey. What has God commanded so that we might enter heaven? Believe in Jesus’ good works that made Him a perfect sacrifice upon the cross. A sacrifice for our disobedience and Who appropriates to us the reward of His perfect life, eternal life as righteous children of God. So that is it, believe in Jesus as my means of entrance to heaven and nothing else? Yes and no. This belief, it is proven by its actions. Does this belief ‘profit’ us by changing us into the people of God evidenced by our doing the work of God on earth as Jesus worked on earth? The evidence of our faith is our works, works that mimic the work of God for He has commissioned us to make disciples, to obey everything He has commanded us. We are not the children of God because we do the works of God, we do the works of God because we are the children of God. If we are not doing the work of God we have no reason to believe we are children of God. The work of God is to believe in the works of God accomplished by Jesus. We do this work when we believe and then work to help others believe. When we are busy about this work, bearing fruit in this work, we have every reason to believe that the faith we have is working in us and will accomplish for us our eternal salvation.
